The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-10-30

Hats and Long Hirsute Adornment-Use
of Other Striking Articles of Apparel.
From the NJ z San.
at is the general impression among the
people of the East, as well as with tourists
in the great West, said the clever cowboy
lecturer and writer, j. III. Sullivan, who
is known on the plains and elsewhere as
Broncho John, 'that the long hair, wide
trimmed hats, big spurs, fringed leggings
and other striking things in a cowboys
outfit and appearance are worn simply for
show and buster; but, like many other
popular ideas about cowboys, that impres-
sion is entirely wrong.
''Take, for instance, the cowboys big
trimmed hat The fact alone that it has
been worn without changing fashion for
generation after generation is enough to in
dicate that use, not vanity, dictated its or
igin. Until recent years, when the i'm
portance 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 head as we could make
it, was dug in the ground. A large circu-
lar piece Of raw hide, wet, soft and pliable,
was spread over the hole With bunch
of grass or buckskin the centre of the raw
hide was pressed down into the whole until
it assumed its size and shape The sur
rounding circle of hide, which was to be the
rim, was kept fiat on the ground by con-
slant patting Of the hands all around it.
When the hat was nodded it was left until
it was well dried by the sun. Then it was
taken to a 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 quickly-spreading
prairie fire back on the burned ground be-
fore it has chance to gain headway; often
to turn wild cattle and horses in the direc-
ton we want them to go. When the sun
is scorching hot, and there is 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 by the big-rimmed hat
When the mud is flying from the heels of
stampeding cattle, or the terrible hailstorms
of the plains are pelting upon us, these
hats are the best friends we have. We
wear leather bands ON all our hats, because
cotton, wooden OF silk won'twear and won't
keep the hats on.
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 SER
vice for many years. The Stetson hat is
the most commonly used in the West.
They cost from S9to $50 fmade to order
they cost great deal more. [ have seen
hats that cost $780, These fur hats have
taken the place of the old homemade raw
hide hats, as they answer every purpose.
Gas to our long hair, there are good
reasons why we wear it. Our business is
outdoors, 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 a rule. Those who have
been prejudiced against it have suffered
the consequences of sore eyes, pains in the
head and loud ringing in the ears. A pc
culiar result of exposure without the pro-
lection of long hair is loss of hearing in one
ear, caused by one or the other of the ears
being exposed more when the plainsman is
lying on the ground. Healthy hearing and
eyesight are of the greatest importance to
scout, hunter or herdsman. When we
see an object at a distance we want to know
whether it is cloud burst coming upon us,
prairie fire, an enemy in the neighbor-
hood, or what it is The longer we look
at it the more distinct it becomes, if our
eyes are good. 1t won't do for them to be
weak or watery, and, having found that the
growth and wearing of long hair not only
preserves, but strengthens our sight, and
makes our hearing more acute, we let nature
have her way in the matter, and profit by
it. There are some white men whose In
terests call them to live among the Indians,
and it is fact that by letting their hair
grow long they gain favor with the people
they live among, and get along much better.
II have often heard people say that they
should think the cowboy had enough things
about him to attract attention without
wearing a great big handkerchief about his
neck instead of carrying it in his pocket,
and yet if it wasn't for that handkerchief
we would frequently be put to much in
convenience if not actual suffering. Many
time have had my face and eyes cover
ed and filled with mud while at full speed
on my horse at critical time in stampede
or in danger. With my big handkerchief
ready on my neck have but to seize it and
clean my eyes, without relaxing my horses
speed for second, as l would have to do
if the handkerchief were carried in a pocket
Then it is frequently called into use as
veil during the fierce sand storms we en-
counter in crossing the country, and that is
why it is made so large, Being of inesti-
mable service in the sand storms, we can't
be too careful of the safety of our hand
kerchief Tied about the neck it is handy
and secure. Many times when it is being
used by the cowboy the stumbling of his
horse at full gallop will call into use both
hands and the handkerchief must be dropp-
ed instantly. There is no time to tumble
for pocket, and if it were not secured as
it is, it would be lost.
"Another thing that worries the Eastern
people a great deal is the fringed buckskin
clothing of the cowboys. "Why don't
they wear garments like other people ?"
they say. In the first place, buckskin is
much more durable than cotton or wooden
goods, and at the same time great deal
cheaper to us, for we kill the deer that
furnish the skin, tan the skin ourselves,
and then make our own clothing in a ma
jority of cases. In making our buckskins
the seams are tied together with strings of
thesame material, and the end of the strings
are left hanging on the outside to hide the
big knots made by tying them and to cover
the spaces between them. That makes the
so-calIed fringe people think is ssuperfuous.
The leather leggings or straparajos straps,