The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, April 1, 1909 'EASTER HAT DAY' * * * * * * * * Tuesday and Wednesday of this week was Easter Hat Day in Chariton. Each of the three millinery stores in Chariton had advertised openings on these days and they proved occasions of real profit and pleasure. Throngs of people, both ladies and gentlemen, visited these museums of finery -- each in turn and as a matter of variety, a ladies' hat store cannot be excelled by anything on earth. Among the hundreds of hats on display no two are alike. It was ever thus. Millinery genius has never been able to reproduce. Perfect counterparts, thus in one thing there is no danger of infringement. On the question of head gear providence to the ladies has been kind. Knowing this desire to secure a hat, different from sister, friend or neighbor -- or even stranger, the great plan was that only one should be produced of a kind. We have visited the gardens of nature and roamed the palaces of art but nothing has so aroused interest as the ladies' hat store prior to Easter. The novelties of earth and sea and sky have been combined and irrevocably adhered to net works of straw and whale bone like the structural frames of immense buildings -- to delight and turn the head. Here are the gaudy plumes from the desert, yonder the shells with the constant murmur of the sea -- birds of Paradise, star fish miniatures from the coral reefs, imitation exotics from the Flowery Kingdom, sunshine glitter -- gems dragged from the earth's interior, javelin pins patterned after the picks and pikes of honorable and ancient warriors, the weaves of worms in every shade of the spectrum, wrested from the mulberry forest of the tropics -- in fact about everything but Liliputian brass bands and living gladiators. These hat stores are interesting. And then how sweet the ladies look with these handi-works of art and nature encircling their delicate (perhaps this word "delicate" is illy advised) heads like a halo, causing one to wonder which to admire most. Each season has its joys; Christmas time its glee and freedom and gifts; others, the things coveted -- then germane, but Thou, Oh Spring, Thou alone, transporteth The Easter Hat. Forbid them not. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert June 22, 2005 iggy29@rnetinc.net *I absolutely love this article -- and, alas -- hats!!