The St. Johns herald., 1886-10-21
BIG HATS AND LONG HAIR.
The Evolution of the Texan Sombrero, and the Advantages of Cowboys " ar ing LODg Locks.

and the Advantages oA SoWooys VI ar-
 ing LOng Locks.
 "Take," says cowbov of the plains, flor instance, the cowboy big .rinmed hat The fact alone that 1t has been worn without changing fashion for gen eration alter generation is enough to .n- dictte that use, not vanity, dictated it's origin.
 Until recent years, when the impDr- tance Of the e hats Wa, recognized by hat ufacturers, and wool, felt and .ur were turned to account in making tAen, We made our on hats.
 A hole, as Lear the shape and size of cur heads as We could make 1t, wss; dug i'll the ground. large circ liar piece of raw hiie, wet. soft ani pliabIe, was H1read over the hoe. Witha lunch of grass or buckskiI the centre of Lh., ra3nIde was pressed dOrn mo the hoie until f4 assumed it's size and shape. The surrounding circle uf hide, whicn was to be the rim, was pt flat on the grt uud bv eonstLut pat.ing ot the hands all around it.
 When the hat was mo1lded it was left until it was we'll dri d by { sun. Tn it was taken to d pl ce where smoSe and heat scorchel it so that it was 'rfectly wa er-proof. Then it wa trimmed with rings and straps and was rrady for use. and that uss is often t. throw & quickly spreading prairie fire back on tho burned ground before it has a chance to gain headway; often to turn wi. d attle and i.Orses in the direction We w-nt them to go.
 When the sun is scorching hot and there is q blister in every puff of wind, 1,.,N fe, rnln fi,ns. straw hat. When the wnd Is blowing the sand like hot shot in our faces we would suffer greatly but for the protec- tion afforded our eyes by the big-brimmei hat. When the mud is flying from the heels of stampeding cat |, or the t rri- ble hailstorms of the plaiGs are pelt.ng upon us, those hats are the best friends we have.
 We wear leather bands on all our hats, because cott,n, wOolen, or silk won't wear and won't keep the hats on.
 Nowadays our hats are made i'll ihe East. and made of the best fur of the st wa CT animaS.
 "We can wash them or soak them n water for that matter, after th y havo been exposed 10, all kinds of weather. ani they hol their shape as if they were i st out or the fact ". They wI.l do service for many years.
 "The Stetson hat is the hat most com monl, used in he West. They cost from SS to S30 IT made to Ordcr they cost q great deal moro. l have ScoI hats that cost $500.
 Buff .lo Bill has had many hats of tha, kind pre- cnted 10 him fro II people that he has guided safety across iht great plains i'll times of Gauger from hostile India s and Mor.non5.
 "TheSe fur ats have taken the place of the old homemade rawhiue hats, us they answer every purpose.
 ''As 10 or long hair, th re are good reasons why We wear it. Our Lusine s is out doors. rain or shine, and in many cha Ges of climate. and We have found from experience that the greatest pio- lection to the eyes and cars Is long hair.
 ''Old miners and prospect r. know this well. Hunters, scouts, trailerS and guides let the hair grow, as d rule. Those who have been prejudiced againet i. Ina, e suffered the consequences oI sore eyes, pa ns in tue head, and ioLd ling ing ill the eaIs.
 "A peculiar result of exposure wi thout the prote tion of long hair IS lo,o ot hearing in one ear, caused by one or ihe other of the ears being exposed mora when the plainsman is lying oA tie ground. Healthy hearing and eyesiSht are of the greatest importance 10 q scout. hunter or heI dsman.
 "Wnen we see m object at distanc' we want to know wh lher it IS . ud burst coming upon us. prairie fire, an enemy in ths neighbOrhoOd. or what it Is. The longer we look at it thh more distinct it ec,mes, if our eyes are good.
 Ut won't do for them to bs weak anl wate y, and. having found that the growth an wearing of long hair noe only estrves but stre. gthenS our sight ana makes our tearing more acute, "e let nalule have her way in the matt I, and profit by-it.
 "iherc are some white men whose in- teyests call them to live a'uonS the ln- dIAns, aud 1t is 8 fact that by le:tlng their hAr grow they gain favor with the people they live among, and get along much better. TN. I. Sun.