78 



records of occurrences are invaluable in tracing minute history, as 

 well as in delineating character. I trust what remains of it will 

 be kept sacred. 



We learn from this letter of Mrs. Baker's, the way by which 

 the art of braiding straw was communicated to persons in Dedham, 

 Wrentham, Framingham, Rehoboth, Attleborongh and Bristol. 

 From these towns, as from new centres, it radiated in every direc- 

 tion. Mrs. Baker wrote again on the 13th of March, 1858 : 



" I have found some old straws and braided them to-day. The 

 coarse double straw was such as I braided when I first began. The 

 coarse trimming was the hardest to learn of any thing I ever tried 

 to do, as I could not find out how many straws there were. The 

 fine trimming Mrs. Whipple always wanted, to put on her nice 

 bonnets. I never saw any like it, and do not know as any one 

 ever braided like it. I braided it for her many years. The top 

 I thought I would try, after so many 3'ears, and have only braided 

 this. I have, years gone by, braided whole bonnets like this." 



The manufacturing of straw into bonnets very soon divided it- 

 self into two branches — one the making of the braid, and the other 

 the making of braid into bonnets. The last branch fell naturally 

 into the hands of milliners, who at first formed the bonnet from 

 the braid, in the shape that fashion or the taste of the individual 

 required. After the business became more extended, this branch 

 was again divided. Bonnets and hats are now made by an inter- 

 mediate manufacturer, and pass to the hands of the milliner to be 

 completed and trimmed. The braiders were always the most nu- 

 merous class. That branch required very little capital. Rye 

 straw, cut when the grain is in the milk, was the material chiefly 

 used. After being cut from the field, the joints in the straws are cut 

 out, and with the leaves thrown away. The straws are examined 

 as cut, and such as are rusty, mildewed or spotted, are rejected. 

 The rest are exposed to the sun until dried and partially bleached, 

 and then tied in bundles. When about to be split for use, they 

 are first dampened, and then drawn through the splitting machine 

 before described. The sphnts or strands are examined as they 

 come from the machine, the imperfect ones rejected, and the ends 

 of the straw, which did not pass through the machine, are clipped 

 oif. The strands are now ready for the braider. They are kept 

 moistened, to increase their suppleness, while the busy fingers are 

 employed in braiding them. The width of the braid depends on 

 the width and number of the strands, the number being varied to 

 change the pattern of the fabric. The strands being short, are 

 soon used up by the braider ; when nearly so, a new one is insert- 

 ed with the old one, with an end of each projecting. The ends are 

 afterwards trimmed off, the braid bleached and then pressed. 

 Miss Metcalf did this at first with a junk bottle. The flat or sad 



