The record-union., 1896-10-25

its crusade against the high hat nui-
sance and publishes pages of letters on
the subject. The Herald says: mex
pilcaDle woman, against whose gorge
GUS monStrosity, the theater nat, man
has been inveighing for so long-she 1t
Is who continues to head the attack
against the vanity of her sex with all
the point and sarcasm of which she is
capable. 1t is little, inoffending woman
VINO comprehensive suffers most. She
blames the thirsty theater man for
running her dress and headgear. The
Spartan matron isn't lacking, either.
In one of the letters received she ad-
vises man>to wear a drum major hat
until women consent to become ra-
uoral. The high hat wearing girl is
also heard from with her confessions
and suggestions. She tells OF the an
royances she suffers when she does re-
move her hat. Wicked men then ap-
p!aud, she says, and envious women
sneer'
Some of the letters the Herald pub
fishes are very pointed and straight
of her experience:
ITO begin with, my experience has
led me to expect that the girl with the
rectly in front of me. On the night in
question my fear was realized; a girl
wearing an enormous structure on her
mortal head sat herself down thus, and
completely cut off all my view of the
stage. 1 endured it as long as I could
With any self-respect and leaning over
I said:
"I beg your pardon, but would you
ind IA limo ~ haf
the stage at ALL
Her escort turned and stared me in
the face, and then said to her, You
dent haf to- That settled it. The oaf
had proclaimed his right to liberty of
action in this free CD country. But
vfat | want to know is Where was my
freedom?
With suggestion of ridding our
selves of this evil 1 will close Get all
the managers of places of amusement
to reserve a place for the big hats
Let them all sit together and see how
it is themselves; see how they like
it. / am convinced that the females
who SO impose upon the patience and
the rights Of others are the unedu-
Gated, the ignorant people, who never
read newspaper, and have no idea of
what the public sentiment is in this re-
gard"
DR.. Phillips writes to say:
Being physician I have had con-
siderable experience with women, in
all of their moods and lenses. and / am
obliged to confess that as a rule they
are far more selfish than men and
much less considerate of the feelings Of
others.
"A woman has a hat which, besides
being a perfect beauty in itself, is ex-
actly suited to her style; naturally she
wishes to display her features from un-
derneath this most becoming head
gear. The theater, place where
beauty and fashion congregate, offers
an excellent opportunity for SO doing;
therefore she dons the hat, ignoring
every sentiment except the gratifica-
ton Of her own vanity, and quite OBJ
liyious TO the annoyance she may be
causing half dozen men who chance
to sit in her vicinity.
What are men made for?' she asks
herself in thoughtless egotism. Aren't
they expected to set aside their own
comfort, give up their pet hobbies, do
away with everything, in fact which
they take delight in, out of considera-
ton for women? OF course they are.
My dear madam, men do most pa
tiently give up great deal for wo-
men. Wouldn't some Of those big, bur-
~ fellows who attend the theaters like
to give a hearty 'guffaw' when a par
ticularly good hit is made upon the
stage? However, they remember there
are women among the audience; that
some-nay, a large percentage Of them
have nerves, SO they content them
selves with a broad smile and an in
ward chuckle. Again, how much more
pleasure could these same men draw
from the play If each one could sit
with a good Havana between his lips.
Alas women detest tobacco smoke. SO
with sigh Of regret he casts aside
his cigar at the theater entrance
Such little sacrifices of personal
comfort man makes uncomplainingly
for woman, and she receives them as
nothing more than her due, as If she
were quite entitled to them In re-
turn he humbly asks that, for the sake
of displaying a few useless gewgaws,
she shall not obstruct his view of the
stage while at the theater. Hereto
fore she has absolutely refused to
grant his request, but with her tower
ing hat has gone her way in naughty
arrogance, regardless of his discom-
fort"
One woman, forgetting that she need
not wear a big hat to the play, but
by wearing a small one can save her
self the trouble of taking 1t off and
holding 1t in her lap says:
Il am woman and am always will
ing to remove my hat when politely
requested to do so. This matter lies
with the theater managers. If they
would make their patrons comforta BILE
by giving them room enough and a
suitable place, with proper attendance,
the ladies would be very glad to avail
themselves of such accommodations.
They are crowded into a seat scarcely
large enough for an ordinary sized
person, with no extra room in front,
and a nice skirt cannot be worn with
out danger of running it. Their wraps.
hat, opera glass, fan and programme
must be packed in front and in their
laps, and become very burdensome. AT
the close of every act one or several
gentlemen necessitate a woman's ris-
ing and holding her belongings as best
she can, while they crowd out and in
again
There are many letters Of this type.
Susan Z. Layhn writes to say:
Il am perfectly delighted in reading
over the letters in your valuable paper
about the big hats. Not only the gen.
temen are pleased, but the ladies also
I, for one-in the great interest that
the Herald has taken in the display
OF large hats. have been TO the the
ater seven times this fall to see all