The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-06-21
KNOWN BY THEIR ATS.


The southern CONGRESSMAN would
almost ~ soon think If changing his
politics ~ changing his SLOUGH hat
IL l. true there are some exceptions
among mcmhors who have been in
& lngrcSs for years and who have ac-
commodated themselves to the fash
IONS that belong 10 the east. The new
member from the south can be de-
tected Immediately by the black
Sombrcro ard style of his clothing.
The full skirtcd black frock coat and
low cut vest showing an extensive
shirt front are still worn by tho
young and ambitious statesmen who
wish to patronizc the style of so
years ago, and whose clothes seem
10 be cut according 10 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 rs his coat and trousers arc
concerned, but he seldom yields to
.hc demand of fashion SO far rs to
for>wcar the black SLOUGH hat
There are few Of these southern
men now in congress who have
Welded to the influences of northern
and eastern surroundings SO far rs
To wear "A high silk hat They have
done so nj considerable risk to their
standing among their colleagues and
TO their reputation at home. The
southerncrs always speak of the silk
hat as "A beaver" Representative
Tyler of Virginia. son of the late
President Tyler. is one of the old
time southern members He was
advised by a friend to purchase n
beaver" and conform to the pre-
vailing style in Washington.
mo, sir. said Mr.. Tyler. If l
we're to wear beaver and my con-
stitusnts down in Virginia were to
hear Of it, that would be the end of
my career as a representative.
One of the exceptions to wearing
the black SLOUGH hat is Representa-
tive Catchings of Mississippi, who
either appears on the streets in
derby or in shining silk tile. But
when Mr.. Catchings 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 10 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 BIZ induced TO change their style
Mr. Grain has made concession To
the custom of the north so far rs to
wear silk hat continually. He has
been reelected to congress. so that
II Is not proved that dcsertion of
the sombrero of the south means the
political demise of a statesman from
that section
Western congressman often wear
stiff derby hats, but very few of
them put on the more snowy silken
tile. When they do. they make them
selves liable to the criticism of their
colleagues and constituents, who
look upon u man who wears a high
silk hat rs being stuck up" There
are some of them who when away
from the eyes of their immediate
are apt TO discard the
dress of the west for tie more fash
attire that is supposed to be
worn III the east.
For the most part the men from
the middle and New England states
conform to the general idea Of what
j. the proper dress at different hours
IF the day. Their headdrcss is usual
ly selected after consultation of
recognized authorities of fashion.
md there are probably more silk
hats worn by members east Of the
Alleghanics and north of the Poto-
mac than among all the other con-
srcSsmcn put together. There are
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 b. termed "conserva-
tive hat 1t is eminently rcspccta-
BILE. but its block is sometimes sug-
gestive of those prevailing some
years ago. New Workers appear in
the newest, shinicst and most es-
travagant styles. But in New Eng
land they do not seem to care very
much about tho style rs long as their
head covering is of the "stovcpipe"
, rider. Philadelphia Press
- A. a.