Not until after the Revolution is it apparent that any attempt was made in Baltimore to concentrate the hatting industry into a legitimate business upon any extensive scale, or to separate the manufacturing from the retail branch of business; in fact, far into the new century was it the practice of those who manufactured extensively for the trade, to continue to keep in operation also a _retail_ establishment. The general system of conducting the hat business at the time of which we are now writing was for the hatter to have his "back shop" in the rear and accessible to the "front shop," where the proprietor and his "prentice hand" made the needed supply for the existing or future small demand likely to come; for hats in those days were "built" for service, not for show, and in a manner quite different from those suited to the modern requirement of almost a monthly change in style. Then the principle demand came from maturing youth, desiring to assume suitable dignity for entrance into manhood, by procuring a "beaver" which, unless he lived to a patriarchal age, might serve him during his natural life, and that, too, without fear of banishment from society for being out of the fashion. In the first "Baltimore City Directory," printed in the year 1796, appear the names of nineteen hatters; the business locations of some of the number, it is curious to observe, being at places hardly recognizable by those living at the present day. Gay street, prior to the year 1808, extended from the water to Griffith's bridge (now called Gay-street bridge), beyond which it was called Bridge street; German lane is now German street; East street is Fayette street, and the euphonious name of Cowpen alley is now dignified by that of Garrett street. Baltimore street was then called Market street, and for a long time after was often designated by either name. The following names and localities of hatters are found in the Baltimore City Directory published in 1796: RICHARD AVERSON, German lane, between Howard and Liberty streets. JOSEPH BURNET, Welcome alley, Federal Hill. PETER BOND, 13 Bridge street, Old Town. WILLIAM BRANSON, 131 Market street. PETER BEZE, 31 Charles street. FREDERICK DEEMS, Cowpen alley. JOSEPH BURNESTON, 17 George street, Fell's Point. " Shop, 19 George street, Fell's Point. GEORGE LITTIG, 141 Market street, Shop on "The Causeway." ARNOLD LIVERS, Shop, 24 South Calvert street. AARON MATTISON, Shop, East street, between Calvert and Gay. WILLIAM MOCKBEE, East street, between St. Paul's lane and Charles street. GASPER MORELLI, 36 Charles street. JOHN PARKS, Shop, 14 Light street. JACOB ROGERS, 29 South street. GEORGE SMITH, 101 Bond street. DAVID SHIELDS, 14 North Gay street. JOHN STEIGER, 250 Market street. JOHN UNDERWOOD, Alley between St. Paul's lane and Calvert street. DANIEL WEAVER, 19 Front street.