The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-06-10
LEssoN IN poLlrENnss.
Greet Your Cook an You Would Lady
stoyepipo Hat Champion

That pollienoas has not entirely died
out or tho world. ana that there are
other things worthy Of consideration than
3 tho getting and keeping Of the almighty
dollar. h evidenced by the following nrt-
clio IN the New York Herald. having for
I its text '"Tho Stovcpipu Hat"
Lord Ronald Goscr. the leader Of the
revolt against the high hat. has found
his match Last week the Herald. ia
an article reprinted from its European
edition, told tho story of this interesting
movement and OF the man who has bo-
come known Hu Ito sponsor
since then tho Vicomle do Ia Roche
foucauld has answered Cover and In
cldcntally makes some caustic criticisms
upon tho manners OF tho times. when
arv reproduced from tho European edl-
ton Of the Herald because they are Just
as pertinent reading IN New York as IN
Paris
N. De In Rochcfoucauld In a man whose
opinion must be respected. lie II n scion
OF one OF the nobirBt houses OF France.
ho II man about town, using the word
IN its best sense no II good sportsman,
shining In that most difiiculi OF games
OF dash and skill. polo, and he has like
wiHa the reputation OF being one OF the
best dressed men In Paris-a reputation
not come 10y NO easily a. II may be lost.
MY opinion" he says. IN the Euro
poan edition OF tho Herald. ''can be
given In very few words, The high
hat cannot and should not be dispensed
with, II II as necessary an article OF
apparel Ra others that no man with self
respect would 10 without In fact.
cannot conceive OF any man rcilnquish-
NV.. AaN L. ri alsro ~
not only TO his own social position. but
his surroundings.
But there In the trouble The virtue
OF respect In being lost. Not many years
no gentleman would meet woman on a
staircase without raising his hat TO her.
even II she were only his cook, How
many observe this essential Of politenrBs
nowndRyaf
Then look at the attitude our young
men assume. and think Il chic TO assume, >
now. not only TO women. but 70 the
seniors OF their own sex! In my younger
days Il would have been regarded as
social crime not 10 salute ones seniors,
but now you will see young whlpper-
unappcrs Just fresh from school pass by
men OF their fathcre age with jauniy
nod.
This spirit OF sans-gcne Is eating It's
way into everything, We are In the
midst OF grand dcgrlngolade Je-
m'cn-nchlSmc' IL the dominating infu-
enco OF the time
And the campaign against the top hat
ls only ono OF many sraws that show
how the wind blows
In my opinion" the Nicomte da la
Rochofoucauld continued. 1t Is perfectly
outrageous 60 see men going about town.
as 20 many now do. IN negllge costume
that would scarcely be tolerated In the
country. Tho convention OF dress IL
aH respectable aH any other convention.
The uHRges OF society lay down the rule
that for certain obseryances you must
wear frock coat and a tall hat. and IN
n city where YOU are at any moment IL
ablc TO hnd yourself In circumstances
where even your apparel should denote
respect tho frock coat and tail hat are
necessary,
II do not OF course mean to say that
you should wear them while cycling, or
playing polo or tennis. or oven riding on
an automobile. There are times when
the top hat Ii as much out OF place as
the derby or the soft felt Is for the ordi-
nary avocatlons OF city He. But when
once you have finished your cycling or
your automobile riding, you must change
your clothes II you are not running tilt,
like Lord Ronald Cover ngainst ohserv.
ancc that takes It's rise In the very basis
OF society.
IN riding, now, | think the tall hat
should always be worn. From the pure
~ artistic point OF view, even, think
the man on horseback requires some
thing In tine nature OF tall hat ON his
head. II sets him of better l should
never dream OF riding In the Bols In
anything but a chapeau haute torme.
Again, Lord Ronald Cover | see from
the Herald. argues that the top hat is
inartistlc. Now, l fail 10 see that 1t is
IN any wcy less artistic or less becom-
Ing than any other style OF mans hat.
And what sort OF a hat does Lord Rom
aid Cover want n man to wear With n
frock coat9 Given that the latter Is
u necessary article OF apparel, there is
no other style Of head piece can imag-
inc TO wear with II.
Another example OF what | advance Is
to be found IN the wearing Of the smok-
ing Jacket, When man Is dining with
n few friends OF his own age, with coma
rades. u smoking Jacket Is all very well,
but when no may meet ladies or his
seniors II IN an abomlnaton. DO you
think would ever have dared TO ap-
pear at my fathers table In smoking
Jacket9 He would have Immediately
said to me, va thObillorv But l should
mover have dared to do such thing.
even had my bringing up allowed OF tho
idea entering my head"