The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-11-04
A PhiIosophicnI Halter.

''This has been good season for our hat
tlemen's furnishing storo to a CRITIC repre-
sentative, who had stroiled In to obtain a few
points in regard 10 what was considered aHIan
In male garb and furnishings.
"why, how's THAR" calculated the scribe iu
surprise. " thought the season opened unu
sually late and ! supposed your hat trade
generally, have found, have complained OF
"very true; the season has been backyard"
returned tho other, "but that has helped
rather than hurt the hat business. You see,"
he continued, growing confidential as he
beheld the prospect OF a good listener, "peo-
pie as general thing Jump from their sum
mer hats right into their winter ones--that is
10 say,if they can BIO said to jnmp. They throw
aside their straw hats . buy their dark
deIbye. There 10 no intermediate season. But
this year 1t was different"
"How was thatT
"well, you see, fall weather was q long time
coming. The straw hats began TO grow shabby
along toward the middle OF September and the
light derby to become rusty. Yet It was too
warm TO throw on light hats and put on the
happened that q very lightweight felt hat
filled the want exactly. IL was cheap. 1t was
light, and It was we'll adapted for fall weather.
Now people are throwing them aside and are
coming TO buy the regular winter hats. SO
you see how the matters have .prospered
through the lateness OF the season this year"
"well, yes, 1t was q piece OF luck OF which l
am sure no one wishes you deprived. But
came In to ind out something regarding your
tlemen's things. suppose there Is something
new?" the reporter hazarded.
New" returned the other; swell, should
say 30. There's always something new. Ladies'
change in fashions. scottl Why We fellows
couldn't live unless there was something new
swell, for instance, take" he said, turning
about and looking around for an illustration,
take the changes In the style OF SILK hat.
Do KNOW le continual. Nflnra ia H.
ing that stamps the character OF n man as the
styleo OF hat no wears, and particularly II It is
SILK hat. NOW man should not wear q Silk
hat unless IL Is in tho latest style. The SILK
hat at best 10 but an ugly thing. The eye Is
least offended when all elk hats are on the
same style. There Is no particular reason
why the style should change from season to
season except TO keep men from wearing their
hats more than one season. But as long as
they do change every season every person
who wears q SILK hat habitually should keep
track OF these alterations and conform 70
them. ElH
tain extent badge OF wealth, station ana re-
speciality. II Is essentially aristocratlc.
When one wears silk hat no announces him
self as belonging 10 u certain class. That
class is supposed to be able u keep up with
all changes. II he docs not do It he makes
himself look ridiculous. Ho shows himself to
be seeker alter style which he cannot main
tain. There is not half the disgrace IN wear
Ing an old style derby rs there Is wearing a
SILK hat OF n CASTOR STYLE" -.
'Because the derby is not the sign OF ex-
IRENE swelldom as tho stovepipe is. An old
style silk hat is the badge OF shabby gentillty,
"Reminiscences OF departed splendor."
Show has the style changed from last sea.
son p
'Tbere has been quito perceptlble change.
IL Is q change which In fat has affected all
this seasons stIn hats. Last season tho brlm
was broad, nat and with no roll, merely the
edge turned over. This season there Is "a dis.
tnguishable roll In the brim. The crown Is q
triie more belled This seasons style ap-
proaches tho style of tho season OF 1881, not
much, but somewhat. There seems to be reg
ular cycles In the fashions OF hats, as | sup
pose there 10 In other fashions. II you have q
hat at home which Ia old-fash lonad,
keep 1t and you may be sure that
before you arc great many years
older that hat Will be fashionable again
The changes are gradual from one season TO
another. Now tribe moro roll; now u little
more bell In the crowni now bit shorter
now the crown broader and straightsr. IL
doesn't take long TO run the gamnt OF all the
you do not rellgiously conform to It you viii
be killed as man OF fashion,"
"But what is the sense OF these freque OF
changes" inquired The unsophisticated news.
paper man.
Il" Why, friend, why do the schoolbook pub.
lishers wish 10 change their editions 80 fire.
quently, and get school boards TO make now
departures frequently simply because they
don't want The old books 10 DO worn too long.
30 the matters don't want their customers to
wear their BLK hats too long. Frequent changes
Increase the sales,and consequently the profits.
bee2"