Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-01
The Hat and the TObuccO User.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
The complaints continue against the the
alter hat, as they certainly should There
Is not the shadow of an excuse for wearing
hat at night upon any occasion, and it is
surely an imposition and outrage to SO OBJ
struct the view of others at a public enter
tainment Ever since my. attention was
first called to the matter, in Germany
eleven years ago, l have never worn a hat
to the theater without removing IT immedi-
ately upon being seated. But there is
another outrage that should be protested
against in the same breath--that is the
tobacco saturated men wbmen cannot es-
cape without leaving theft seats. We can,
by continually moving the head, escape the
hat. This is not an onslaught upon the
use of tobacco. While nd tobacco user is
permitted to enter my home more than
once as guest, ands theHhouse is always
aired and disinfected after the departure of
such a guest, but being al believer in indi-
vidual liberty in thS individual domain, 1
am perfectly willing men should use to-
bacco until the Almighty Isees fit to evolve
them to a degree of dacency and cleanliness.
Individual liberty, however, is converted in
to impuaent license when a man energies
from some smoking den, livery fiber of his
clothing reeking with tobacco, smokes
filthy, cheap cigar TO the door of the thea
ter then walks in, takes his seat, poisoning
the air for all who are near him. and then
tggravates the outrage by going out be-
tween acts for a glass of beer and another
smoke AS this protestsis not that of one,
but many, we think. IT, but fair that The
Star as public voice and benefactor, should
insert 1t. While We are not sangune as
to hope that men VIII purge themselves
and put on the garment of purity and
cleanliness from within, it may suggest to
some, not yet quite dead to the fine moral
sense of purity and the rights of others,
that they might be little more careful out
wardly in public assemblies. X. j..
Men should he Patient.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
Having heard much and read more of the
II uch-mocted "theater hat" allow me the
privilege of "a finger in the pie not in de-
Tense of the article ITSELF but of the fair
wearer.
To come to the point, / should like to re-
mind "Au Fait" that while women may
be led" they will not be driven" and
that no self-respecting manager would dare
command the ladies to remove their hats.
The fashion of wearing the "theater hat"
or any other hat during stage performance
mas been in vogue very many years, and
was established by well-meaning persons,
who, possessing a hack" hat and best"
hat, did not feel financially able to add to
their wardrobe the dainty but expensive
evening bonnet"
Therefore they adorned their glory
with whatever appeared most suitable, gen
orally their Sunday best
Now, habit of so long standing cannot
be broken in single night or week of
nights.
AS few have already set the example L
feel certain that the many peaceably in
clined and sensible Will follow suit, If the
men will but have patience.
One fact remains undisputable, that is,
that the woman and her "theater hat can
not possibly be more Objectionable and
obnoxious than the man who finds II neces-
ri
mountaineering every one in his path as
he goes, treading on all toes as he comes
and finally depositing himself in his seat,
dispensing Ito the right and Ito the left"
of him an odor of his smile" strong enough
to disgust all the "theater hats in the
vicinity.
ONE WHO HAS FORESwORN THE TER
ROR.