The first view shows a boy undergoing the ordeal of selecting his first high hat. From the look of disgust it is apparent that the youngster is not at all impressed with the importance of the occasion. The “topper” selected, the youth wanders down the street and quickly becomes the “fall guy.” He bravely overlooks the good-natured quips of his tormentors until one, more venturesome than the others, shies an apple at the offending head-piece. Then follows a lively mix-up into which a fruit vendor and an aged gentleman, the latter also with a topper, are injected. When the scuffle is over it is seen that the boy and the man have exchanged head-pieces. Unconscious of the exchange each goes his way. The gentleman quickly discovers his mistake and sets out in hot pursuit of the boy and the latter meanwhile suffers his topper to be run over by an auto and is just picking it up when the irate gentleman reaches him. The father of the youth happens on the scene at this moment; he ruefully pays for the damage wrought and evens up matters by thrashing his son, the picture concluding with the original topper being disdainfully cast aside.