Hats off to John Stetson

Grade 5-8-- At age nine, John Stetson was an apprentice in his father's hat shop in New Jersey. After it failed, John--then 30--set out on his own. He went to Philadelphia, but as he had consumption, he was advised to go to a warmer climate; he went to St. Joseph, MO. For a while he prospered, but soon he lost all. So he trekked to California to find his fortune in gold--but that was not his luck. However, on his journey he had made a hat to protect himself from sun and rain. It was a funny-looking hat, but it was practical; and John sold it for a $5 gold piece. The rest is history, for Stetson, a failed gold seeker, returned to Philadelphia, modified the shape and style of the hat that would keep off the hot sunlight--and hold water, if need be, and made and sold beaucoup : they were especially popular with Westerners. This is a clear, fascinating, Horatio Alger success story. It reads well, moves well. The squiggly black-line drawings are less impressive. There's also a lot of dialogue, and no bibliography. --George Gleason, Department of English, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.