Ashtabula High School - Dart Yearbook (Ashtabula, OH)

Page 11 text:

(Utr Evolution of thr ®at FLORENCE PERRY Ml. HIS history, which is written in order that we may realize how very important hats are to civili- zation, opens in the year 755 B. C. in England. It was a time when men and women knew no other homes than caves, and had none of the conveniences which we now think are neces- sities. Even baskets were unknown, and a hat could not have been found from one end of the land to the other. But these people, having never heard of such things, could not miss them, and so they lived hap- pily, until an event took place which revolutionized the world, and has caused more happiness, and at the same time more discontent, than any other one thing in the world. As Virgil says, “ A woman was the leader.” Many of us wonder, perhaps, as we look at the queer hats which are now worn, how they came into being and whence they came. Dili- gent search has revealed some of these facts. One day, in this ancient time, a woman was going on a long journey. She wished to take many things with her which she could not carry far alone. Starting out, she tried to carry them in her hands, but the way was rough and many of the precious packages were spilled. Discouraged, she sat down by the wayside to plan a better method. As she was rest- ing, she idly plucked some rushes and began braiding them together. Almost before she knew it, she had evolved a rounding shallow affair in which she placed her unwieldy bundles and went on her way joyfully. As she walked along, people stared at the strange basket and plied her with questions. She told the story to all who inquired, and soon every one in the land knew how to make baskets from rushes. The people talked of them for years, for they were the only new things which had been introduced for a long time. But perhaps the connection be- tween baskets and hats is not evident. A long time after the baskets were first made, a woman was re- turning from a journey. Her basket was empty and was swinging, useless at her side. It was mid-summer and the sun was scorching. Even her thick locks (and they were all her own) did not entirely pro- tect her from the hot rays. The basket had become burdensome and so she placed it on her head, thus making a good sunshade. She little 9

Page 10 text:

T h e Dart ance in the month of roses. Nothing daunted, however, the girls started out for Aunt Betsey’s homestead, about two miles away. A middle-aged man, who alighted from the same train, looked curiously at Bess as she unbuttoned her cloak to see if the old fashioned locket was still in its unaccustomed place. Her blue-flowered dress looked strangely out of place on a winter day, but the whole picture was wonderfully familiar to the eye of the masculine observer. Allowing the two girls to precede him, he kept them in view. Courageous as they appeared, he feared they would need assistance before a mile was traversed, for the drifts were piling higher, and he remembered one large spot which, years ago, was almost impassable in winter weather. But the girls trudged slowly on. How tired they were growing! How those two miles had lengthened in eight months! At last the dreaded pastureland was reached, and the girls paused to rest before braving the task of crossing a large open meadow where no friendly trees could offer protection from the “ North Easter.” While they were trying to regain their breath, the stranger arrived, and courteously offered his assistance to the young ladies, whose destina- tion lay on the other side of the meadow, just below the brow of the hill. In summer time the red brick chimneys could be seen from where the three were standing, but now the heavy snow allowed no cheerful chimmeys to appear. After a brief rest, the three resumed their journey and battled with the angry elements. At length, almost exhausted, the two girls, aided by the stranger, reached the end of their travels, and the valentines awaited the response to the loud summons which the man and not the girls delivered upon the heavy oaken panels. Quickly the door was opened,and dear surprised Aunt Betsey gathered her two nieces into her arms and brought them to the warm bright fire- place. The stranger was cordially invited to enjoy the shelter of the homestead and partake of a cup of warm tea. The man almost boy- ishly assented. It was not until the weary travelers were cosily watching the blaz- ing logs and sipping delicious tea that Aunt Betsey noticed a marked resemblance between the stranger and a friend who long ago left Ellen- dale for the wealth of the orange groves of California. Soon Bess, who looked so much like Aunt Betsey, quietly slipped out of the room, followed by pretty Charlotte. Needless to say Aunt Betsey had a surprise in store for her two pretty, mischievous nieces, when they joined her again in the cosy living room after the departure of Aunt Betsey’s “ company.” 8

Page 12 text:

The Dart realized what havoc this simple action would play with the primitive tastes of the people. When the inhabitants saw her approaching from afar off, they thought she was a strange animal. When she came nearer, the men in the assembly thought that such a queer looking creature should not be allowed to roam around, but the women were wild with delight when they saw that the inverted baskets made such delightful headgear. They rushed for their own baskets, some of them narrow and deep, others broad and shallow, trying them on and noting the effects in a nearby stream. They were as happy as children with a new toy. The hats were tried at every angle. They were trimmed with flowers and wreaths. The woman who had first done this wonderful thing was made to come into their homes and was treaded as a royal guest. The other women were so proud of their new adornment that they wore these hats for years with only slight changes. But after a while some of them grew jealous of the one who had made the basket hat so popular, and they tried to think of a substitute which wculd make the rush hat lookout of place. At last they were rewarded with an inspiration. Waiting until the cooler weather set in, they caught many of the small, fur-bearing animals which abounded in the country. Their soft fur was draped over the summer hats, giving them a more seasonable appearance. All the women were delighted with the new fashion, and flocked to the fur-workers to have their hats draped. And so the first millinery store was started. This fashion ran its course, and then the more aristocratic women began to tire of the fur-trimmed hats, for the men were beginning to wear head coverings that looked suspiciously like them. These women besieged the milliners to give them something new, a hat which was not “ common.” The milliners puzzled over the question for a long time, and finally, in despair, took an empty flower-pot, wreathed it with flowers and tacked a feather to the side. When the society leaders of that time saw tilt- new creation, they could hardly wait for more to be made. Soon, every flower-pot in the land was gone and factories were turning out hundreds a day, and all for hats. Millinery stores sprang up on every side and did a thriving business. When at last everyone was tired of the flower-pot hat, rewards were offered for new ideas and someone brought a huge mushroom. 10