THE FIRST SILK HAT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 354, 22 April 1911, Page 2

THE FIRST SILK HAT.

WOMEN FAINTED AT THE BIGHT. On January 15, 1797, one Hcthcrington, a haberdasher, "Put his hat upon his head And stepped into the Strand," his hat being the forerunner of.the army of silk hats which were in the following century to come to be looked upon as the hall-mark of respectability. The result, of wearing such a startling novelty in headgear was that a large crowd of spectators gathered round the haberdasher before he had proceeded far along the street. Hetherington was arraigned before the Lord Mayor on a charge of breach of the peace and inciting a riot, and was required to give bond in the sum of £SOO. The evidence produced went to show that Mr. Hetheringtou, who was well connected, appeared upon the public highway wearing upon his head what lie called a silk hat (which was produced)—a tall structure having a shiny lustre, and calculated to frighten timid people. As a matter of fact, the officers of the Crown stated that several women fainted at. the. unusual sight,- while children (loirs y Piped, and a young son of Cordwainer Thomas, who ivas reiurnins: f'-om a chandler's shop, was thrown down by the crowd which had collected, and had his arm broken.—-'English Costume," by G, Clinch, (Methuen).

The oldest university in the world is at. Tfkin, China, and is railed the "School for the Sons of the Empire." A A'i';inite register, consisi.inu' iif stone columns, 320 in munber, contains the names of GO,OOO eraduates. Masks are still in use amongst sav,:,i:e n.atior.s to scare demons.