MONSTER HAT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2574, 7 August 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

MONSTER HAT.

ASTONISHED CROWDS DISPERSED BY POLICE.

A hat of the “Merry Widow” type—of which an official -police report estimated the circumference at 12ft. —caused such a stir in Brixton High-road recently, that the police had to disperse the jjeople who gathered to gaze at it. Probably it is the first hat in London (says the “Daily Mail”), to form the reason of a police report, as the officers who were called had to notify to their superiors the cause of tlie “disturbance” and what was done. About six o’clock tho hat came to Brixton in an open taxicab. Tlie wearer, the widow of a racehorse trainer, had been to Kempton Park in tho .afternoon, and intended to shop at Brixton beforo returning home. But tho liat caused the plans to bo upset. The wearer whpn she alighted from tho cab found the attention of the people around her riveted upon the liat, with its sweeping ostrich plumes, rjack and pearl-white, curling along the brim. The numbers of tlie hat-gazers grow, and to escape annoyance the wearer took refugo in a shop by Brixton Station and explained tho position to the proprietor. But the crowd outside still" increased and spread to the roadway, interfering with the passing of tlie tramway-cars and omnibuses. Six constables asked the people to “Pass along, please,” but as soon as ono crowd went another came, for tho news of U: j hat bad spread rapidly. Then a stratagem was tried. It was announced that the hat would leave the shop by tho back door, and the people hurried thore. At once a hansom-cab was called to tlio front door. When the horse,had been quietened, tho (wear- I or and the hat edged sideways into the cab and were driven away. !