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The materials employed in the manufacture of hats have been various, stuffs of every kind and color having entered into their composition. The birds have been robbed of their brilliant plumage, the beasts of the field of their wool and hair. Amphibious creatures have yielded their fur, while the mines of the earth have given up precious metals and stones. All these have been used by man to make a suitable covering for his august head. Felt hats are by far the most ancient, silk hats being of quite recent introduction. They were known in Florence about a century ago, but were not introduced into France until 1825.
Tradition ascribes the discovery of felting toSt.Clement. It occurred in this manner: While on one of his charity missions, becoming weary and foot-sore, he took off his sandals to ease his feet, which were all bruised from long walking over rough roads. While resting by the wayside an opportunity was afforded him of rescuing a little lamb from the cruel clutches of a wily fox that was pursuing it. The grateful little creature jumped round him and licked his hand for joy, and it was in fondling it thatSt.Clement observed some loose wool, which he gathered.
While carelessly handling it the thought suddenly struck him that it would be good to bind up the wounds on his feet with. No sooner was it thought than done, and he found it so soothing that he immediately resumed his journey.