The Opelousas courier., 1886-10-30
cow DRESS
WHY CATTLE HERDERs WEAR
SONf6REROS AND LONG HAIR.
Useful Purpose Served by Big Hats
and Long Hirsute Adornment-
Uses of Other Striking Ar
ticles of Apparel.

sit 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. Ell.
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 strik-
ing things in q cowboys outfit and APP
pearance are worn simply for show and
buster; but, like many other popular
ideas about cowboys, that impression is
entirely wrong.
Take, for instance, the cowboys big
trimmed hat. The fact alone that it has
Leen worn without changing fash on for
generation after generation 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 head as we
could make it, was dug in the ground. A
large circular piece OF raw hide, wet,
soft, and pliable, was spread over the
hole. With a bunch of gress or buckskin
the center of the 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 fiat on the ground by constant pat
ting 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 a quickly
spreading prairie fire buck on the burned
ground before it has q chance to gain
Roadway; often to turn wild cattle and
LoTses In the direction we want them to
90. When the nj is scorching hot and
there is a b ter in every puff of wind,
this great hat is much cooler than a straw
hat. When the wind is blowing the sand
like hot shot In our faces we would suf-
fer 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 Che
plains are pelting upon us, these hats are
the best friends we have. We wear
leather bands on all orr hats, because cot
ton, wooden Or silk Won't wear a nd won't
keep the hats o n
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 commonly used
in the West. They cost from So to $50.
If made to order they cost a great deal
more. T have seen hats that cost $500.
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 it. Our business is
out doors, rain or shine, and in many
changes of climate, aud we have found
fom experience that the greatest protec-
ton to the eyes and ears is long hair.
Old miners and p~rospectors know this
we'll. Hunters, scouts, traileis and guides
let their hair grow as q rule. Those who
have been pre- ,udieed against it have suf-
fered 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
plainsman Is lying on the ground.
Healthy hearing and eyesight are of the
greatest Importance to a scout, hunter or
herdsmen.~ When we see an object at a
distance we want to knew whether it is
a cloud burst coming upon us, q prairie
FIRE, an enemy in the neighborhood, 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 o. sight
and makes our hearing more acute, we
Diet nature have her way in the matter,
and profit by it. There are some white
men whose interests call them to live
non the Indians, and it is q fact that
BY letting their hair grow long they gain
favor with the peop.e they live among,
and get aioag much better.
ri have often heard people say that
they should think the cowboy had
enough things about him to attract
attent en- without wearing q great big
handkerchief about his neck instead OF
carving It In his pocket, and yet If it
wasn't for that handkerchief we would
frequently be put To much Inconvenience
If not actual suffering. Many q time
have / had my face and eyes covered and
filed with mud while at full speed on
nv horse at q critical time in q stampede
or In danger. With my big handker-
chief ready on my neck ! have but to
seize it and clean my eyes, without re-
laxing my horses speed for a second, as
4 would have to do If the handkerchief
were carried iii q pocket. Then 1t is
frequently called into use as a veilduring
the fierce sand storms we encounter in
crossing the country, and that is why Il
is made 30 large. Being of inestlmable
service in the sand storms, We can't be
too careful Of the safety Of our handker-
chief, Tied about the neck it il handy
and secure. Many time when it Is being
used by the cowboy the stumbling Of his
horse &c full gallop will call into use
both hands and the handkerchief mus
be dropped instantly. There IS no tims
to tumble for q pocket, and If it wers
not secured as it is, it would be lost.
ssAnother thing that worries the East
ern people j great deal ~ the fringed
buckskin cloThing Of the cowboys. tWhJ
don't they wear garments like other PEG
pleg they saw. iii the first place, buck
skin Il much more durable than c0ttol
Or wooden goods, and 1t the same time !;
great deal cheaper to Us, for We Kill tn
I.r- EIa& f,.-sL &Nr uLsn %an fha aEfs