Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-31
EMBELLISHMENTS HATS.
This Year Londoners Wear Panamas,
"Boaters" and American Sailors"

BoaterS' and american Sailors"
From the Pail Mall Gazette.
The Panama revived! It sounds like the
reproduction of "once-upon-a- time'' sue
cessful comic opera, but a matter of fact
it Is simpiy-the hat. The Pan''-as 1t is
known In the trade-is always with US, but
this year this delightfully."- light and cooling
headgear will be more conspicuous than
ever. The more important matters are al
ready beginning TO query whence they will
get their supplies, and although many of
the big firms do not doubt that they will
be able to meet the anticipated run upon
Them they are, In a way, somewhat anxious
regard ng their stock. The Pam is in the
ascendant.
'The PAN" said the manager of one of
London's biggest hatters will be very
prominent this year, and prices will prob
ably run very high. 1 have heard of ESQ
being paid for one years ago, though nova
days f10 may be regarded as tip-top price.
Twenty years back the Pan was very
much in vogue-it was the thing to wear
one. Then it left for awhile, but during
the last five or six years 1t has been coming
on again, and I venture to prophesy that
this year will see a great and indeed I'M
precedented revival. l remember the time
when We had a man in our employ who was
known as 'Pan'-he gloried in selling them,
and purchasers would ask for him when
ever they came into the shop and wanted
one He knew Pan so to speak, back
ward A wealthy man will pay anything
for a fine specimen. The finer the grass
the finer the price. A good Pan is a find,
and they will need a lot of finding this
year"
The man in the street means to have his
Panama this year. A very excellent Pan
can be bought for 30s. or a couple of
pounds, but this sum Is not altogether with
in his means. He falls back imita-
ton. He can absolutely buy one for SIS Cd.
1t really looks good and is quite wearable
and respectable. 1t Is of Alpine shape,
but the wearer will not attempt to fold 1t
into a pattern such you can do with a
pure unauthorized Pan" He will swear
it Is genuine, but it is a bit risky if you ask
him to let you sit on it and he consents.
Inquiries have ELECTED the fact that many
straw hat manufacturers in Germany have
for long time past been anticipating the
revival of the refreshing Pan Bales upon
bales, containing thousands of hats have
arrived here. They are sent over in the
rough and unbleached, but in the hands of
clever people are quickly turned into shape,
entwined with the accompanying band of
black ribbon, and put on the market.
Though not sold as real Pans" they are
regarded by the buyer of a single specimen
as SUCH and he is perfectly satisfied with
his purchase at 3s. or even less. Indeed,
you can go down the East End and buy
Panama" for half crown, and the seller
will throw in a cigar, to make your appear
ance complete, into the bargain!
VIII the old "boater'' be touched in any
material way by this threatened invasion,
or revival. of the PAM" The opinion in
the trade is uncertainties and No in
the experts scales are fairly well balanced.
At any rate. Luton has been buster than
ever this year, and the straw hat industry
does not seem likely to be affected. Still,
so great are the demands for real Pana-
ma this season that even women with com
Portable pockets are keen to purchase one
not to wear In the street, of course, but for
country and golf they should prove a
pleasant addition to a woman's attire.
There is a decidedly decent rush on the
American sailor hat, with its somewhat
chic curved brim, but the opinion is that it
will prove a very bad third to the old
''boater'' and the PAN which will run a
neck-and-neck race together. with a slight
shade of odds on the latter, for 1.-The straw
hat stakes