The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1904-09-01
A LEAF FROM THE PAST.
when New Straw Hat Was Novel ard
Treasured Possession.

Whsn . New Straw Hat Was Novel ard
Treasured Possession.
In the early part Of the last century
there were fewer factories In this coun-
try than now. and many things were
made by hand which to-day are the
work Of machinery. This was espe.
cially true of the braid for straw hats.
Rye straw was commonly USED, al
though wheat was also In demand. But
the rye straw had longer stems aud
was more easily handled.
In driving along country roads, in
Massachusetts particularly late I'm the
summer. one would see great bundles
of the straw hanging OH the fences to
dry. When the sun and wind had done
their share OF the work, 1t was placed
In casks where sulphur was burning
until it was bleached to n pale yellow.
Then 1t was split into narrow widths
suitable for braiding.
The daughters OF farmers did not
have many pennies Of their own in
those days, and all were eager to earn
money by braiding straw. Every lit
tie while men would pass through the
villages, calling from house to house
and buying the straw braid. They
paid two cents 1t yard for 1t.
District school, was I'm session only
Six months OF the year--the rest OF the
time the children helped their mothers
!, with the houscworE. When that was
done they took up their bralds for
amusement and occupation. So much
day every girl expected to do as her
daily Stint She would carry 1t down
by The brook or up in the apple tree
when the summer days were long; or
during the stormy hours Of winter she
would 20 with 1t to the old attic where
the swing hung from the cobwebbed
rnfters. But all the time her fingers
must work busily. lest the men should
call for the braids and find them un.
finished.
The factories where the straw was
sewed were in the large towns. The
simplest hats were of the braids alone.
More elaborate ones had fancy cord.
also OF plated straw, scwed OH the
edge Of the braid. This straw was
made by the old ladies'. Grandmothers
and sreataunts whose eyes were too
dim to sew would take their balls of
straw with them on neighborhood
calls. While they chnttcd together.
their hands would be weaving the
yellow strands In and out, fashIonlns
the dainty cord.
The price paid for the cord was only
half cent yard, but this was better
than nothing to those danes of q by.
gone generation.
"A poor country girl would begin to
think OF her hat from the time OF
seed-sowing. All summer she would
watch the billowy grain. When it
was gathered and only the empty
stalks were left, she would tie them
into bundles and hang them In some
sheltered nook to dry. Bleaching split.
ting and braiding-these she did her.
self.
When the brnlds were finished and
sent to the factory, how impatient
she waited! Perhaps grandma contrib.
ut"d some OF the cord she had made
last winter that the new hat might
he more beautiful. At last tho hat
came home, and then what tryings on
there were before the old glt-framed
mirror in the purior! How lovingly
lis owner handled 1t MS she placed It
1his way or that on her curly head.
On. new straw hat was, indeed n
thing well worth having In those DAYS
or the long aso.-Adele Ii. Baldwin. in
st. Nicholas.