Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-10-20
THE HAT m MEXICO.
Silk Hats Now Worn by Officials In.
stead Of Sombreros.

stead Of sombreros.
Modern Mexico: Among all we'll
bred people great attention Is paid to
the hat of the masculine visitor. That
emblem of grandeeship, as Richard
Ford called 1t, is taken at once and
carefully placed on chair quite az If
1T We're a person 1t must be treated
with respect. A table is also proper
place for 1T. but chair is better.
Especially is the top hat distinguish
ed in etiquette; it implies that the
wearer is real senior. a true caballero
and it is honored with careful treat
! mcnt. See that 1t is allowed to re-
+ pose on chair safe from casual knocks
or jars. In common parlance. the top
! nat is una chistera," facetlous word.
and, speaking seriously, 1t is ''un
sombrero de copa,' or de copa alta. :"
\ 1T is an emblem of social rank, and
lawyers often wear 1t from morning till
night
The. sonbrero de paja. or straw hat.
may be of many degrees OF fineness.
Sometimes it has gold or silver cord,
and is worn by well-to-do rancheros or
great haciendados on proper occasions.
Women on horseback in the country,
and formerly in the city. wore hand
some sombreros. The sombrero of felt
with its ornaments may cost anywhere
from $40 to sl.oc0. 1t is the gala hat
for horseback on days of flestas, and
in the country regions is affected blythe
prosperous Remember that the hat.
in any form, is something to respect.
1T Is taken oft as Sign of regard and
difference, OF of mere courtesy.
The sombrero calanes is the Andalu-
sian hat of low crown and broad rim,
the hat of the bullfighter on the street.
where he receives the homage of the
adIniring populace, especially of the
small boy. 1t has Its epochs of COM
ing into quite general use, and Is far
more picturesque than the staid and
prim derby. The latter hat is much
affected by the city youth of Mexico,
bu; it is foreign, alien and an exotic. 1t
is ridiculous when worn on horseback
under the ardent sun of Mexico or An
daiusia.
In old times Mexicans. as we'll as
Spaniards of social rank, wore the
cooked hat. immortalized in Alarcon's
story of the 'Sombrero de Tres Picos."
The three-cornered hat, properly speak
ing. affected by the people in times
aeone, was called the "sombrero de
tres CANDLES"
Boys of the lower classes wear cheap
straw sombreros to school, and the
marvel is that they ever distinguish
them, for they are as much alike as
peas in a pod.
But to return to our muttons, so to
say the hat is a symbol of grandeeship.
1t Is nowadays the tai! hat, the top
per, the silk hat, stovepipe, or what
You will. sGobernadores'' wear 1t,
senators and deputies and lawyers, of
course, though in Mexican cities the
younger lawyers affect jaunty straw
hats in warm weather and often
derbys
The grandees Of the first class of
Spain have the privilege of remaining
covered in the presence of their sover-
eisn. and the other day the young
King Alfonso, receiving party of
Eoblemen of high degree, who ap-
preached him uncovered, said after
moment, Cover yourselves, senores,"
which is the ancient etiquette. Thus
the hat plays in Spanish tradition and
actual life ceremonial part differing
from usage in Apglo-Saxon countries