The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-11-13

the beavers of the time of the Charles's
The Puritans of the reign Of Charles l.
adopted lofty steeple crowns, typical
perhaps of their soaring aspirations.
With these crowns they combined
brims of portentous widths, which their
best friends could scarcely now con-
tend were typical o. their breadth Of
view. The Cavaliers, on the other
hand, by rejecting the steeple crown,
symbolized their less lofty principles,
and by their yet broader brims adorned
with feathers typified more wide and
worldly sympathies. So matters ran
on until the next step in their evolu-
tion was taken in the reign of Charles
II. Brims grew broader and broader
until the slightest breath of wind dis
organized the wearer's headgear alto
gether. A happy idea then struck
some halter, for he elaborated the de-
vice of looping. This simple expedi-
ent gave grand opportunity for the
artistic-minded traders of the period,
and there consequently ensued all sorts
of "cocks." The old-f,shioned low
crowned beaver, with broad brim
looped up equally on three sides, be-
came the cooked hat which prevailed
until comparatively recent times.
After years and years of varied cock
ing and other alterations in the shapes
of the beaver, there came from Flor
ence specimens of silk hats. 1t would
be more correct to say that they came
from Paris, for, although manufactured
in Italy, they were exported in the first
instance to France. They appear to
have taken the British fancy. for the
sale increased, and the profits were
such as to induce manufacturers to
start the business here. Now, as may
be imagined, it is an enormous indus
try, employing in Stockport alone
many hundreds of men, women, and
children, aided by elaborate and costly
machinery. To say that England
alone exports more than million an
nually to all parts of the world is sutfi-
cient to testify both to their quality
and quantity. The exports from
France will be very considerably great
er, for that country has had for many
years the lead in supplying an ever-ex-
tending market. The last words are
used advisedly, for not only is the de-
mand growing in countries with tenn
perate climates, but the inhabitants of
tropical and semi-tropical lands are also
adopting them Twenty or thirty
years ago the "topper" was practically
unknown in Argentina, the free and
comfortable soft felt hat being found
perfectly satisfactory. Nowadays the
selfrespecting Buenos Airean suffers
tortures rather than dispense with his
new love. Much the same thing is re-
ported from all quarters OF the globe.
Where custom or fashion say yes, the
individual is rarely able to say no; and
and where he has the pluck to go on
his own way, he will find himself re-
garded as an eccentric and treated ac-
cordingly. So that, whether the top
hat is or is not the explanation of the
premature badness so common to our
young men, we may safely assume that
the date of emancipation is as yet lost
in futurity. 1t took some years to kill
the crinoline, which was not one whit
more absurd; common sense at last
prevailed in that instance, and it is to
be hoped that it will ultimately declare
itself against such a fragile, unsteady,
and absurd invention as the "topper."
The popular soft felt hats seem to an
swer every requirement for winter use.
They are comfortable, warm, light, are
not easily blown off, and are, moreover,
cheap and lasting; in summer nothing
can be cooler than the simple straw.
The tyranny of the ';topper" still main
tains its power in London, and will die
hard, but die it will sooner or later: in
the words of the song, "Let it be soon!"