But Betty is white and Dominicus is Black-a definite no-no in the South. This is even more solemn when you consider the fact that a lot of kids died in the line of duty due to exposure to harmful work conditions.In 1969 Jacksonville, Florida, 17-year-old Betty Langdon falls in love with singer Dominicus Owens. Now that you know the origins of chimney sweeps and top hats, you’re able to better appreciate the long history of the profession. You’re likely to have come across or seen a chimney sweep putting on such paraphernalia. One of the reasons chimney sweeps still put on top hats and tails as uniforms are because such clothing remains stylish. Thankfully, the practice of using these kids as slaves was legislated upon and prohibited. This is a solemn reality and wake-up call to the injustices that had existed and continue to exist in human societies.
Unfortunately, the young and mostly orphan apprentice boys who were used and abused by their masters during the 1600s and earlier never shared in this honor. One of them had to do with the good luck one got when shaking hands with a chimney sweep. Over the years, people have believed and held on to several myths. Handshakes From Chimney Sweeps Was Considered Good Luck While the reasons for wearing top hats and tails by chimney sweeps remains a mystery, it’s evident that this has been widely adopted as a sort of uniform. It’s interesting to note that despite its long origins, chimney sweep top hats and tails are still worn by modern-day chimney sweeps. Are Chimney Sweep Top Hats and Tails Phased Out? It’s a sad reality that lots of kids died from a variety of health complications arising from exposure to soot and creosotes.Īlthough the practice of forcefully using kids as chimney sweeps has thankfully ended, the several mentions of kids in various accounts lend credence to its origins. Plus, it also gave them a feeling of self-worth. This action of hand-me-downs was considered a gesture that served as a morale-booster. This tradition started much earlier in the 17 th century. Here, it involved funeral directors taking pity on kids used as chimney sweeps. The hand-down account is completely different from the first. The account has it that chimney sweep top hats began to be popular with chimney sweeps from then on. According to the king’s statement, chimney sweeps were to be lucky from then on. Of course, the king was thankful and showed his appreciation by bestowing on the sweep the symbol of the gentry. The chimney sweep got hold of the reins and steadied the agitated horse. This action agitated the horse which was about causing common, but for the intervention of a chimney sweep. Now, he encountered a barking dog which never relented. It begins in the 18 th century when King George was taking a ride on his royal horse. This account tells quite a different story when compared to the hand-down account. To have an idea about what these stories tell, let’s take a look at both accounts. However, one thing is common chimney sweeps and top hats are known to have survived several centuries. It becomes unclear where exactly this tradition came about. Some accounts of its origins point to the emergence of chimney top hats as a gift from royalty while others have a different story relating to hand-downs. Different Accounts On Chimney Sweep Hatsįrom this point, there are varying or conflicting stories about how chimney sweep top hats came about. The solution then was to use children for such dangerous jobs.Īs expected, this action took its toll on the kid’s health. It meant that adult chimney sweeps could no longer access chimneys due to their sizes. Before then, chimneys were built to be wider.Īfter the fires, chimney sizes shrunk, which created a problem. This culminated in the Great London Fires of 1666 which was brought about by creosote ignition. The buildup of soot and creosotes became a real problem for many. However, users later realized they were faced with a problem. Now, chimneys heralded a new era in heating by creating less exposure to heat. Two-story buildings were particularly common then.Īn efficient heating method where the smoke was expelled while the heat was enjoyed needed to be developed. Before its advent, chimneys came about as a result of rapid modernization which led to sprawling cities. Our discussion about chimney sweeps and top hats won’t be complete without speaking about its origins. Handshakes From Chimney Sweeps Was Considered Good Luck.Are Chimney Sweep Top Hats and Tails Phased Out?.Different Accounts On Chimney Sweep Hats.
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