The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-18
CRUSHED HATS ARE BARRED
DEPARTMENT ORDERS SOLDIERS
NOT TO BATTER HEADGEAR.
That Article of Dress Has Long In
dictated Various Arms of Service
lis stiR and Ugly When New
Must He Worn Just as Issued.


fortunately for himself. Is an American
although in Iivery-and long years OF
practice IN the art of permitting some
body else who can be and is styled gen
tleman" TO think for him has not utterly
killed his mentality. So he Is mad-hot
angry. just plain mad.
Tommy has lived In garrisons, eamped
out in the heat and cold, rain and drouth
of the frontier under discouraging condi-
lions and has never murmured. he mas
preserved a startling degree OF individn-
atty when one comes to think OF Y, lot,
individually or collectively, the haro hnes
Of his service have not made MN the
mere machine certain officers ana sentie-
men have fondly hoped for. Tommy IS
some $1,000 strong just now. and he reefs
his oats to a degree proportionate 10 ms
numerical strength. He Is not IN wrath
against those gentlemen who are IN the
field or camp or post with him, Tor thsy
never--or at least seldonl-interfere with
his personal habits so long as these 90
not spoil discipline
But Tommy. in common with those IN
authority over him. those who boss MIN
in company. battery or troop. has a wild
desire to rope few OF the feathereo
birds Of the army who. wearying or
round OF social dissipation. lean aching
heads on desks and devise devices for the
annoyance OF those who go forth to fight.
Tommy will live on three hard-tacks ana
a swallow of green scum-covered water
a day. walk the fifteen or thirty miles
necessary to accomplish his task, go into
hot fight at the end OF the trip and sleep
under the stars without anything more
savage than a song around the camp
fire when It is all over. But whenever
his top sergeant" assemblies him and
hems profoundly and then reads special
order No 49, A. @. o." Tommy rises
metaphorically on his hind legs and let's
out roar. Then he obeys or disobeys
this A. @. o. document as seems good 10
him.
This is what Is biting Tommys vitals just
now. II Is all about hat. Now the gov
eminent I'm its loving care for Tommy has
prescribed a campaign hat which In It's vir-
gin purity IL a thing OF worry and disgust.
II f. "scratchy'' to the forehead, stff with
shellac and altogether undesirable for the
general wear until II has been rolled UNI
der horse or two left in the rain all
night TO grow properly wet and soft and
then treated to vigorous rubbing In dirt.
Hats Designate Service.
For all the years since this brand OF head
gear has been issued Tommy has been ac-
customed to handle II like a stepchild until
II has come TO assume a shape he fancies.
Then II IL loved companion and Is not
discarded until the top sergeant informs
him that 10 wear IL any longer means a
double allowance Of guard or other nasty
duty. Besides this Tommy has fancy that
he would like the iayman TO know what
arm OF the service he adorns. He may be
a trooper. but his blouse is the same as that
worn by his "doughboy" comrade. His
trousers have double seat. but the red
legs'' also have the same style Of garment
II the infantry Is mounted-a thing Of fire.
qucney-the double seat goes with the sad
die duty So distinctive evidence OF the
army Is wanting In the uniform as laid
down by the authorities
The hat furnished Tommy tire longed-for
chance. He could smash the thing IN such
cunning wise A. to infallibiy direct stten-
ton to hts kind OF service. Tommy Is like
every other .oldier-he Is jealous Of his arm
Of the service and is willing 10 put on the
gloves with yellow or red to demonstrate
that the white IL the real thing. He is ready
10 take on all corners 10 show his regiment
and company Is the best in the land SO Il
is not surprising that he looked about him
to devise something In hts uniform which
would tell his story
His drili instructor told him 10 stand
up straight draw his heels together as
closely as his hulginR calves would per-
NIT without destroying his balance. puff
out his chest. draw IN his abdomen and
have his little finger embrace the seam OF
his pantaioons He cannot be regarded
e.
ers They are hreeehes or pantaleons In
course OF time. by reason Of his service
nc came 10 acquire a peculiar gait when
walking a gait he never entirely gets rid
Of when retired TO private life. He has
a side-wheeler motion OF tha shoulders as
II he would butt his way through the
world
An old campaIgner can tell the arms OF
service By the set OF the shoulders and
the carriage Of the body on the hips. lie
can tell without a mistake when the uni
formed Tommy or the discharged Tommy
crosses his hawse. But this would not aid
the layman, so Tommy laid violent hold on
the. campaign hat and fixed II Just right
after painful effort He had discovered
a method by which his arm" could be
recognized az a glance. Now this device
has been declared Illegal by a special or
der from the adjutant generals office
Hats must be worn in the shape In which
they come 30 The mon. Hence rs Tommy
Tomkins nlled with rage.
styI. of the Cavalry.
First OF all the cayalrymen found a way
These fellows are wont 20 crush their
hats untl the stlff felt Ia sof, az flannel
Then they poke s3aiWart hst up through
the crown. making that adjunct 20 good
piece 81 hsadgear bulge out Ike a sugar
loaf Then they iahOriouslY linden, that
hat front and erar and on both sides. This
rim is pressed upward front and rear and
down on the TWO aauks Having done this.
the hat Is placed on the head wish "a
devi}laN rakish afr. which says as plainly
as print. 'T IN a boss soldier"
THIS style 81 wearing the hat was so
farcied by Tommy that he wanted 10
carry 30 out all through the servics-that
IS. par. % him did But the waller legs"
pcre FIRST 90 assume 81 and The Others
scaraed 90 copy. 50 artillery and infahtrF
g1t busy The boys OF the biz guns de-
clicd ou plnninr up ths lei, nap Of she
rim 20 tha crown and AfCxiaE their
crossed cannon tlcre,e. The Infantry
turned up thc frcnI rsm ard placed the
crossed rifles ovcr % bind the flap Ia po-
siu1n Thus each arm had SIS distinctive
style 0f wearing tho ncld hat
The rake OF the bat IN time came Go iss-
ixnate certain regiment. although IN
tho case % the footmen h was hard 10
dnd twenty-five rakts that would not mix
war m.5.e.ue with rAcA other or sauae aae
ot the tcn cavalry aRl seven artillery reg
ifueuIs Bal the Idea Tommy bad Was