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Egrets, I've had a few.
Washington, D.C., circa 1894-1901. "Miss H.M. Craig." 5x7 glass negative from the C.M. Bell portrait studio. View full size.
20 years after this photo was taken, hats adorned with bird feathers would fall out of fashion. The legal taking of birds for their showy feathers ended with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
A main reason for enacting the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was to protect birds from harvest for their feathers. The feathers on Miss Craig's chapeau appear to be those of the snowy egret, a species that was hunted almost to extinction before passage of the MBTA in 1918.
Love the "egrets" comment!
The hat is perhaps 'enhanced' (or made worse?) by some damage to the glass negative. The black 'wings' are not part of the hat, and there seem to be a few extraneous black dots, too.
It also looks like the very pretty face has been retouched, too. Is that correct?
Perhaps she's exemplifying the old adage "A bird on the head is worth two on the tush."
Is worth two on the rack at Macy's.
Wow! What a beauty! And those glasses are really hip!
"Egrets, I've had a few." Best one yet. Still laughing!
Ms. Craig might be seen on the mall today. The clothes and hat would only be seen as her statement in fashion. The face is lovely, and I'd bet the gents seldom called her 'four eyes' lest they irk her and miss their chance. She's lovely.
The hat will be heading south for the winter any moment now.
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