The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1905-10-03
INCONVENIENCE OF HATS
Coming to Be Quite Generally Rec
ognized in This Country as
Well as in Europe.


From an article bearing the above
title, which appears in Cosmos, we
learn that the new fashion of going
without a hat is not limited in this
country. According to the writer, 1t
has everything, hygienically, in its
favor, and the arguments against II
need only be stated to be refuted, says
the Literary Digest. He says.
The mass of hair that covers the top
of the head is feature of the human
race in both sexes, and appears to be
one of it's most stable physical charac-
teristics. Nevertheless, long observa-
ton is unnecessary to prove that this
characteristic Is weakening, and that
the vigor Of the hair is decreasing in
man. Now question presents itself:
Is this due to transformation of the
species or must we attribute the fact
to mans habits This second solution
appears to be correct, which is con-
soling, since 1t allows us to hope that
the evil may be checked. This loss OF
hair that has become more striking
from one generation to another by
heredity, is due, according to some
scientists. to the habit of covering the
head.
This habit must affect the hair in
jurlously In three ways "a BY de-
priving it Of the life-giving light of the
sun, of free ventilation, ard Of the
movement of the hairs by air-currents;
(2) by pressure on the small arteries
of the scalp, which bring nourishment
to the hair; 90 finally, because all
head-coverings are an excellent Gull
ture-medium for microbes, and facili-
tate their development In fact, the
hat, since it prevents the germicidal
action of the suns rays and the move
ment Of the air. and retains On the
head the heat and moisture of the en-
closed aid, offers all the most favor BILE
conditions for obtaining a culture of
micro-orgapisms. Furthermore. 1t is
well recognized that the chief causes
of badness are the microbian afec-
tons of the scalp, which destroy the
sebaceous glands.
We may, then, suppose that It is the
custom of covering the head that di-
minishes, little by little, the vigor of
the hair. Although this is not abso-
lutely proved, it is infinitely probable,
and in any case 1t would cost nothing
TO try change in the present fashion.
This change is absolutely Gesirqble. es
peclally for men. for with women. be-
sides the fact that their hats cover
only part Of the hair, they are gener-
ally LIGHTER: the preservation IF the
hair fer the species is due to the
women alone. the men counting for
nothing in the matter.
The promoters of this reform are
meeting, at the outset. with certain OBJ
jections ~ To uncover the head
may bring on colds, neursleia. ord
rheumatism. They answer that colds.
cat9rrh. etc, are Of microbi1n origin
and can not como from the scalp. (2)
As for ne"raleia and rheum tism they
are convinced that If the habit OF lcav-
Ing the head uncovered is adoptcd in
youth, these troubles will not follow
In fart. thew say, the uncovered parts
of IT, head are not subiart to them
any more than the covered PARTIES
perhaps. (3) So far as the iueon 4esta-
Bile danger Of exposing the bare head
in the sun IS concerned. there are many
WAYS Of avoiding this without smother
ing the SCALP. (4) The fear that sep
tic bodies rnay be deposited on the m
covered rarts especially in cities GER
tainlv deserves consideration; but core
in the toilet will enable rs to escape
the consequences. f5l Finallv the fear
lest the hair should be inirred b. SIN,
wind, or cold, has no serious basis.
since UNPROTECTED PARTS Of the head are
covered with vigorous hair