Evening star., 1894-11-03

| was not the champion big hat Of the even
| ing. Upon subsequent comparison Of notes
with friends, who were fellowSuffererS,
though / must maintain in a less degree,
they have individually and collectively
aVerred that the prize offender was in
front of them. But indeed this particular
hat might well have been in front of all
of us at once, and "Sorra a sight the one
of us could have had of the stage. Its nor
NAL circumference in a state of rest was
sufficient to eclipse for us the gayety of
nations for that entire performance. Like
the fellow in the Mikado, we might have
been assured that though there would be
fireworks in the evening, we would not be
there to see them. But terrible as 1t loom
ed in repose, when, DIS was generally the
case, the nervous little female personality
beneath II saw fit to set this wholly in
credible mass of millinery in motion, chaos
seemed come again. Not merely the play
and players, the orchestra and leader, the
flies on the wings and the wings on the
galleries, but the mighty sweep of the pros
cenium arch itself, and the high dome
above, were engulfed from vision in its
merciless arc of humiliation.
Off to the left there was a dear little wo-
man, who sat with her big hat in her lap.
But then she had one of the prettiest-shaped
little heads it was ever your luck to see.
1 have no more patience than some of
my beligerent sex, who have rushed into
print this question, with the stampede
of clumsy young colts, who traHlple on our
feet and bump awkwardly against our
knees in a wild, mad rush to look foolish
and smoke cigarettes in the lobby. But
will forgive any grown man who has been
sitting at a good show behind a silly, big
hat, If he walks all over me in going out
for a straight drink and good swear.
Yours, penitently, LOUISE.
Another Woman's View.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
1 fully sympathize with patient and long
enduring public in regard to the "theater
hat" No persuasion, cajoling or ridicule
has availed to abate the nuisance, with
few exceptions. 1 must differ with the
writer's who say only "snobs'' wear big
hats to the theater Il never wear one); facts
do not bear out this assertion. 1t is
natural womanly vanity to look her best at
all times, without any thought but her own
gratification; hence the latest ultra fashion
at the theater. This seltishness is the result
of a lamentable want of home training, both
with girls and boys, instead of being taught
that consideration for others feelings and
comfort on all occasions and general un-
selfish courtesy is the true exponent of good
breeding. If women would only realize how
much more attractive and womanly they
would look without their hats and bonnets,
with prettily arranged hair, they would at
once discard the big "theater hat" In their
increased womanly attractiveness they
would bring visions of home and home fire
sides to mems minds, and the ranks of
bachelors would be lessened. We hope the
day is not far distant when the whole ap-
pearancc of lecture rooms, concert halls and
tbeaters will be changed by womans be-
lief that unselfishness and general courtesy
will add to her many charms.
And there is another nuisance more Of
ftnsive than looking at flowers and feathers.
1t is in the conduct of those callow youths
who Chamber over your lap between every
act thinking it manly to do so. This lies at
women's doors who do not teach their sons