The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-07-11
SUMNER HEAD-GEAR.
The Many Styles of Female Adorn-
ment Described.
Beselena's Prattle on Subject That
Interests All Women and Not
Few of the Other Sex.

Few of the Other Sex.
Did you ever study hats? No? Well,
then, you don't know what you've
missed. There are as many sorts and
conditions of hats as there are of men
and women. There are hats of high de-
gree, and hats of low degree, and hats Of
pedigree and hats of no degree at all, and
country hats, and city hats and host OF
other hats of more or less importance.
The city hats command first attention
by right of their superiority and ma
jority; as summer draws on apace and
people begin to think OF leaving home,
then do you observe the white sailor hat,
bound with white ribbon, in the as
cendancy. This ribbon is usually knotted,
bOy-fashion, fiat upon the side, but occa-
sionaily you notice one with the bow
standing detiantly erect, sort of silent
challenge sent out noiselessly by the fair
owner.
Then there is the lace hat, an airy crea-
ton of lace and ribbon, that looks Just
like butterAy'S gauZy wing. These hats
are much affected by the tlirty girls-the
girls who are timid and have to rely on
some big man to protect them. They also
affect airy gowns ana tieecy capes and
rutfles to attract the masculine eye and
puzzle the masculine brain, as it wonders
in a vague sort of way how on earth
it's ever gotten into, but thinks its very
fetching just the same; and, from Begin
ming to think the gown a marvel of
beauty, these poor, deluded mortals begin
to look higher until they think the girl
herself the acme OF perfection, and ere
they know it their dreams at night are
impreguated with bewlldering array of
gauZy hats, stunning gowns and beauti
tuI eyes. Then the mischief is done ire
parably, and it all comes of the little lace
hat.
Then there is the straw hat. The city
straw hat is thing quite apart from its
sister, the country straw hat, of which L
viii speak anon. The straw hat is much
affected by those Old-fashioned girls who
scorn the breezy lace creations as some
thing too much beneath their notice. 1t
is composed OF ribbon, and often a lonely
rose stands erect upon its surface, as
though wondering hat on earth it is all
about The wearers of these hats, as |
said before, are oldtashioned. They are
the girls who adhere strenuously, in
spite OF fashions decree, to 4 straw hat
in summer and felt hat in winter
Later on. when they are merging onto
the sere and yellow leaf, they wear
glasses, a small meek-looking bonnet
with fiat bow as flat as their aspirations.
They always carry handbag and have
mission Tor outstanding the heathen or
clothing the untamed deniZens of the
Eastern forests.
Then there are the big hats much at
fected by all girls, with the exception OF
the strong minded, to whom l have Just
referred. These hats are big and broad
and Tapping, and this year are veritaUle
bower Of roses, which cover the whole
hat in gay profuslon and confusion. l
know man who eyes them retlectively,
and for want OF a better appellatiOn calls
them the "Ophelia'' hats. But, in spite
OF this rather doubtful cognomen, they
are about the prettiest and sweetest hat
that can be worn.
Another city hat is the small toque, or
turban, which, if hats must be worn at
the theater | wish would receive more
popular favor at the hands Of the multi
tude, barring, of course, a few exceptions
who have considerations for the feelings
OF their fellow beings
And now comes the country hat The
country hat IS chiefly remarkable for
three characteristics, namely-size, shape,
ana last, but Dy no means least, gorgeous
ness. The country hat is always big; it
has nothing to be ashamed OF, therefore
stands before the world in all its unparal-
led bigness. As to shape, well, the shape
OF the rustic hat is something to be adj
mlred from distance and marYeled at
AOl dAlg OLE WI COulu D6lu anu lNlSI ana
curve and turn bit Of straw into such
fearful and wonderful shapes is quite be-
yond your comprehension. AS for trim
mings, well, they are combination of
everything - lace and ribbons aud
feathers OF rain bow hues are cast over its
surface and howers-I almost forgot to
mention the exuberance of flowers that
bud and blossom and leaf upon this sur
prising head-dress.
That is a picture of the average country
hat. There is another one that is as sweet
and modest and simple as the little maid
who wears it. This is the big white hat,
with just a simple band of ribbon tied in
a bow at the side. 1t actually retreshes
you when your eyes fall upon this modest
little hat and the little rosebud face be-
meath.
After you've looked until your ewes
fairly ache, and your head just swims at
the Parisienne creation in the city and
their gay country sisters, you feel your
heart go out to the little blue-eyed lass in
the old-lashioned hat, and when you
know her, you find that she is just as
loVable as she looks; she is the essence
of simplicity. That is another relief
when you compare her to the worldly
minded city damsel. She doesn't back
bite her neghbor; she isn't Jealous. and
man, she loves him with her whole heart
and soul. No sordid nor mercenary de-
sire sullies her pure soul. She doesn't
think of getting man as though he were
a new dress. she never dreams that there
is such a thing as a matrimonial fish
pond, where, all day long, girls sit and
fish and fish, throwing back the small
fish until shark or whale bites, and
then the line is drawn carefully up, and
the prize exhibited amid great acclama-
tons of the other fishers, who thereupon
take fresh courage from their companions
success and cast in their lines with new
bait and redoubled vigor.
No; this little country maid knows
nothing whatever about such tricks She
would not harm fly, much less break a
mans heart. That the man she loves is
poor, makes no difference to her. She
doesn't think of that; she only knows
that she loves him, and in time she mar
ries him; and, like the people in the fairy
tales, she lives happily with him ever
afterward.
II l were a man, and wanted wife, I'd
select one OF these sweet little country
girls, who would be true and faithful for
time and for eternity. That's what I'd
do if l were not a woman. and therefore
not BEsELENA.
Seattle, Wash, July Z, 1898.
TTn