Evening star., 1897-02-27
WOMEN's HATS OFF.

First Night of the New Antf-Hnt Or
dinnnce In the Chicago Thenters.
From the Chicago Daily Tribune.
Hats Off" was the word in the theaters
last evening
1t was not the long-suffering men, who
are used to looking at the stage through
waving masses Of foliage, who said it. 1t
was the stern mandate Of the law which
went into effect.
The woman who has been in the habit
Of looking around and gently turning up
her nose as the meek little man who made
whispered comments of a sarcastic nature
in regard to the Flower garden" upon her
head was really pitiable last night in her
nervous haste 70 get the big hat OFF and
into her lap before she could be arrested.
In not single theater were there more
than two or three big hats, and these were
almost invariably confined to the rear
rcws. The women who attended the thea
terS last night seemed anxious to avoid
for violating the ordinance, and they be-
gan taking their hats off even before they
reached their seats Many removed their
hats as they walked down the aisles.
Others didn't wait until they got inside
the playhouses. AS they neared the door
and saw the house policeman standing
there the guilty consciousness that they
wore high hats and were malefactors in
Z,
for they thought the policeman must be
stationed there TO nip the high hats. So
to keep the policeman from pouncing upon
them and dragging them away to lonely
prison cell the unhappy possessers of high
hats bundled them off and carried them in
their hands
Many women at the theaters had forgot
ten that last night was the time set for the
ordinance to go into effect, and for time
they kept their hats on a s proudly and de-
hantly as of old. in spite of the half-smoth-
cred remarks of the indignant citizens be-
hind them. They sat In lofty contempt Of
everything but themselves and their love
OF bonnet whose tropical foliage waved
proudly aloft
!. Then they would see the other women
waking down the afsles taking their hats
OH or removing them the first thing after
they sat down. and the women who had
forgotten the hat ordinance would sudden
iy remember that the meek. quiet indi-
Vldual behind them at last had rights they
were pound TO respect and after a last
neartbreaking sigh would reach up and
SLOWLY and mournfully haul down the high
nat like defeated garrison hauling down
its flag
small opera bonnets were much in vogue
ana as they are excepted by the ordinance
were OF course worn during the perform
ance.
There were no arrests last night. and
anybody wishing to be the central figure
In the first case still has an opportunity
AT Hooiey's only one high hat was in
sight but 1t made up In size for a half
dozen ordinary high hats 1t must have
been built inside the house by the stage
carpenter for 1t certainly never got in at
the door.
At McVicker's there was not a high hat.
At the Grand the women looked enyt-
ously at the big round hat that Francis
wilson wore and wondered why he wasn't
arrested.
Less than half dozen hats of unlawful
dimensions were seen at the Columbia
AT the Great Northern there was not a
single Objectionable hat.
AL the Schiller a dozen women took long
chances on a trip to the nearest police sta,
tion. 'oSe ''o
There was not a hat worn In the Olvm-
pic. Wy III
AT the Chicago Opera House one woman
wore hat. rivaled in lawlessness bv its
riotous colors. through one short act. and
then removed it by request"
AT the Gaiety no large hats were worn.