The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-09
INCIDENTS
AND OBSERVATIONS.
BY II. l.. GRAY.


Strangely enough the hat, which in
nature is most superfiuous, is the most
intimate of articles of dress. Almost
from the moment of it's purchase, it
begins to partake of the personality
OF it's owner; after it has been worn
for half a season, it becomes typical
and characteristic. On the part OF
the man, there springs up for certain
particular hats an affection that, vio-
lating all standards of fashion, even OF
cleanliness, is as constant and as lilo
gical as the love of a woman Who
has not among his friends some one
or two who, otherwise neat, cling like
the ivy to the wall to some pieces OF
ancient head-gear that the despair OF
their wives seem to fit into the scheme
of their daily lives with an almost
poetic harmony?
And how the old hat does initiate
it's weareri How it does reflect the
idiosyncrasies of the man, his whims
and mental bias! Take a hat that has
come with it's other thousands from
the same block and note the character
that it acquires from use. Almost, as
1t were, it lives, seeming to catch and
hold and bear the impression of the
things within, as we'll as the outward
contour, of the head it warns. Note,
say, the same hat worn by Lawyer
Smith and Doctor Brown. In TWO
weeks they are as unlike as twin
brothe rs-whom nature always seems
tn delight TO variously endoW. There
is a bend in the brim, there an lndenta-
ton of the crown, an abrasion OF the
surface, an adaptation of the inside
band to suit the habit of the wearer,
all ispringing from the unconscious
practices that denote the individuall-
ties and peculiaritieS of the man. 10
n close observer these signs, lndlcate
character as clearly as the spOor OF the
moose shows to the Indian the num-
Der and direction of the herd. NO man
may escape the comment OF MS nat:
it is faithful accurate, unsparlng.
Moulded by the unconscious man, II
speaks frankly and without hypocrisy.
All hats, from the formal and alb
o.ninable high silk to the stiff 'tnd
transient straw, partake TO some cX-
tent of this indicative quality. But, II IL
be a soft felt, it's accentCdSionS OF It's
c3Tner's personality are so strong as to
fecome caricatureS.
Did you ever try the experiment of
Ifausirg at the door of q hotel dining
room for the purpose of contemplate
ing the hats in theF racks? The pas
time is an amusing one. Note careful
Nv. if you will, one or two of the more
striking sorts and then seek out the
owners at meat. Generally one Will
MOI make more than TWENTY-FIVE pei
cent. misses-and, almost always, will
one strike the type even when the IN
t:lvidual selected proves to be mis-
take.
There, for instance, is the striking
old-fashioned clerical silk, it's nap
rubbed the wrong way the tor, of it
crown disfgured from being placed
bottom side up on the pine flooring
beneath the pulpit. It's brim is unduly
turned up from The nervous habit o1
bending in the sides with both hands
as its Wearer edges his way from
church or talks with the sisters of his
flock on the wide circuit of his minis
terial rounds. That is an easy hat
one can see the figure of the man as
easily as though he were in the door
tall. with grey hair, scanty on the
forehead. hanging in an irregular mass
over the low collar at the nape of the
neck Zone tells the hair by the lining
Us the rough nap shows the shiny
coat. He, the old preacher, is type
you say. From the turned dowr
corners of his mouth, from his rather
wild and steely blue eye his flawkeo
nose and his strong chm, he is dis
ti!1ctive.
TRY. then, an immaculate derby
Outside of the look of having beer
worn, which cannot be spelled out ir
descriptive phrase, it is as fresh, as
sleek, as ja,lnty as ever it looked OF
its glass stand at the clothiers. One
knows at a glance some positive ano
some negative things of the owner
Obviously he is young and neatly
dressed. His clothes are tailor made
The front and rear of the brim resi-
fiat and squarely on the rack. He is d
precise man, who raises his hat by
the side to keep from pulling down the
brim AS he has time to Think of the
hat, one concludes he has little on his
mind. Probably high-class drum
ner. in a brown business suit, a warm
colored tie, with an evident but not d
.,howy pin and a seal ring to sea-
him as-not quite-the real thing"
Him, too, you will find in the dining
room, as we'll as the Jew liquor dealer
whom, you know from the marks
wears his shiny beaver far over his
low forehead, disclosing the bald spot
behind; the staid business man from
the country town; his friend, the law
yer, from the same place; the college
Students: and the ordinary run OF
travelling men and boarders at the
hotel Any one of these, at a minutes
inspection, the observer can see with
fair accuracy before the head waiter
ushers him to his seat
So, when high up or the wall CT the
railroad restaurant, l saw hanging the
grey felt travelling hat of a woman.
1 wondered vaguely at it's presence in
such a place. A nail which supported
it held up also the strings of red,
White and blue tissue paper which de-
corated the room. Apparently it's own
er had just taken it off. A long hat
pin with a white head was run diagon-
ally through the crown, but / wonder
ed at the veil which was pinned to the
brim. Surely she was q woman with
out the habits of precision of her sex
so to have crumpled it.
The restaurant was doing business
in rush. Away down in South Caro-
lima there had been a freight wreck
which even now held four freight
trains ard n passenger express stalled
al this oIl-lighted little depot. One of
The freight crews had been there for
ten hours. others had come in later.
Practically ell of these We're now in
the restaurant, some eating, some
smoking short-stemmed black pipes
or leaning against the counter in Ia X
with the easy nonchalance and un-
conscious grace of big-jointed, hard
working. daDger-meetmg meTr. The
la1 haf