278 THE WORLD'S LUMBER ROOM. 



The grey overcoats of the infantry are sold at the Cape 

 and in our own agricultural districts, where they are bought 

 especially by the shepherds. The heavier and more valuable 

 cloaks of the artillerymen are bought by the Dutch ; and 

 Holland and Ireland together are the purchased of all the 

 police uniforms. 



A hat is an article which possesses a certain value as 

 long as it will hold together and keep any shape at all ; 

 and it is wonderful what may be done with a battered old 

 "chimney-pot," by means of cutting down, re-lining, brown 

 paper, glue, rabbit-fur, dye, and varnish. By judicious 

 treatment, the old hat may be made to look, for a time at 

 least, like a smart new one, and as long as it is worn only in 

 fine weather, the purchaser will no doubt congratulate himself 

 on his bargain ; but the first shower will reduce the whole 

 fabrication to a shapeless mass, and he will probably regret the 

 three francs which he has spent on the purchase. It is the 

 French Jew who is especially clever at dealing with old hats, 

 which he buys from the chiffonnier at eight sous a piece, and 

 sells, at a considerable profit, for the sum above mentioned. 



" Stockings ! You can get as good stockings as tffi^body 

 wants for three-ha'pence a pair," says a poor woman living 

 in Holborn. " They gives a penny a pound for stockings 

 at the rag-shop, and sells them at a ha'penny a leg, and ii 

 you buys three legs you can make a first-rate pair o' stock- 

 ings, good enough for any one ! " 



that the better their condition the better price they would fetch. At Alder- 

 shot the old-clothes dealers used to drive a very satisfactory trade, but 

 disused uniforms have now to be returned, in accordance with an order to 

 that effect, to the authorities. 



