In 1797 a hatmaker on the Strand who fancied himself as something of a dandy, invented the top hat. So proud was John Hetherington on his natty new headgear, that he went for a stroll on the Strand but his enthusiasm was not shared by the general public.
“The sight of his hat caused a sensation; people booed, several women fainted, a crowd gathered and a small boy got his arm broken in the crush. Hetherington was arrested and fined £50 for “appearing on the public highway wearing upon his head a tall structure calculated to frighten timid people.”
1 comment:
where do you dig these littlegems out of?
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