Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-12-15
Bis HATS AND LONG HAIR.
Cow the COWBOYS Used To Make
Their Own Hats

J stake" says cowboy of the plains,
FLOR instance the cowboys big trimmed
'iat. The fact alone that it has been
rorn without changing fashion for
generation after generation is enough
20 Indicate that use, not vanity, dlcta-
ED its origin. Until recent years, when
;he Importance of these hats was recog-
lized by hat manufacturers and wool,
Selt and fur were turned to account In
making them, we made our own hats.
A hole, as near the shape and size OF
pur heads as we could make it. was dug
; n the ground. A large circular piece
,,f rawhlds, wet. soft and pliable, was
tIpread over the hole. With bunch Of
s!rass or buckskin the centersof the
sawhide was pressed down into the hole
Until it assumed its size and shape. The
surrounding circle of hide, which was
was to be the rim was kept fiat on the
groundby constant patting of the hands
Ill around it.
When the hat was nodded it was left
Until it was dried by the sun. Then it
vas taken to place where smoke and
| ieat scorched it so that il was perfectly
Tater-proof. Then it was trimmed
with strings and straps and was ready
or uSs, and that use Is often to throw a
quickly spreading prairie fire back on
Ihe burned ground before it has a
chance to gain headway; often to turn
Wild cattle and horses in the direction
We want them to go. When the sun Is
Icorching hot and there is blister in
,very puff of wind, this great hat Is
much cooler than a straw hat. When
he wind ls blowing the sand like hot
tho. in our faces we would suffer
greatly but for the protection afforded
Dur eyes by the big brimmed hat. When
he mud is flying from the heels of the
tampeding cattle. or the terrible hail
torms of the plains are pelting upon
Is, these hats are the best friends we
ave. We wear leather bands on all
! ur hats, because cotton, wooden, or
ilk won't wear and won't keep the
| iats on.
Nowadays our hats are made In the
,ast, and made Of the best fur OF the
,est water animals. We can wash
hem in water for that matter, after
hey have been exposed to all kinds OF
weather, and they hold their shape as
f they were Just out Of the factory.
They Will do service for many years.
The Stetson hat is the most commonly
used IN the west. They cost from s.
10 $50. If made to ocder they cost a
great deal more. L have seen hats that
tost $500. Buffalo Bill has had many
lats of that kind presented to him
from people that he has guided safely
across the great plains in times OF dan
ger from hostile Indians and Mormods
These fur hats have taken the place OF
the old homemade rawhide hats, as
they answer every purpose.
"As to our long hair, there are good
reasons why we wear 1t. Our business
is ont doors. rain or shine and in many
changes of climate, and we have found
from experience that the greatest pro-
lection to the eyes and ears is long
hair. Old miners and pro5pectors know
this well. Hunters. scouts, trailers and
guides let their sair grow as q rule.
Those who have been pfejudlced against
1t have suffered the consequences OF
sore eyes. pains in the head, and loud
ringing In the ears. A peculiar result
OF exposure without the 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 plains
man is lying old the ground. Healthy
heyring and eyesight are OF the greatest
importance to q scout, hunter or
herdsman. When we see an object at
a distance we want to know whether 1t
is cloud-burst coming upon us, a
prairie fire, an enemy in the neighbor-
hood, or what it is. The longer we look
at 1t the more distinct 1t becomes, II
our eyes are good. 1t won't do for
them to be weak and watery, and, hay-
ing 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, and profit by it. There are
some white men whose interests call
them to live among the Indians, and 1t
is fact that by letting their hair grow
long they gain favor with the people
they live among, and get along much
better"