Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-08-05
OFFICIAL STYLES IN HATS.

People throughout the country ex-
press from time to time the greatest
curiosity to learn tho styles in official
life, writes tho Washington cores
pondcnt of tho New York World. 1t is
always source of great satisfaction to
number OF patriotic citizens to know
that they are dressed like "tho rulers Of
tho country" At the beginning Of
this summer good deal OF interest
has been awakened over the discussion
as to what was tho proper hat to DO
worn.
The president is more conservative
than any member Of his cabinet. lie
wears n closely buttoned Prince Albert
coat always, and, after the proper
fashion, n heavy black silk hat with it.
A white hat would be altogether too
undigniIicd --- although President Ar
thur affected them--and besides it
would not suit the Presidents COM
plcXion. He will probably wear the
black silk tile all summer. He wore a
wide-brimmed soft hat up in the Ad-
irondacks last summer, where-accord-
ing to the expert DR.. Ward-he caught
moro trout with q worm for bait than
the doctor got with his carefully-se-
lected flies.
Mr.. Bayard, however, has declared
for pcarl-gray, as it is style much
approved by his grandfather. Pearl
gray hats havo always been worn In
Delaware by fashionable statesmen,
and he has no idea of parting from the
tradition. Mr.. Bayard is of that lynn
phatic temperament and complexion,
moreover, to which the white hat is
peculiarly suitable, His tile looks as
If it must have been built in Whining
ton and by the son or grandson of the
same halter who supplied the first of
the Bayards.
Mr. Manning has democratic straw
hat. 1t is a Mackinaw, iat-topped
and sailor-shaped. He wears it over
his right ear, with the dashing grace
of young naval officer. MI. Man
ming transferred his straw hat from Al
bany here. To climb that steep hill
from the argus Office to the capitol of
hot summer day man wants about
as little on him as decency and good
breeding will allow. When half way
up the hill man generally takes off
his hat and uses it as fan the rest of
the way. The advantage of straw
hat is therefore obvious.
Mr.. Whitney wears broad-brimmod
silk hat, covered with Y mourning
band. 1t is easily the most stylish tile
of any worn in tho cabinet. 1t is o
New York hat from the curl of the
brim to the swell of the crown, and in
thorough keeping with the tout ensem-
BILE of his well-dressed figure. Proba-
bly, the secretary would change it for a
sou 'wester should he go to sea; and,
should the vessel be John Roach's Dol
phin, he would doubtless provide him
self with a "wide-awakc" and lifc-pre-
server as well. The country cannot af-
ford to have its efficient naval secre-
tary take any useless risks.
Mr.. Endicott adhercs to q large
brimmed silk hat, which lac wears
slightly upon the back of his head. 1t
is emphatically 4 Boston hat, and may
have been worn for 4 season or so
back. 1t is conservative in style, ag-
grcssive in its eminent responsibility.
Beacon street has hundreds of such;
Fifth avenue or Regent street never
one. Mr.. w. d. Howells might easily
have taken Secretary Endicott as his
model of Bromiield Corey in the cur
rent novel, THE Rise OF Silas Laph-
am"
Mr.. Lamar supports Mr.. Bayard in
wearing Il pearl-gray cashmere. 1t is
half covered with Il black mourning
band. The Mississippi statesman does
not spend many hours on his costume,
that is clear. In his distracted mo-
mcnts he, ike Secretary Endicott, some
times tips his hat over the back of his
head lie wears his hair long, and no
hat would look stylish with that combi-
nation. Henry Watterson and Senator
Lamar were both once attentive to q
lady. She lost the sena-
tor 5 friendship forever when the jeal-
ous KENTUCKY editor told Mr.. Lamar
that this lady had spoken of him as
sod Soap-Locks.
The attorney general is the only one
who has declared for the cream-color-
ed hat which is struggling to be fash
ionable. The cream color is shown in
a Manila straw which he put on at the
beginning of the hot weather. This
hat is broad brimmed not at all FASH
ionablc, but is very comfortable. MIR.
Garland wears a turn-down collar, and
the low-crowned hat is very suitable.
The one he wears is in the shape of S
compromise between the Derby of the
east and the sombrero of Texas. Ar
kansas, it will be remembered is about
midway.
Postmaster General Villas still wears
the silk hat which he purchased in
Madison some two or three years ago.
1t is little rusty and not exactly in
the prevailing shape, but it is much
better than the average hat worn by
Washington statesmen. The western
political leader rather affects these hats
of a fashion two or three years back.
Just why, no man can tell. but senG.
tor Voorhees,, or Beck or Sherman, or
Harrison or Logan was never known
to wear hat of the prevalent fashion.
1t is not becoming in statesman to
take up promptly with innovations.