Wichita eagle., 1886-10-14
BIG HATS AND LONG HAIR.
HOW THE COWBOYS USED TO
MAKE THEIR OWN HATS.

HOW THE COWBOYS USED TO
MAKE THEIR OWN HATS.
Rawhide Nodded in tho Ground and
Dried in tho Sun-Big Rimmed Fur
Hats That Have Taken tho Old Raw
hides Place.
"Tale," says cowboy Of tho plains, "for
instance, the cowboys big trimmed hat The
fact alone that it has been worn without
changing fashion for generation after genera
ton is enough to indicate that use, not vanity,
dictated its origin. Until recent years, when
the importance Of these hats was recognized
by hat manufacturers and wool, felt and fur
were turned to account in making them, we
made our own hats. A hole, as near the
shape and size Of our heads as WEI could make
it, wes dug in the ground. A large circular
piece Of rawhide, wet, soft and pliable, was
spread over tho hole. With bunch Of grass
or buckskin the center of tho rawhide was
pressed down into the hole until it assumed its
size and shape. The surrounding circle Of
hide, which was to be the rim, was kept fat
on the ground by constant patting Of the
hands all around it.
it was well dried by the sun. Then it was
taken to place where smoke and heat
scorched it so that it was perfectly water
proof Then it was trimmed with strings and
straps and was ready for use, and that use is
often to throw a quickly spreading prairie
fire back on the burned ground before it has
a chance to gain headway; often to turn wild
cattlc and horses in the direction we want
A. Al - 1,o$
and there is a blister in every puff of wind,
this great hat is much cooler than straw hat
When the wind is blowing the sand like hot
shot in our faces we would suffer greatly but
for the protection afforded our eyes by the
big-brimmed hat. When the mud is flying
from the heels Of tho stampeding cattle, or
the terrible hailstorns of the plains are pelt-
ing upon us, these hats are the best friends
we have We wear leather bands on all our
hats, because cotton, woolen, or silk won't
wear and won't keep the hats on.
REASONS FOR LONG HAIR.
Nowadays our hats are made in the east,
and made Of the best fur of the best water
animals We can wash them or soak them in
water for that matter, after they have been
exposed to all kinds of weather, and they
hold their shape as if they were just out OF
the factory. They will do service for many
years The Stetson hat is the most common
" used in the west. They cost from IS to
$50. II made to order they cost great deal
more. / have seen hats that cost $500. Buff
falo Bill has had many hats of that kind pre-
scnted to him from people that he has guided
safely across the great plains in times Of
danger from hostile Indians and Mormons
These fur hats have taken the place Of the old
homemade rawhide hats, as they answer
every purpose.
GAS to our long hair, there are good reasons
why we wear it. Our business is out doors,
rain or shine and in many changes Of climate,
and we have found from experience that the
greatest protection to the eyes and ears is long
hair. Old miners and prospectorS know this
well. Hunters, scouts, trailers and guides let
their hair grow as q rule. Those who have
been prejudiced against it have suffered the
consequences OF sore eyes, pains III tho head,
and loud ringing in the ears. A peculiar re-
suit Of exposure without tho protection of
long hair is loss of hearing in one ear, caused
by one or the other of the ears being exposed
more when the plainsInau is lying on the
ground. Healthy hearing and eyesight arc Of
the greatest Importance to scout, hunter or
herdsman. When we see an object at dis
tance we want to know whether it is cloud
burst coming upon Us, prairie fire, an enemy
in the neighborhood, or what it IS The
longer we look at it the more distinct it be-
comes, if our eyes are good. 1t won't do for
them to be weak and watery, and, having
found that the growth and wearing of long
hair not only preserves, but strengthens our
sight, and makcs our hearing moro acute, we
let nature have her way, and profit by it.
There are some white men whose interests
call them to live among tho Indians, and it is
a fact that by letting their hair grow long
they gain favor with the people they live
among, and get along much botter."-New