THE FIRST SILK HAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2745, 24 October 1906, Page 70

THE FIRST SILK HAT.

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 civilised conditions will permit we discover that he has always made use of some artificial covering for the head. It is quite probable that prehistoric man was content with that which nature provided, a thick and abundant supply of hair, but as civilisation advanced vanity also took her lofty place, and has ever since gone hand in hand with fashion, and Nature's simple adornment was soon supplemented by a boundless variety of man's handiwork. The caprices of fashion have rarely been more elaborately shown than in the gradual development of modern headgear, bringing into us© materials of eveiy sort and colour. In early times the hats worn by men, as well as women, were both showy and extravagant ; gorgeous plumes, rich bands of gold and silver, rare jewels and precious stones were freely used ; but in the latter part of the eighteenth century the more modern and unornamenttd styles began to appear, which is decidedly more In keeping with the necessitips of modern man. On January 15, 1797, Mr John Hetherington, a prosperous London hatter, to whom is given the credit of introducing the first silk hat, emerged from his little shop in the Strand, 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 50 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 howling 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 prepared for the riot which followed. The excited crowd had become uncontrollable by this time, and m the excitement stones were thrown, women fainted, children screamed, and it was reported that the young son of a nobleman, who happened to be passing at the time, was thrown down and had his right arm broken by the excited mob. Many on the outskirts of the crowd were unable to discover the nature of the trouble, but in the excitement joined with the othei« in the commotion. The bewildered man was so overcome by this unexpected occurrence that he was wholly unable to defend himself, and was finally arrested and taken before the Lord Jlavor on a charge of "breach of the peace and exciting a riot,"' and w<>s compelled to givp bonds to the amount of £500. In the evidence which followed it was stated that Mr John K<-therington, a gentleman who was well connected, had caused a liot by maJ- mg his appearance on the pi:blic highway wearing ■what he called a silk hat, a t<<H structure shiny in appearance, and calculated to frighten timid

people. In extenuation of these charges made against him the defendant claimed that he had perpetrated no crime whatever, but was only exercising a privilege denied to no Englishman, to introduce af new invention in headgear of his own creation. In a clipping from The Times, dated! January 16, 1797, which referred to the affair, Mr Hetherington was commended! for his action. It said in part : "In; these days of enlightenment it must bet 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 tot work a revolution in headgear, and wer think the officers of t^i-e Crown erred in placing the defendant under arrest." The old fashioned silk hats frequently measured Bin high in the crown, with a brim only |in wide, while the average silk hat of to-day measures 6in high, with a 2in brim. — Modern Society.