The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-11

evidence of delight. 1t cost her $50 and
was cheap at that.
Actresses are among the women who
best know the picturesque value of Ostrich
feathers.
This hat is for Miss Dash" naming an
actress, who insisted on having a plume
which crossed the front OF the hat, swep,
along the side of the brim and reached down
to her shoulder, besides three shorter ones
The longest feather is 81 inches and consists
of two superb quality plumes put together
at a cost Of $50. But the effect on the
head"
Tn milliner raised her eyes in ecstacy
TO the creation she held aloft on one hand.
New York women pay far higher prices
now then ten year, $50. Some women
wear hats almost all day long. spending the
day shopping, mnching, calling, driving
nc, without intermission. Naturally the
hat is almost the most important feature Of
their costume. and in order to keep its looks
IL nus he Of good quality. | have custom
ers who without a hat are quite ordinary
looking and in a certain style of hat are on
sidered beauties. That's the main reason
why the New York woman keeps her hat
on at luncheons.
But to go back TO ostrich feathers: An
experience | had not long ago illustrates
the value placed upon them.
-One of my best and richest customers
came in one morning accompanied by q
young country cousin OF no great means
/ inferred but with a will of her own She
wore a country looking hat of velvet
trimmed with wings and a bunch of flowers,
frightfully unbecoming, L thought, but
which seemed TO please the wearer we'll
enough.
Il did not know till afterward that the
city woman wanted her country relative
m nakQ an immersion on a OprtAin lliRihIa
bachelor who was to be Of her party at the
races the next day. What she told me was
this:
The wear and tear Of New York is play
ing havoc with my cousins hats and l want
her 10 have a fresh one for tomorrow,
something with plumes IL seems to M
would suit her
Il knew from the way she spoke that
there would be no trouble about price.
The young woman picked a brown, which
but she let me select the shape n trim
minZs, which included some beautiful
ostrich feathers. shading from brown to
tan. The hat was a broad brimmed affair.
and the girl looked like another person
and the bachelor" the woman listener
asked.
Il hear that he IL very attentive. The
young woman's wealthy cousin told me
about il when she came to pay the bill and
5IAT kANNa sCbA NANA W w. w NNA' NV
The wholesale dealer referred TO said
that ostrich feathers now cost about 300
per cent. more than five years ago on Rc-
count Of their scarceness.
Ninety per cent or more Of the ostrich
feathers used In this country come from
Africa, " said he. and they are sold at
auction in the London market to the highest
bidders before crossing the ocean.
There is no axcd market price for ostrich
feathers, the price varying with the demand.
This year wo are using twice AZ many
feathers az we used last year.
There are abOIt $4,000 birds in Africa,
and from 5000 TO 1907 in this country,
and Of the whole supply which reaches
the United State. Il ~ safe to sly that New
YORK city alone uses One-half.
Raise more birds? laser sid than
done. Incubntors ave been put into
commission but with little success AND
the Cape Colony owners OF ostrich farms
are dead vet against the exporting OF
ostriches to this country.
But what the New York woman doesn't
know about ostrich feathers h wonderful.
One OF them who visited my factory last
year read me q lecture o the cruelty