The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1895-06-20
KNOWN BY THEIR HATS.

almost as soon think of changing his
politics as changing his SLOUGH hat.
1t is true there are some exceptions,
but these exceptions are usually
among members who have been in
congress for years and who have ac-
commodated themselves to the fash
ions that belong to the east. The new
member from the south can be de-
tected Immediately by the black
sombrero and style of his clothing.
The full slzirted black frock coat and
low cut vest showing an extensive
shirt front are still worn by the
young and ambitious statesmen who
wish to patronize the style of 80
years ago, and whose clothes seem
to be cut according to the fashion
represented in pictures and portraits
of congressman of that period. After
the new member has been in Wash
ington a year Or two he generally
conforms to the prevailing fashion
as far as his coat and trousers are
concerned, but he seldom yields to
the demand of fashion so far as to
forswear the black SLOUGH hat
There are few of these southern
men now in congress who have
yielded to the influences of northern
and eastern surroundings so far as
to wear high silk hat. They have
done so at considerable risk to their
standing among their colleagues and
to their reputation at home. The
southerners always speak of the silk
hat as q beaver. :" Representative
Tyler of Virginia, son of the late
President Tyler, is one of the old
time southern members. He was
advised by friend to purchase a
beaver" and conform to the pre-
vailipg style in Washington.
mo, sir" said Mr.. Tyler. "If I
were to wear a beaver and my con-
stituents down in Virginia were to
hear of it, that would be the end of
my career rs representative.
One of the exceptions to wearing
the black SLOUGH hat is Representa-
tive Catchings of Mississippi, who
either appears on the streets in a
derby or in a shining silk tile But
when M. Gatherings visits his dis
tricts down south he appears among
his neighbors and constituents in
the regulation soft hat of antebellum
days.
Representative Grain of Texas is
another exception to the general
rule. All Of the other members of
the Texas delegation, including both
senators, wear nothing but the
broad brimmed black hat and can
not be induced to change their style.
Mr Grain has made a concession tc
! the custom of the north so far as tx
wear silk hat continually. He ha,
been reelected to congress, so tina
it is not proved that desertion o
the sombrero of the south means tn,
political demise of aStatesman from
that section.
Western congressman often wea
stiff derby hats, but very few 0
them put on the more snowy silkel
tile. When they do, they make them
selves liable to the criticism of thei
colleagues and constituents, VIII
look upon q man who wears higl
silk hat as being "stuck up" Their
are some of them who when ava,
from the eyes of their immediat
constituents are apt to discard tn
dress of the west for the more fash
ionable attire that is supposed to b
worn in the east.
! For the most part the men fror
the middle and New England state
conform to the general idea of wha
is the proper dress at different hour
of the day. Their headdress is usual
| ly selected after a consultation Q
recognized authorities of fashion
and there are probably more sill
| hats worn by members east of tn
Alleghanies and north of the Poto
mac than among all the other con
gressmep put together. There ar
| different varieties of silk hats, how
ever, and it is not difficult to dis
tinguish the different localities from
which the members come.
A Philadelphia member wears
what might be termed "conserva.
tive" hat. 1t is eminently respecta.
BILE, but it's block is sometimes sug.
, gestive of those prevailing some
years ago. New Workers appear in
the newest, shiniest and most ex-
travagant styles. But in New Eng
land they do not seem to care very
much about the style as long as their
head covering is of the "stovepipe"
order. Philadelphia Press.