Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Smith, neighbors of the Hotalings, have new hats, and Mrs. Hotaling tells her husband that she really must have a new lid to be equal with the others./ Arthur demurs, but Hattie not only gets the price, but takes her husband with her to bring the package home. When Arthur sees the box he nearly swoons. It is big enough to hold a rocking chair. To navigate the streets and get by without injuring people, requires all of his optic measurement, and with all of his care he runs afoul of many offensive and inoffensive pedestrians, which cause arguments that are annoying. Reaching home Mrs. Hotaling shows the neighbors the largest box and dearest little hat ever seen. Arthur is worn out with the job and well nigh demented, attempts suicide by getting into the box and attaching a gas heater hose. Hattie rescues him and administers a spanking to make him behave.