402 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



by his importatjoDs. They yielded to him a large fortune which has 

 been and still is used for benevolent purposes by this aged philanthropic 

 citizen. 



The idea which has been suggested that England monopolizes the straw 

 business will hardly be accredited by those who are familiar with what the 

 peop.-e of Xew England have done, and are still doing in that line of busi- 

 ness. The masses of the American women were unable, by reason of the 

 high prices which foreign manufactured straws commanded to possess 

 themselves of a treasure however greatly coveted. To supply this class, 

 the insrenuity of a Xew England woman was brought into requisition. It 

 so far succeeded, that before the year 1S30, a few boxes of American Manu- 

 factured straw bonnets, made from native growth straw, found their way 

 into the Xew York market through the agency of Eastern itinerating mer- 

 chants. These bonnets although neglected at first, gradually overcame the 

 prejudice which at that time attached itself to most articles of American 

 fabrication until their demand as an article of commerce was fully recog- 

 nized, and the itinerant dealer was compelled to give place to the estab- 

 lished merchant. As a consequence large fields in New England were 

 appropriated fur the exclusive culture of the raw material. Manufactories 

 gradually came into existence, enriching entire communities by industrious 

 labor. 



Passing through my own native place, Milford Conn., lying on the shore 

 of L>ng Island Sound, a few weeks ago I found that a large straw factory 

 had been established there employing seven hundred operatives. Upon 

 enqrrlry I ascertained it had been in existence about ten years. The 

 thrifty appearance of the town gave unmistakable evidence of the industry 

 of the people. It has been stated by competent authority, that in the 

 southern part of the State of Massachusetts alone, 12,000 persons are 

 employed in straw bonnet factories, and nearly 8,000,000 of bonnets and 

 hats are sent away annually. The Leghorn Bonnet now is as great a 

 curiosity in this country as the American straw bonnet was, during the 

 adminstration of John Quincy Adams. 



Dr. W. Rowell gave an amusing account of the great Leghorn hats worn 

 thirty years ago in this country. 



Dr. E. P. St-'vens said he belonged to a fa-nily who had been connected 

 with the business for more than sixty years. Latterly less was done 

 because they could not compete with the foreign braid. The custom was 

 for the boys and girls of the neighborhood to assemble in the evening and 

 braid straw. Lights were not necessary, as all were expert to braid in the 

 dark by the sense of touch. We used the oat straw. He remembered 

 when the Leghorn hat was introduced. It was thought, on account of its 

 peculiar sewing, that it could not be done in this country. But it is not 

 sewed; it is laced together by a long thread. Mrs. Randall, of Cortland 

 county, X. T., had the credit of first discovering the manner of making 

 this kind of hat. She had some Timothy seed sown for this purpose. The 

 amount now manufactured in Massachusetts is very large. A sloop loaded 

 with straw goods from one establishment departs with great regularity 

 every week. The styles of next year's bonnets are all made up tliis fall. 

 All large establishments have their "style clerks," whose business is to 



