Why Are Mad Hatters Mad?

"Why is a raven like a writing desk?" - The Mad Hatter

Lewis Carroll introduced us to the quirky "Mad Hatter" in his 1864 novel, "Alice's Adventure in Wonderland." The Hatter, the Dormouse, and the March Hare are perpetually having tea because they are stuck in time precisely at 6:00 pm.

They move around the table using new cups and saucer's because they don't have time to wash the ones they were using. They do "curiouser and curiouser" things like asking riddles and putting various un-complimentary items in their tea like butter and the Hatter's pocket watch.

After dozens of letters asking Mr. Carroll for the answer to the Hatter's most famous riddle, "why is a raven like a writing desk?," he later admitted that there was no pre-thought-out answer to it. His best answer was, "because it can produce a few notes, though they are very flat; and it is never put with the wrong end in front!"

Want to know the answer to my riddle, "why are Mad Hatter's mad?" It's because they are slowly poisoned by the fumes of mercury that are let off during certain stages of the hat making process.

FACT: Mercury poisoning was a hazard of hat making in the 1800's. The process has evolved since then and is not as dangerous an occupation as it once was.

Using true historical facts in a story only makes it that much more fascinating to me.

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In 2010's movie version the Hatter's hatband held a note which read, "In this style 10/6." It meant the price of the hat was 10 shillings, 6 pence in old British currency.