New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-02

PROFESSIONAL WOMAN'S LEAGUE MEM
RERs TAKE ACTION.
THEY HAVE LIVELY DISCUSSION AND RECON-
MEND THAT EITHER SMALL BoNNETs BE
WORN IN THE THEATRE. OR
THAT HATS BE REMOVED

MEND THAT EITHER SMALL BONNETs BE
WORN IN THE THEATRE, OR
THAT HATS BE REMOVED.
The. literary afternoon of the professional
Womans League was well attended yesterday II
heine "round robin day. and the lecture-room was
filed with the members of the league VINO az
parenty considered literary culture TO De the 'n'''s
of all others worth having. But seVeraI 'he"oe''
who TO read papers having disaPpon'e" III.
chairman Mrs Welby who presided. an ihiorfha
discussion took place which IN its results may
have been productive Of as much good az "ouio
have been the papers previously mentioned Only
two Of the six members whose names were on the
programme fulfilled their agreements paper OH
Fade and Fancies read by Mrs. Nueia'uc
Ober, and one or "Thc New School OF success WAS
read by Miss Clara Thropp. Nine De Louie con
scented to fill in part OF the breach anu 'eo'e"
one Of Meredith's poems.
Then followed the discussion, which was spT''eu'
interesting and important in its way. Hats, Dig
and little. bonnets of all sorts ana cohhi"ohS'
scarfs. hoods and nubias all had their part III the
debate but the hat the big hat. the towering nat
which AT the theatre fills ones vision to the utter
extinction Of stage. players and personal comfort.
was the piece de resistance" Mrs. Ida JeHreys
Goodfrend amusingly related an incident OF re-
cent evening when she had been seated in the
theatre directly pack of a young woman whose
immense hat. with its holding piumes. prevented
her from getting bird's-eye view OF the per-
formance Upon her courteous request that the
hat should be removed. the young woman hashen
a look OF scorn. and replied: Certainly not
The ideaw Turning to her companion, she
excitedly exclaimed Did you ever hear
OF such a thing" following this UP by turning
around and again wrathfully glaring at the person
who could presume to make such stupendons re-
quest. But the play being OF more Importance
Just then to Mrs. Goodfrend than the young
uadp az usher for OfDer
seats where the stage within range OF Vison'
the request being at once complied with while the
plumes continued TO nod.
After the laughter had subsidized which followed
Mrs Goodfrends recital. Mrs. Charles Barnard re-
fcrrei to the bill before the Legislature regarding
theatre hats. which seemed probable. she thought
of becoming a law. and thus preventing such DIM
cultles Mrs Robert Gregory. who has a good wori
for her own sex. irrespective OF cause. while not
approving the big hats thought that Few theatre
dlscomforts might be attributed TO men she theTe-
upon told OF case which had recently came uh1ef
her personal inspection. when a very large man
about six feet in height. had taken seat near her
in the theatre first folding his heavy oyercoat and
placing 1t beneath him. thus raising him seVe'ai
inches
He was barely seated" continued Mrs. Gregory
when a young woman behind him audiby WINS
pered her escort that she wished that man would
lower himself a little and allow the people back OF
him to see something The poor man blushed 70 The
roots OF his hair. looked extremely unhappy ior
few minutes and then quietly sneakel ne coat ron
beneath him almost doubling himself up 10 D.
small possible t'ui his head "hich "as hpoui Oh
as iarge as one OF the condemned hats. was sun
there you that some men nave DIX h''ds a.
The man dld all that he could 20 remove the
ohsiruc;Ion' quickly replied Mrs. GoOdiri"ni. az
soon a. he was aware 81 the discomfort ne WAS
causing. and Am sorry 10 say hat IN that ne IN
fered from great many women
The annoyance caused by men leaving their seats
between the acts Wa considerably disru~s"i 1hl
while n was agreed that II would b" a relief II u
were the custom for every one ~ move about nj
these times. II was theHunannous opinion that
man insults woman when he leaves her in
public place 20 procure drink or a srnok" II was
suggested bv Mr.. James Fairrnsn that ne -"ntl-
ment Of tn" league he expressed regarllns IA"
seconded by Mrs Coodfrlend ana the result was
unanimously IN favor ~ removing the hats "r
rarr."d thai mesnSers % the league should take
action IN lytnNt 4 me sion pf thr Legislature,
Muidener. who said that she agr""i hat the big
were many times when woman having som"
distance 90 60. ana being hurried could not
Ike removing her IA, ~ reply To- 'As,
Mrs Goodfrend saii. with much cmph,-
remove her hat she would DO 80 II she looked
Ike fright" She also added that ~ the present
time when evening bonnet consisted of u lew
flowers and bit - lace and ribbon. u seemed 10
be quite possible for any one ~ho fooa "1 ~ ,, -
This sentiment was heartily applauici - The "th"r
members.
formation by telling OF an occurrence few even
ings previous. when woman with one or the Oh
nOxiOus hats. had sat TWO seats IN 'front.' ~ her,
and then obstructng her view. She requested
the woman Immediately ~ 'front.' OF her To ask
that the hat should bc removed.
Il don't dare to- replied the woman. Il am
afraid that she would refuse
We'll. would ask her. II had the chance said
Aunt Louisa.
What would you 10 II she diI refuse
II should tell her that expected she would FOR
II a woman would wear such a hat and maxi other
people uncomfortable she wouldn't know any better
refuse to remove II.
Many amustng stories were tod OF theatre ex-
perencos benefits 20 be derived 10y removing The hat
were mentioned. and various suggestions we're Of
fered concerning a hcaigcar which should be COM
Portable becoming and easily removed