THE HAT

"I received a patent
of invention for the manufacture of hats intended to replace the Italian straw hat,
worth 20 million francs in imports into France each year. I have
invented and perfected several types of hat for men and for
women in cashmere, merino, wool, camel or goat hair, silk, yarn,
and cotton, and any other type of filament material, samples of which I have the pleasure of submitting here. The opening of a similar factory
could become a major interest for France, even before considering the
impact of creating livelihoods for a large number of people. It could
prevent a considerable amount of money from leaving France and could bring in more by
exporting these items. We already have all the raw materials in
France."