The Washington times., 1901-08-11
STYLES IN HORSES HATS.
Unique Designs That Add to the
Comfort of Animals.
Only sun-BOnncts. simple i'm Appear
nncc, In Vogue in Washington,
But Fancy Millinery for the
Equine Is to he Seen in New York.

| Equine Is to lie seen in New fOTk
The appearance of the horses in thi
city this summer in straw bonnet
marks a humane innovation in TIL
treatment of the noble animal that il
very useful to man Protection O
some sort for the heads of horses, work
ing all day in thebroiling sun. is fell
to be well-nigh imperative, even if i
does entail a somewhat Iudicrous eff
| feet.
The manner in which the ears of the
horses are made to protrude through
the bonnet on either side contributes q
unique effect to this --latest thing in
hats"
The most used sunshade for horses
efiicacious," said a well-known local
horseman day or so ago. rs sponge.
Though seeming to be only an inn
promptu resource. it answers its pur-
pose better than anything else-simple
or elaborate. 1t can be moistened fire.
quently, whenever a water trough is
passed anG remais.s cool for a long pc
relief 10 the poor animals. The ludi-
crous appearance counts, or should
count, for nothing. 1t is the dray
horses and the van horses who most
need relief. The well-br horses with
their partially well-bred owners are out
of town, and would not suffer to the
same degree were they not.
eft is thor ra,,o RI l,Ia e.,
as / am able to judge. no fancy styles
in horses hats nave been attempted
yet in Washington as in New York.
In the latter city during the first week
of July the windows of shops occupied
by harness makers begin to grow gay
with the display of summer hats for
horses. They are Of all sizes, shapes,
and colors, but there has been this year
a leaning toward a peaked straw hat,
with a red tassel. 1t is fastened to the
head-piece by straps, the ears having
little side shafts. through which they
can protrude and make movements. as
in the unadorned style | have noticed
here pretty girl might wear such
an affair becomingly. But you can pic
ture the outlandish effect of a big dray
horse toiling in the shafts of a brewers
van with a Folly's cap perched coquet-
tishly between its ears.
No rules, or conceivable rules. guide
the manufacturers of these sunshades.
But the fashions change. nevertheless.
just as they do in articles of human
wearing apparel. A year ago the mode
in New York inclined to a white linen
with red stripes, which
made quite gaudy affair 1t was
on frame of wire; held in
place also by slender wire strands which
came down on either side of the ears
and fastened to the bride 1t was
like tent pitched on the
animals head, though it was made in
TWO sections to admit ventilation.
There is marked tendency among
he manufacturers in the larger cities |
o follow wOmen's styles. Besides /,
straw hats with ribbons and artificial I
lowers, poke bonnet is made having |
me strong point to recommend it in the /
act that it can be fastened without |
wires The latter, having a tendency /
o gall the lower part of the ears are
'est done without where it is possible
o employ other forms of fastening.
The regulation poke bonnets are not
he only ones used. One may see hors-
s wearing affairs with sombre black
ibbons, once worn to church on Sun
lays. However the men who will put
heir wives old bonnets to this purpose
viii do even more-proof, if any were
eeded, that the men in charge of horses
n New York are more humane in
heir treatment of them than is usual
mong those of their class. Men driv-
ng covered vans in which they are
themselves sheltered from the heat.
ave been known to make use of their
wn hats TO afford some relief to their
orses.
Less effective than a sponge, not so
ay as a straw hat, but in some re-
poets more suitable than either. and
ertainly looking more business-like.
re the plain felt pads that of late
ears harness makers have introduced.
hese are supported on a light frame
ork. and, being perforated, are admi-
ibly adapted to their purposes. l am
Apply to say a device in use some
ears ago is now obsolete. This was a
tile tin cone. which at one time was I
popular. 1t looked like an
verted wine-strainer. and while sup
)sed to defect the red-hot sunbeams.
nd TINS protect the animals head.
-obably added a good deal to its dis
,mfort.
1T is a marked sign of the inestim- {
Die quality Of common sense in horses
lat they, at least as far as | know,
I'VE made no objection to these some
hat unsightly safeguards against the :
,at of the sun. The horse is a very
iin animal. and sensitive as to his {
,rsonal appearance. Put feathers on :
mares head, ard the animal will IA I
ice commerce to assume all the CO. ,
fetish airs and graces imaginable. If c
al ostrich piumes be employed, the |
rise Will ned its head with great pride 5
and fro, as if fully conscious Of the il
due Of the decoration. and. if il meet .
fellow animal. will seem to enquire &
its hat is becoming. The feelings of I
proud horse compelled to wear an S
tlandish sunbonnet may be conceived Il
It common sense apparently prevails =
er al other consideration and the Il
Fiction that the unsightIy headgear y
IL probably save its life enables the
Iellisent quadruped to put up with it e.
tn good grace. h
An Enormous Anchor n
here has just been completed at the d