The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-03-18
Our Solution of the Hat Question.

BY +. ON.
| From q recent editorial in one of our
Salt Lake dailies we see that it has
Fbeen proposed and carried that women
should henceforth dispense with the
| time honored custom of wearing hats
! in church. 1t appears that the sub
! ject has been agitated for some time;
and although the convent girl has not
been called upon for an expression of
opinion, her views might not prove
altogether unworthy of consideration.
| The editor of the above mentioned par
agraph facetiously condoles with the
woman of fashion who will now be
| forced to sacrifice an elegant hat to
the within of such as prefer a view of
| the pulpit and its occupant, and, in
view of the fact that Easter without
my lady's bonnet would scarcely be
! the same, he urges that a single eX-
ception to the law be granted in favor
of that Sunday. Then when one turns
! to another column and reads an elab-
crate description Of the new styles
chapeaux that are to surpass every
! thing in the millinery line since the
! gorgeous reign of Louis lie Grand;
creations" foreign in name as well as
! finish, with colorS rivaling those of
| the rainbow, and sporting the choic-
est beauties of the floral kingdom-it
does seem like a ruthless encroachment
on woman's rights.
1t is, therefore, not without some
| lingering feeling of sympathy that we
stand apart, yet without giving our
voice wholly to the innovation. AS
Catholics, we have no desire to dis
regard the injunction of st. Paul, whose
words are too clear and positive to
admit of ambiguous Interpretation.
! But at the same time we claim a
| grievance against the hats, and one
somewhat weightier than that already
advanced; for it is not SO much the
preacher we wish to see, but rather
the Altar and Sacrifice. for which
| chiefly we 90 to church. 1t is, in
deed. no slight disappointment and an
noyance to those desiring to assist at
Mass as devoutly as possible, to have
the view entirely obstructed by hat
of the cartwheel variety. We dare
say that had the Apostle of the Cen
tiles foreseen these vast expansions of
headgear, he would have added re-
strictions for these later times. Can
we fancy the women of Corinth array
ing themselves thus? Were it not
likelier that the mode which we would
advocate as a satisfactory solution of
the problem would be more in accord
ance with their classic taste?
Why not. say we, adopt in the world
the fashion that has so long prevailed
in convent schools. and which doubt
less comes down from the earlier and
simpler times? To those unfamiliar
with the effect it might seem plain or
odd, but in reality there is a certain
modest charm and grace about it that
grows upon one with the custom.
Among the pictures of memory which
the convent girl will in the after years
take delight in recalling, there will
scarcely be any sweeter or more beau
tiful than those slowly moving pro-
cessions of her White-veiled compan-
ions approaching the Holy Table.
Could the same impression be made if
hats were substituted for the wells?
Even with the smaller black veil or
Spanish rnantilla worn by all the pu-
pills at the ordinary services, the ef-
feet is very pleasing. Not infrequently
is the eye attracted and held by a
wirsone face, the beauty of which is
strikingly enhanced by the filmy lace
that falls gracefully about the brow
and shoulders.
What advantage would be enjoyed
if such a style were to be generally
followed? 1t is clear that much vain
show and petty rivalry would be abol-
ished, great extrava gance would be
avoided, simplicity, with its sister vir-
tues, would be revived a multitude of
distractions prevented, and, finally.
there would be no cause for complaint