Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1888-02-08
The Decline of the Crush Hat,

There never was better example of
fashions iron rule, regardless of consid-
eratiOns of comfort or convenience.
than the decline of the crush hat.
This has long proved itself very use
ful article of furniture. The man in
evening dress at a theatre or concert
could reduce his hat in a twinkling to
the thickness of a pancake, and let it
lie easily on his lap or place beneath
the seat where it rested securely. At
an evening party, if he was troubled to
know what to do with his hands, as
men usually are, and had scruples
about slowing them away in his
pockets, he could carry the crush hat
gracefully in one hand. This took the
place of the fan in the hands of a
lovely woman, though there was less
excuse for it. The hat played an i'm
pOrtant part, too, in the vicissitudes of
the dressing-roOm, or at large enter
tainments the courtroom. The flatten-
ed hat could be laid within the folded
coat, from which it would emerge in
perfect condition, and without the
delay caused by a separate checking.
1t lent itself to many uses, which were
impossible with any other head-gear
and while certainly far from being a
thing of beauty, it demonstrated its
right to being by meeting many of the
little emergencies of an artificial civili-
cation.
But change has come in the for
tunes of the crush hat. 1t is still worn
by some who are too conservative to
change old habits easily, or those who
do not keep the keenest watch of the
fashions, but the man about town, the
man who prides himself by promptly
adopting every mutation of style, has
entirely discarded it. The result has
been of course that the great body of
men who follow style without ever
thinking of setting it have discarded it
also. Many a worthy man now
wears a stiff tall hat with evening dress
to the theatre and finds it a burden
on his hands, without knowing why he
does it. If there is little rack under
the seat to hang it by, he suspends it
there and finds himself in comparative
peace of mind, unless now and then
he doubles his feet too far under the
seat and rufIles up the shining surface.
If the hat is literally on his hands, he
finds it a good deal of responsibility.
1t IS bother to have it on his lap. If
he puts it on the floor, it may be kick.
ed over by Il neighbor. or be used for a
spittoon. No matter what he does
with it, it is pretty sure to emerge at
the end in a frowzy and rumpled
state. There is the round hat Of course
and an occasional man who esteems
comfort more than cOnventiOnality will
wear soft hat which he can put in
his pocket. The rigid observer of the
canons of dress, however, will not
lower his art standard by any such
concessions to personal ease, but will
adhere to the tall hat at any sacrifice.
The social student who seeks to dis
cover the reason for this change can only
get vague intimatiOn that the Prince
of Wales has been seen to appear in
evening dress withous a crush hat.
The Prince is authority enough, of
course, for any revolution in fashions,
and be could not do anything in which
his New York imitator wouldn't reso-
lutely follow him, unless it was, per-
haps, to box with Sullivan. The
Prince ought to be careful of his
actions. he holds many precious lives
in charge. The imagination trembles
at the thought of the dangers to which
numerous not Oversteady American
youths would be exposed if the Prince
should suddenly take to wearing kits,
or low-necked dresses, for that matter.
Whatever he wore they would wear it
too, regardless of risk, expense or ap-
pearances.
Meantime the matters sell a COM
promise crush hat of satin for those
who like it and at the same time do
not wish to seem disloyal to the Prince.
These sanguine tradesmen believe that
perhaps in another season the old style
will return. Perhaps before that time
in some ungarded moment the Prince
will wear his crush hat again, and
then his voluntary subjects in these
parts will have the sanction of his
great example for returning to their
/ AnnneinnnA I1,n VIC N u I'LL.