Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-27
:THt CONCIHT'

who goes to the play to see it all-not bits
or snatches, but all of it.
WOman's Views. e
To the Editor of The Evening Star: .-
The popular columns of The Star offer an
admirable arena for the citizens of Wash
ington to discuss their rights, privileges and
grievances, and to speak Of existing wrongs.
incouveniences and nuisances. Ministers,
politicians and physicians are not freed
from its luminous rays, whether comment
on their dogmas, creeds and practice comes
from friendly or unfriendly lamps. -
The Stars columns also give daily pam
oramic view Of life in Washington. discuss
ing all matters Of popular interest to it's
citizens, whether 1t relates to bread" Ion
nets or street cars; to piety, politics or
smallpox.
Without infringing upon your crowded
space a woman desires, in rising to a ques-
ton OF personal privilege, to address The
Chair which holds the gavel over your con-
tributions and through him the lady patrons
OF the theaters in this city.
The subject under discussion is the the
alter hat. While fashion seems to make 1t
imperative that the custom of wearing large
hats should be observed, 1t Is a positive in
convenience If not an actual annoyance,
to those seated in the rear. to say nothing
of the discontinue of our gentlemen friends
gard as for cur own satisfaction with the
play. The charge is untrue that women are
inconsiderate of the pleasure of their gen
tlemen friends, and especially their gallant
escorts at the theaterS. .-r &
This woman speaks cut boldly for their
diScontinuanCe She has more than once
been the victim in the. back seat" Let
beauty go to the theaters unadorned No
hat of whatever shape, color or fashion
can rival In appearance the well dressed hair
on the shapely heads of our many amiable
brunetteS and blondes.
III head covering be necessary let 1t be
a small Jaunty bonnet, or, better STILL
we'll wrought fascnator of an accepta BILE
color, which Is becoming to all our fe-
male friends, and which, If desired, can be
SO readily removed.
Reforms come slowly. We cannot hope to
see this practice Immediately relinquished:
but at this capital city, popular with actors
who are greeted with appreciative audi
ences, 1t Is proper that this reform should
begin.
1 am gratifed to state that at a per-
torrance witnessed this week this nuisance
was less noticeable than before. AS the
cussin and "discussin'" on the popular
subject of bread closes and we welcome
peace and Accent loaf, let us reform In
another direction and leave of a custom
which entails sacrifice of cost, comfort
and common sense. The theater hat must
go. NJ s. M
The Hat and Other Nuisnnces.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
have read with il terest the articles pub
lished at intervals N the papers against
that intole. ahle nuisarce-the theater hat
the more SO, that L started the crusade
some two years ago, in an article entitled
'.Apropos of Theater Hats" 1 have felt
that it wls hopeless case but of late the
war has waxed fast and furious, and 1
have been an interested looker-on. Success
to such warfare. In reading the article
THE Theater Hat Again." in The Star of
the 26th, in which -" wishes ito hear
from the women-if they have anything TO
say" (and l think he will find they haye)
/ was delighted to see just under his ar
ticle that \ plucky woman Il take "A" to
be such) has been heard from, and in no
uncertain tone. From my standpoint-and
that of many Others / have no Doubt
consider that no lady ever does wear a
high hat to the theater. The person (for
l honor the rame of woman too highly
to call her that who goes to the theater
with hat whose structure is a source of
annoyance and discomfort to others is one
in whom exists no sensitive or refined feel
ing She is emphatically a person." and
one of very Objectionable type. In this out
rage on the public, in which, alas, the rain
falls on the just and the unjust alike, I
cannot but see a Nemesis. AS no lady will
wear hat of outrageous dimensions to the
theater or other place of enter tainment or
instruction, so 1t is just as true that no
-
smoke or for refreshment of the inner man.
The true lady or gentleman respects the
rights of others. That Is the true test;
money, position, or any other advantage
being outside matters. We have suffered
years from this infliction-this exodus be-
tween acts-and it has been a surprise to
me that this side of the question has not
been aired before in the public prints. 1
am glad "A" has the courage Of her con-
victions, If "A" be a woman, as l take it.
If "A" be a man, he has a sense of justice
which is delightful. In the many years in
which 1 have been a theater-goer l have
observed the rule of either wearing a very
small and close hat or of removing the hat
altogether, and, individually, 1 have never
been so unfortunate as to have an escort
whether husband or friend-who was SO
ungallant as to leave me during the even
ing; but from men accompanying other Wo-
men or attending the theater in groups l
have suffered ceaseleSS annoyance. If It
is Wearisome and crampiEg to men TO sit
out the whole play, is it not equally so to
women? And what of the spirit that leads
lie amusement and leave her to sit alone
and endure alone ennui and discomfort a
fair proportion of that evening? l wish we
had such accommodation as would enable
all, in company, to go out between the acts
to the foyer" such as can be done abroad
or in some of the larger cities in this coun-
try; but, as this is not possible, let us, at
in dealing with our fellow-man or woman
at the theater and elsewhere. If no man
will take to the theater any woman who
wears such q hat as the one under discus
sion, and no woman accept as her escort
one who plaC es small a value upon her
attractions. and who thinks so little of her
comfort, as to leave her during the even