Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-24
THOSE TERRIBLE Dress HATS.


New Century Club Ladies' Take the
Initiative for Public Relief In the
Opera House.
1.-THE fact should be published" said
gentleman yesterday in converslng WIN
newspaper man on the ever-recurring COM
plant in regard to the mammoth mats
worn by the ladies' at the Opera House,
'that at the last meeting at the New-Ien-
tnry Club, when Mr.. Shaw delivered ms
Shakesperean lecture, all the ladies present,
mum herring about 400 removed their mats
and bonnets in order that those pehlho
them might see the stage"
Then" said the reporter, "that gather.
ing of ladies was u real Four Hundred:
"Yes-nOt u McAlltster representation
alone, but they are people who courteously
considered the embarrassment OF those IN
the rear of them, due OF course to the tota
| eclpsng qualities of Dame Fashions
| feminine headgear, and afforded the
needed relief to everyone. dent know
when appreciated anything so much. IL
is true, a gentleman appeared on ths stage
and made the request that the ladies' re,
| move their hats. But the CELEBRITY and
cheerfulness with which il was done Just
| shows what a cotamcnd2ble spirit eXlstsih
| the New-Century Club.
| "Now," continued the gentleman. what
| want you newspaper men to do, ana my
| experience of YOU is that you are always
this fact abroad. think it may act as
precedent for the Opera House and at
other public gatherings. Any others OF
the sex can we'll afford to follow the lead
of the ladies am talking of. Ana think
enough of the people of wilmington 10
believe they will. | am sure they must
realize with what disappointment and
chagrin a person sits for an hour ana d
half or two hours, behind one of those
OPAQUE and alleged beautiful head struc--
lures. which completely hide all view OF
the stage from people who have the mis-
fortune to sit behind modern couture.
That was my experience the other nlsnL
when Camille DArville played the Magic
Kiss at the Opera House. Two young
ladies, above the ordinary height, sat I'M
, medately in front of me. They had the
fashionable hat, with all that indescnp'
} able melange of ribbon ana feather, grace
/ fully advancing upwards i'll two dense
truncated cones, admirable probably in
feminine eyes-but III mine Oil
"rhe young ladies had their condolences
with one another. Each movement de
Z mandcd simultaneous one from those
. behind in order to rearrange for stage
alignment view. And there ] was bqbbing
: TO right and left, in lively Rdnch-aBd
, Judy measure, those behind me, in TURN
i forced to similar tactics did this until
4 was tired out. My neck was almost Oslo
v Gated. / was driven at length, in shee
d despair-and disgust-to get up ana leaV'
c the Opera House.
@ "But my experience can be but that
Is scores of others. Now what have tn
ladies to say about it Noblesse oblige
l. We are entirely in their power. viii tn
/. ladies of Wilmington do that much TO
Il The relief Of Opera House goers and rt
h move their hats! 1t is done UNIVERSAL
q elsewhere, in New York, Philadelphia
[, Baltimore in Paris London, and on til
i, continent. Why should we remain %
It only ockneys-cockneys of the pure;
If | breed
Among the multitudinous societie
n organizations. women's clubs, doors {
d hope, other bands and circles, why M
Is one for the relief, land there would be =
,e annual substitution TO this club) of d
II fenceless and indignant men. The ne
a. organization would have worldwide syn
If pathy and a benson that few OF its pr
tecessors has easily won.