The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-01-07
Hats and Their History.


their shape or material. Comment has
been made because some noted paintings
of Scriptural and Oriental life do not de-
picture the headdresses of the males This
is most noticeable in paintings Of ancient
Syrian life, for no doubt the Syrians wore
then, as now, turban, thick, light and
colorless, to protect them from the burning
sun.
The practice of wearing hats began in
the western part of Europe about the year
400. An ingenious Swiss was the in
ventor, and he took it to Paris, which,
even at that time, was fashionable centre.
Father Daniel says ''that when the King
of France entered Rouen, in 1449, he
had on hat lined with velvet surmounted
by plume or tuft of feathers.
In old times there was not only fash
ion in the kind of hat, but also in the
manner of wearing it, What was known
as the Families cock Of the hat came into
vogue after the battle of that name.
There was also a mercantile cock, as well
as military cock The beaux wore their
hats diagonnlly over the left or right eye,
while the nGawkies wore theirs with the
corners pointing into the air. John Sly,
London haberdasher, announced in his
day, my hats for the men of the faculties
of law and physics do but just turn up to
give little life to their sagaeity My
military hats glare full in the face. |
have also prepared familiar easy cock
for all good companions between the above
mentioned extremes" That awkward hat,
the German Kevenhuller, followed the ac-
cession of George III, while the tiny Nj
vernois was introduced a few years later.
Gold binding on the hat, during the same
period, indicated gentleman of the turf.
The goldlaced cooked hat was largely used
IN 1878, not only on account Of Its mill
tary look, but because it probably pro-
tected the wearer from seizure by the
press gangs, which were as that time more
than usually active. The fat, folding,
crescent shaped beaver known as the cooked
hat, was still to be seen as late as 1918.
Centuries ago the color of hat or cap
had its significance Cardinals first began
to wear red hats in 1858. In Italy, for
ages, the members of the Hebrew race
were known by the yellow caps which
they wore, it being mandatory for them to
wear them. There was law in force in
France, for century or more, that COM
PEELED bankrupts to wear green caps.
This was done to prevent tradesmen from
being imposed upon by such as were una
bic or unwilling to pay. Successive edicts
enlarged the privileges of bankrupts, but
they forfeited them if. they appeared in
public without the green caps. II those
who cannot or will not pay their debts
were compelled to wear such caps at the
present day, the streets of most Of our
cities would have rather verdant appear
ance.
Hats were subjected to good deal Of
arbitrary legislation in England. Henry
VII had an act passed which fixed "the
maximum price of hat at 20 pence and
cap at five times that sum-. During the
reign of Elizabeth cap-making was ''pro-
tected" by statute, in which it was pro-
vided that son Sundays and holidays all
the males were to wear on their heads caps
of wool, knit, thicked and dressed in Eng
land, made only by cap-makers residing
within the realm" The clergy were dis
posed to follow the fashions of the day,
but in the Middle Ages they were ordered
not to wear any hat but the cornet-the
square cap of the doctors Of divinity. A
similar four-cornered hat is worn by the
university men in England, and when
there is gold tassel on the centre it indi-
Gates that the wearer belongs to the nobility.
The Bishop of Dol, in the twelfth century,
permitted only the canons 10 wear square
hats, and enjoined that when any other
persons wearing them entered the churches
Divine services should Immediately cease.
Doctor Doran tells us that the Natal
afashionablesn wear hats foot in height,
made of the fat of oxen. They first grad
uaIly annoint the head with pure grease,
which, mixing with the hair, fastens the
hat on during the lifetime of the wearer.
The Myantses make hat of board II
inches by 6. They place it on their heads,
draw the hair over it and seal it with wax.
They cannot lie down without keeping
their necks straight, and when they comb
their hair, which they do once or twice a
year, they have to spend considerable time
in melting the wax before they can get
their hats off.
To remove the hat in the presence Of a
sovereign is an old mark of respect. Most
of us are familiar with the story Of the
interview between Fox, the Quaker, and
Charles II. The latter, upon observing
that the former kept his hat on, promptly
removed his own. ''Put on thy hat, friend
Charles said Fox. "Not 50, friend
George was the neat retort of the King.
cit is usual for only one man to wear his
hat here
The head of the De Courcys, Earl of Kin
sale, is the only English nobleman permitt-
ed to wear his hat in the presence Of his
sovereign. Out of sincere Difference the
De Courcys wore their hats for but mo-
ment, in assertion of their privilege, and
NJ n q IL.