The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1903-01-15
The Antl-Hats Off Movement.

The Nashville American, some time
since, startled the polite world by con-
tending that man ought not take off
his hat in an elevator, when there is a
lady aboard. The editor of the Ameri-
can says that this is what a man ought
to do, but admits that he is afraid to do
it. His attitude is not unlike that Of
Madame De Stael, who, when asked
whether she believed in ghosts, said !;
"No; don't believe in them, but Tn
afraid of them"
1t is rather mean in the American to
throw this brick through the window
and then run away from the conse-
quences. Itwould be interesting, how
ever, to know what some of the leading
Tennessee editors think of the propo-
sition. Bill Ewing is more or less adj
dicted to baseball and horse racing,
and possibly he is the rude man who
has started the anti-take-off-your
in-the-e elevator crusade. We acquit
Maj. Bill Tatom of entertaining any
such views. Maj. Tatom is essentially
q society man, and he wouldn't wear
his hat on the streets if he thought it
would give offense to the least Of the
daughters of men. He has contracted
the spirit of gallantry in its most acute
form. Gid Baskette, for the last forty
or fifty years, has contemplated writing
a tragedy in blank verse that was to see
Shakespeare and go him two acts better
on any play that William ever wrote.
He hasn't begun work on it yet, but il
occupies all his spare time, and thus
allows him no latitude for other
thoughts. He would probably never
think about the matter at all when he
entered an elevator. Indeed, he is sc
absent-minded that an usher always
has to take off his hat for him at the
theater and whenever he goes home
some member of the family generally
meets him at the door and invites hin
to take off his overcoat and stay awhile
Dick Yancey's mind, too, is on othel
things, such as the financial question
J the revision of the tariff and the negr,
problem, and he has no time for til,
frivolities of life.
Chattanooga editors take off thei
hats on the slightest provocation, TO
they have an idea that going barehead
ed will make the hair grow. Hence al
unbiased opinion need not be locke,
for from them. Knoxville editors, o.
the contrary, keep their hats on a
, much as possible so as not to give them
selves away. Cy Lyle, of the Johnso
City Comet, does not know what a
elevator is, and of course could not b
expected to pass upon such question
} Naturally great interest would be take
in the attitude of Editor Reaves of th
q I1HTu6Iuuu Il T66 L I6Sbs L16 D6llSN6o 1
! observing all the canons and punctilio
of good society. We have not bee
able to reach him by the Long Distanc,
but we feel sure that we can speak fC
him. Not only does Editor ReavC
g think it is incumbent on a souther
4 gentleman to take off his hat in an ell
vator, but he would go step furth,
and require him to take off his shoe
In Memphis it is the unwritten law tn
Il hats go off in the elevator whenever
lady enters, and the editors here O
serve the custom faithfully. And wi
Q shouldn't they? 1t doesn't hurt Il
/ hat. 1t doesn't compromise the MT
q in any way. And furthermore, such {
act of Difference rather makes the ave
y age women glad that she is alive.
3 BY all means, let it be, hats off to ii
n ladies'. Commercial Appeal.