The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-28
THE HIGH HAT IN CHURCH.

Now II is proposed to abolish the high
and expansive-and necessarily ex-
pensive-hat in church. A Southern
minister has stirred up the question.
and he declares that it is exceedingly
difficult to reach the heart Of = man or
woman who Is wriggling In despair s'be-
hind q towering poem in harmonious
headgear." There are other objections
to the high hat in church. Nothing is
more annoying to an observant woman
than to have a hat nine inches high.
twelve inches wide and with three ten
inch nodding plumes directly before her
and obstructing the view when she
wants to see what kind Of hats women
are wearing further in front There can
preachers voice, but it is as unsatis-
factory as smoking in the dark to hear
words and be unable to see the preacher
especially IL he be young and hand
some.
There Is much to be said in opposi-
ton to a woman being compelled to
take off her hat In church. and some
preachers who did not happen to think
OF the new idea first are making the
most Of 1t. They quote the Scriptures
to prove that behind the wearing of
hats Is the sanctity Of traditions 1000
years old. That Is true. but these tradi-
tons apply to mems hats also. and the
only people who respect these traditions
are the Jews.
Another preacher is opposed to the
innovation on the ground that woman
represents the retiring modesty of the
race" That is true. but In order that
the argument become applicable women
should go back to the poke bonnet Of
charmingly coquettish and not unbe-
coming headgear Of the Quakeress. The
church hat Is sometimes very pretty,
usually stylish. often a marvel Of the
milliner's art, but 1t cannot be utilized
as a distinctive emblem OF modesty.
Perched on top OF the head or forming
may be an object for admiration, but 1t
can hardly be regarded as indicating
shyness and shrinking from observa-
ton.
A side issue OF this controversy Is the
question whether the abolition OF hats
in churches will or will not increase the
sidered. VIII the increased comfort to
the men and the increase in the num-
Der who will attend in consequence
thereof not be more than Offset by The
decreased attraction church going. will
afford TO women who can neither see
their neighbors' hats nor have their
own seen?
Should women take OFF their hats In
church. says one preacher. they would
be subject to ridicule just as the moth
ers' convention was. But II II be the
right thing to do. ridicule should not
scare a good Christian woman from
taking of her hat nor into STAYING
away from a gathering OF mothers with
a good object The ridicule was not OF
the mothers, IL will be remembered, but
OF the old maids and the young bach
elors who made themselves SO conspfcu-
ously offIcious by Offering 10 teach
mothers that Of which they could have
| no practical knowledge.
All that the public asks. however. is
that the controversy be settled AMIGA
bly, and without splitting up every con-
gregation into the high hatites and the
anti-high-hatites. and SO afTording an
other religious war like that between
the Gonggong!tes and the Tum-tum-
ties. which rended In twain a certain
church OF the Cannibai Islands.
One thing every rrovident mar will
object To. and that is. the compromise
OF a pesceaole intermediary. who sug-
geS;s that every woman should have a
special church hat. This Is a shrewa
and iasidious bid FOR won1an's favor
unSeooming gentleman preaching
peace on earth and good will among
men.