The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-03-16

The wise ars daring investors who
transpianted ostrich farming from Al
rica to the United States, are eongfal-
ulating themselves now.
They are reaping a harvest this
winter. such as perhaps they never
dreamed Of, for the plumes OF the
gawky bird are at the top wave OF
popularity that has lasted ever since
the days when Gainsborough painted
his world-famous beauties with huge
hats covered with ostrich feathers.
Since that day. II not before it, IN
fact, the ostrich plume has lain very
close to the feminine heart, but It's
vogue this year surpasses all records.
The fair yotary of Dame Fashion
may array herself in all that is beau
tiful and costly, her dress may be pur-
est silk, her fingers blaze with dia-
monds, her coat be precious fur, but
she is not happy unless the whole be
surrounded BY q picture hat, with two,
three or perhaps four superb ostrich
plumes.
1t is almost impossible for milliners
to meet the demand for high grade
feathers, and if they we're dependent
solely on the stock imported from
Africa. it would be quite out Of the
question, but the American ostrich
farms at Pasadena, Jacksonville and
Phoenix have flourished and the big
bird has proved himself such a -four
ishing American, that a large part OF
the supply is now home product.
The ostrich feather is the basis OF
the hats of this year Take off the
plume, and what remained would be
hopeless. but with the plnmes almost
any shape looks well.
But like every good thing the plume
sends the price soaring. Fifty dollars
is no uncommon cost for a hat trim
med with very modest feathers, and
the particular costumer, who seeks for
the example, a plume say twenty-four
inches long, must not be surprised II
called upon to pay $50 for the feathers
alone, without taking into account the
SJst Of the other materials and the
making.
The worlds total supply Of ostriches
is how said ID be about 100000 birds.
All but 10000 Of these are in Africa,
the native country Of the biggest birds.
The stock is not decreasing, for It is
one Of the good fortunes Of the ostrich
that to take his feathers does not
cause his death. The feathers viii
drop off themselves If not removed,
and there is nothing painful about the
latter operation, though the vanity Of
the bird in being robbed Of its chief
ornament makes him resent the pro
cess.
The ostrich is too valuable a bird to
be ill-used, for on an average they are
worth $500 per pair, and each one will
produce some $50 worth of feathers
every year. Hence 1t will be seer
that the owner HIS the strongest mo
tives of self-interest to take care oi
the birds. The feathers are never
plucked until they are ripe.
But the beauty Of feather and its
cost depend more on its width, on the
length and thickness Of its fiue o.
strands than on the length Of its quill
To some extent every feather Is
made, even to the handsomest being
fortified with two additional feathers
underneath, making three layers ir
all; and five or six layers are some
times needed to give the tip the very
thick, luxurisnt effect 50 much ad
mired.
A single ostrich feather is very scani
and slim, indeed, and no woman would
look twice at one. Preparing the feath
er is everything.
From first to last an ostrich feather
passes through nearly one hundred
different hands before being delivered
to the retailers.
African merchants estimate that the
industry brings into Africa ever,
year some $4,000, 900, hence it is hard
ly to be wondered at that they oppose
shipping Of the birds to the farms o
the United States. In fact, when th'
first experiment was made by an Eng
lishman in California, he had to pa.
as high as 81 200 a pair for his birds,
Along the Salt river valley in Ari
zona the development Of the ostricl
industry is steady and prosperous. Tn
average compare favorably with thos
shipped from Africa
Ostriches need a hot, dry climate
and alfalfa Is The best food. though tn