The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-08-20
THE FIRST SILK HAT
IT CAUSED a BIG RIOT WHEN IT WAS
WORN IN LONDON.

John Hetherington, the Man Who In.
troduced the Novel Headgear, WI.
Mobbed and Arrested For Breach n,
the Peace-His vindication.
The exceedingly hazardous profession
of fashion making Is well illustrated
In the following story Of the first silk
hat ever made: In tracing the history
Of man back as far as civilized condi-
tons will permit we discover that he
has always made use of some artificial
covering for the head. 1t is quite prob.
able that prehistoric man was content
with that which nature provided. n
thick and abundant supply of hair but
as civilization advanced vanity also
took her lofty place and has ever since
gone hand in hand with fashion, and
natures simple adornment was soon
supplemented by a boundless variety
Of mans handiwork.
The caprices of fashion have rarely
been more deliberately shown than in
the gradual development Of modern
headgear, bringing into use materials
Of every sort and color. In early times
the hats worn by men as we'll as wom-
en- were both snowy and extravagant.
Gorgeous plumes, rich bands of gold
and silver, rare jewels and precious
stones were freely used, but in the lat
ter part Of the eighteenth century the
more modern and unornamented STYLES
began to appear, which is decidedly
more in keeping with the necessities
Of modern man.
On Jan. Is. 1897, John Hetherington.
a prosperous London halter, to whom
is given the credit Of introducing the
first silk hat, emerged from his little
shop ON the Strand, one Of LOndon's
busiest streets, wearing what he called
a silk hat, and, wholly unaware Of the
sad fate that awaited him, made his
way along The busy thoroughfare.
where fashionably dressed people and
business men were hurrying by, and
ere he had progressed fifty yards a
great crowd had stopped to look at the
strange sight.
Although he had been forewarned by
his family not to attempt such a risk.
he was determined and paid little or
no attention to the crowd Of curious
persons and scoffers who were now
following close at his heels.
The boys and loafers helped to swell
the crowd until a bowling mob had
fairly surrounded him, and he was
forced to give up his journey despite
his efforts. He had expected to cause
a sensation, however, but was not pre-
pared for the riot which followed
The excited crowd had become un-
comfortable by this time, and in the
excitement stones were thrown, wo-
men tainted, children screamed, and it
was reported that a young son of a
nobleman who happened to be passing
at the time was thrown down and had
mis- right arm broken by the excited
mob. Many on the outskirts of the
crowd were unable to discover the ma
ture Of the trouble, but in the excite
ment joined with the others in the
cOmmOtiOn.
The bew1ldered man was so over
come by this unexpected occurrence
that he was wholly unable to defend
himself and was finally arrested and
taken before the lord mayor on a charge
Of "breach Of the peace and exciting
riot" and was compelled to give bonds
to the amount of $500.
In the evidence which followed 1t
was stated that John HetheringtOn,
gentleman who was we'll connected,
had caused a riot by making his ap-
pearance on the public highway wear
ing what he called a silk hat tall
structure, shiny in appearance and cal
culated to brighten timid people.
In extenuatiOn Of these charges
made against him the defendant claim
ed that he had perpetrated no crime
whatever. but was only exercising
privilege denied to no Englishman, to
introduce new invention in headgear
of his own creation.
In Chipping IrOm Tue 1lHeS, udleu
Jan. 49, 1897, which referred to the
affair, Mr.. Hetherington was COM
mended for his actions. 1t said in
part: "In these days Of enlightenment
it must be considered an advance in
dress reform and one which Is bound
sooner or later to stamp its character
upon the entire community. The new
hat is destined to work revolution
in headgear, and we think the officers
Of the crown erred In placing the de-
PENDANT under arrest"
The old fashioned silk hat frequent
ly measured eight inches high In tne
crown, with brim only seven-eigntns
of an inch wide, while the average
silk hat of today measures six inches
high, with a two inch brim.