The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-14
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" HE WOMAN who has not felt the
 need of replenishing her hat sup
 ply by midsummer. either Is 8
 chronic invalid who never goes out, or one of those lucky beings who has 50 many hats that none feels the wear and tear of dust and sun.
 Most of us know what 1t is to glance ruefully at headgear which a few short weeks before was the envy of all our friends. and wonder what ever induced us to pay such a price for 1t. and how 1t can be made to look respectable an- other day.
 If one has plenty of ready money this problem is not a serious one, as really charming hats can be picked up for trifie of their first cost at this season. But. unfortunately, that ready-money state is not probable after 8 summers trousseau has been paid for. On our wits and knacky fingers devolve the re- sponsibility of being reputably hat ted for the two or three months before we can possibly fall back on winter headgear.
 It is not such a very difficult thing after all. to refurbish old hats or trim new ones. More women would attempt 1t if they but realized that home trimmed hat is not necessarily a home- made looking one. It is not so much a matter of inborn knack, as usually is believed. as of ability to copy good model. and the patience to clean and freshen old materials.
 The first thing to do is to rip off all the trimmings from an old hat and give the hat itself thorough cleaning. If 1t is of leghorn, chip or other light straw, and is not too much soiled, rub ping 1t with stale bread crumbs will be sufficient; if very dirty. scrub carefully with a solution of oxalic acid and water in the proportion of an ounce to a quart. and put 1t out to bleach in the sun for a day. Peroxide and water in the same proportions can also be used. LIGHT STRAINS
 Fullers earth. or even cornmeal. rub bed over a light straw hat, then brushed off carefully and another thick applica- ton allowed to remain on for sev- eral days in a dark place. will success fully clean most light hats.
 Black straws are very easily freshen- ed by wiping off all the dust with piece of crape or velvet. and then spong- ing them thoroughly with alcohol The shoe polish bottle is another magic re- vivifier Colored straws may be cleaned with alcohol. or if they have faded too much can be successfully dyed at home.
 If the hat seems hopeless, or one Is tired of the shape and the old trim mings justify 1t, new ones should be bought. Very good-looking sha pes of fine straw can be picked up for com paratively little at this stock ridding season. The broad new sailors are n good choice. Panamas are also much reduced and have the advantage of being usable for several years They can, moreover. be simply trimmed by binding with bias folds of soft black satin or taffeta. and trimming with huge black bows Neapoltans are other straws that are always more or less in style. and are much cheaper late -4l the summer.
 Trim!nings are probably the greatest wrecks Flowers, If not too much brusHd, can be stiffened by sponging with alcohol or may be moistened with water in which a few drops oI gum arabic have been placed. Pink or red flowers can be recolored with powdered rouge. blending the tints to the edges with bit of cotton.
 Ribbons can be cleaned with gasoline and wound around a bottle to dry. AL cohol Is better for black ribbons.
 White or light colored feathers which are not uncurled, yet are sure to be soiled. may be covered with French chalk or Fullcr's earth. and put away for day or two in a dark place. This process should be repeated several times if necessary. Feathers can also be cleaned by dipping in deep gasoline again and again and shaking lightly. or by covering with salted flour. washing as if in water and allowing them to remain over night. Recurl by holding over the steam of a teakettle or with the blade of dull silver knife.
 As a rule 1t is advisable to buy fresh
 @s the slight expense Is more