Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-06
THE MEXICAN AND HIS HAT.
Why He Spends So Much Attention
and Money on His Headgear.
(Washington Evening Starr

washington Evening STAR
while on train in Mexico on my
last trip tc the country OF the Aztecs a
young American lady, upon whose as
tori.hed gaze was flashed for the rSt
time the fearfully and wonderfully
made susar-loaf Mexican hat, which is
the dr,t out Of the ordinary object that
srsets the tourists eyes after he crosses
the Rio Grande, asked me why MeXi-
Cal men Of all classes spent so much
money upon the covering for their
heads and appeared to take such evil
sent pride in the great de-brimmed,
nigh conical-crowned shelter from the
tropical heat and sum-" said a hat
drummer to reporter.
When the American soldiers depart
q for Cuba or Porto Rico they wore
taA regulation army SLOUGH hat, with a
deep crease in the center. When they
rturned, heroes and veterans, they
wore the same regulation hat, but with
NE peak Of the crown pulled up to
snafp point, pyramid-like, in a gallant,
sesperate attempt to initiate the Span
ish hat, which had caught their fancy
wives. sweethearts and the public
sa7ed awestricken and reverentially
pu' helplessly at the new style thus
created here.
AND then the hat makers took il up
ior the ladies' and this accounts for the
present raldsh style Of ladies' military
gray hats with manish crowns
Inc main ra1 SDr, yx-T,xv y-5
and the Mexican devotes so much at
,en'on' time and money to his hat is
because 1t is TO some extent made the
Nsuool OF his standing in the conrnu-
u.'S ana because it was the grandees
SPAN who of all others at court
possessed the privilege of sitting or
sanding in the presence of their sover-
uta with their hats on while the rest
VI me court uncovered.
naturally the hat became an OBJ
1ectof respect and veneration, and the
siahoees We'd with one another in the
s Oh their brain covering, the fine
.ess ana costiliness of its texture and
siNn gold and silver Communications
s.olaseiy worked thereon. The popu.
- according to their respective
~ .s and position in life. emulated
s ss a.. Example Of the grandees, and thus
~. 1,.s advanced. the big hat became
~ eWsahetive feature of the dress Of
,,pstisrd as the mantilla CORE
80 re''aeu on the heads of the senorit:
,. unle was when a Mexican
~ ms hat and his horse before al
Ss, worldly possessions. spending a.
bro;5 ~ MOO for gold-trimmed, EN-
NJ e,uefeu hat and as much more TO
~; d, "e@Vy saddle and bride all trimme,
tosa,. S"ver' and this passion is stron,
ho,- Inc higher classes of Merican
G,,. o'andoned the sucar-loaf hat 70
~, wear for the European style, a
a, ., love adopted long ago our idea
ies, though every Mexican gen
nah has his native costume with it
sauaiiy-embroidered short Jacket an
hs trousers and hat to match. t
..r mo'h when the occasion demands.
lo.t e eener classes cling to the sugar
az '' made Principally of a stra,
fal. N''e peculiar to the country. or c
eor, oihainented with gold and silve
va according to the means of tn
The or perfectly plain and chea,
thss loon odd to US, these Mexicans i
mans. white. loose shirts. and trouser
ahos ag Idly about in their sunli
ths o cues, as the train speeds on I
truly are.' p.e'1'esaue iot the
hieirgn makes n;s;. eight millions a year out .