Story About a Hat.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6899, 10 February 1894, Page 4

Story About a Hat.

Says the Westminster Gazette : It is a customs of men who frequent London clubs to have their names printed inside of their hats. Captain Kay, as we will call him, m command of H. M.S. S , at anchor m Aden Harbor, was clearing out his cabin prior to bei -35 ordered home, and finding his London hat-case, opened it, and, as may be easily credited, thres years' moth and dampness had reduced ita tenant to a dilapidated condition. " Throw it overboard." he said to his servant ; and " overboard" it went. One of the crew of a boat from the flagship, espying the hat, picked it up, and seeing the came inside, brought it to the commander of his ship, who sent it to Captain Kay with his compliments, thinking that it had fallen overboard by accident. " D the hat !" said Captain Kay ; " here, chuck it overboard again, and tell your commander I'm very much obliged." Two hours afterwards the hao returned, with Captain N.s compliments ; this time it had been picked up by the boat-L.^jjer of an American man-of-war lying further down Aden harbor, and, having been dried m the sun, was sent back to its proper ship and owner. "Tell Captain ft. I'm very much obliged," saidthe now wrathful captain and the American officer departed "Confound the hat!" said Captain Kay ; "I shall have to ask N. to dinner. Here, bring me a shot or a lump of coal or something else heavy." A lump of coal was placed inside, the hat was taken down the accommodation ladder, carefully filled with water, and sunk. Two days afterwards, a parcel arrived, addressed to " Captain Eay, H. M.S. S ," with three rupees and eight ! annas to pay. The money was paid, the parcel was opened, and inside was the ha*, together with a very civil note from the superintendent of police, saying that one of the diving boys had found the enclosed hat, which he saw from the name inside belonged to Captain Kay, and as he knew Captain Kay would wish the diving boy to be rewarded for his hcucsty, he ha.d presented him with a rupee, which action he hoped would meet with the captain's approval. Police-station fees, one rupee, and boat hire, one rupee eight annas. Captain Kay smiled graciously at that hat, ordered a big fire to be lit m the stoke-hole, took the hat below, and, having jumped on it, directed it to be pushed iato the hottest part of the furnace, and then he gloated over its destruction, bufc even as it crumbled to ashes " Captain Kay, R.N.," was seen inside to the very last.