The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-09
ALL HATS CAME OFF
NEW ANTI-HIGH HAT LAW Is En-
FORCED IN THE CITIES OF OHIO

In Cincinnati the Ushers Notify the Vain
Creatures of the Fair Sex That They
Must Put Aside Their Headgear and
When They Comply With the Request
the Gallery Gods Applaud and Make
UnseemIy Remarks-In Cleveland the
Women do Not Try to Break the
Law.
Cincinnati, O., April S.-The Fosdick
anti-high hat bill was put into opera
ton in this city tonight.
At the Fountain theatre the law was
rigidly observed. On the program was
printed a notice TO women which read
as follows:
"A law has been enacted in the state
of Ohio making it compulsory on the
part of theatre managers TO see that
their patrons have an unobstructed
view of the stage, aiming at the large
hats worn by ladies. With a view of
seating all comfortably the manage
ment kindly asks the lady patrons to
aid them in carrying out the law
The doorkeeper wore out his voice
saying: Ladies, will you please re-
move your hats on reaching your
seats?"
That was what he said at first, but ii
finally got down to hoarse mutter:
please take your hats off"
The women complied with wonderful
alacrity, and not a bit Of headgear-
Easter headgear-could be seen in any
part of the house. A few were trifle
slow in complying, but all finally did so.
AT the Grand ii was different. The
women apparently had decided TO defy
the law, for such collection of ostrich
plumes, ribbons, and flowers never was
seen in the house before. The audi
torium looked like a small conservatory
when the curtain went up, and several
men changed their seats perforce to
get glimpse of the performance.
At Haucks half the women had their
hats in their laps. One man complain
ed that he could not see the stage, and
an usher was sent to ask woman to
remove the offending Leghorn- She did
so with grace and alacrity.
At the Walnut ii was different. Pos
sibly a dozen women sat bareheaded.
AS they took off their hats they were
greeted with cheers from the gallery
Shouts Of There goes another one,
Bill" That's right" and Good girl
filed the house and brought the bushes
to the cheeks of the obliging fair ones.
Those who failed TO remove their hats
We're the subjects of cutting personal
illusions from the gods.
The Walnut is one of the first-class
theatres of the town, and such demon |
stration from the gallery was most I'M
usual.
FUN AT CLEVELAND.
Cleveland, O., April S.-A low number |
Of high hats were worn to the city thea |
tres last evening, notwithstanding the |
fact that the Fosdick theatre-hat bill |
Went into eject yesterday. The reason
a larger number of hats that lowered |
toward the ceiling were not in evidence
at the playhouses was because the own
ers had voluntarily discarded them
either before or after entering the place
Of amusement. according to the state
mentS of ushers interviewed by a re-
porter.
The indications are that the FosdicIk
theatre-halt bill, although quite plain
in intent. may be the means of per-
picking the managers of the city thea
tres, one of whom was already inquir-
ing last evening just what chance the
I
had to escape the wrath both of the
aw and of the woman VINO was order
I'd TO uncover her head. Manager Hen
shaw of the Lyceum and Cleveland
theatres, when asked about the en-
.orcement of the law, said:
THE bill, it strikes me, is unfair 10
he managers, because it compels them
% enforce the law, and fixes a penalty
lpon them in case they fail 20 enforce
I AS | understand the law, the man
sger is compelled to request ladies to
'emove their hats, if they are large, and
n the event the ladies refuse TO comply
With the request, and they are not
,jected from the auditorium, the man
lger is liable to a fine. There is no
penalty provided as a punishment of
he woman who refuses 10 comply with
he provisions Of the law, but the man
lger Is compelled to bear the brunt of
he whole affair. If a woman is elected
or any reason, the probabilities are
hat the manager Will be sued for dam
ges. If she is allowed TO remain in
he house with a large hat on her
lead, the manager may be fined for
the Fosdick law 1t looks TO
ne as though the law will catch the
managers both going and coming. If
he women do not take kindly TO the
ew law However, the ma iority OF
ne women theatre-goer wear small
ats that do not obscure the vision |
I those sitting behind them, and il is
citing 70 be considered bad form to |
year large hat to the theatre. I /
viii publicly ask all my patrons 10
ear in mind that the new law is in eff
ect, and if they want TO obey it. all
ight; if not, somebody must complain
D me before 1 request lady to remove