Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-26
Women and Big Hats
m nre strange creatures.

| Women are strange creatures.
] That is not original remark. You have
heard IL before-thousands Of times. So have /.
None Of us know the author. however, though
/ there are probably ten chances to one that 1t
was Adam.
Having all my life Indignantly combated
such a slanderous assertion against my own
sex, l recently became one Of It's strongest con
verts-and thereby hangs a tale.
One Sunday mOrning-after having overcome
a small mountain of difficulties In order to
achieve this end found myself In church,
duty performed, and in the prospect of hearing
good sermon, for the Rev. Charles Blank as
an interesting and forceful speaker.
had scarcely taken my seat when lady
came in and seated herself directly In front OF
me. 1t would be hard TO describe the grotesque
appearance OF this woman, dressed from head
TO toe in the --latest style" though ordinarily
she is rather an attractive and handsome wo-
man.
A princess costume served to emphasize the
rather bean-pole-lke slmness OF her figure. The
lace yoke extended up into a high tight collar
reaching 'wsy up behind the ears and giving one
''chOkey' sensation merely to look at H..
But far she dressed sensibly compared
with the browning glory OF her attire. Her
abundant hair was pulled straight back from
her forehead to the nspe Of her neck where 1t
mixed and mingled with vast quantities of other
hair. and-bepuffed, be-combed and barretted--
nation OF rolls and puffs. Then came the hat,
not one whit less amazing than the coiffure II
crowned. It. too, had kind Of slapped-in-the
face appearance. Narrow-brimmed in front II
swept off into unmeasured spaces behind, over
topped by large bowl-shaped crown wherein
/ whole tropical garden lowered and flourIshed
In the best OF health and spirits, regardless OF
climatic conditions.
And this ''vislon'-this ''dream''-had kindly
ca stationed itself directly in front Of me
where I might have the pleasure OF gazing at
service.
Fortunately It was early. service had not
begun and could change my seat without dis
turbing anyone or attracting undue notice to
myself. This ! proceeded TO do and left my
fppfh ma rfaf Az fnr
me. wanted to see, as well as hear. the
preacher.
prayer had followed the first song and the
preacher was giving out the last number on
the program when three near-grown. buoyant.
JOYOUS girls chased each other down the aisle
and Topped CHATS the only suitable word.
thank you. yes, "flopped" themselves down
into the seats in front OF me. l instantly real
lied that the second state Of poor me was worse
than the first. The hair Of each was arranged
In "round tire like the moou," bullying out
hugely in every direction, while Inverted
workbasket and two Merry Widows" artisticai
ly'' capped the climax"
Taking advantage Of the congregations rIs.
ing to sing. | again changed seats. and began
10 hope that might even yet enjoy the serv-
ices in comfort and with unobstructed view.
But alas! for the stability Of air-castles The
song had not ended when the preachers wife
herself came down the aisle with slow and
iestlc tread. and-the next moment a round
yard Of black fluffy lace and long wsvy plumes
triumphantly Haunted themselves before me;
The preacher was gone-the pulpit had melted
away and might have been mngically transport
cd to desert regions in the antipodes so far as
occ"lar demonstration could prove to the con
trary.
II was too late to make smother move. Far
J off, it seemed to me. I could hear the preacnef
brother to offend ] will eat no meat while the
world stands" and I pettishly wondered why
he should talk on such a far-awny subject as
Tense lay spread out before his very eyes Why
didn't he say. ''If big hats make my sister to
offend I will wear no hats while the world
II VS. uha wa In Il
mind AID he would bring II ont in illustrations.
Eagerly tried 10 listen. Somewhere in the
now there-hut always behind something and
the uncomfortable conviction that I was caves
dropping stole over my spirits.
Disappointed. nervous, almost reckless, | re-
solved that I would try TO listen no longer. My
one thought 10 amuSe myself that l
might be able to endure the situation for the
almost envied the somnolent neighbor on
my right who was fast philosophizlng himself
into Greenland. Across the aisle a dear little
white-haired woman in black. after vainly try
ing to through, above and around fat
girl with an overgrown dish pan on her head.
pacidly resigned herself TO the inevitable,
meekly folded her hands end sank into a rev.
erie. probably entitled what is this world
low dark haired man. who came in late.
had been given the scat had last vacated He
was now induStriously making inverted pen
swsving almost necessarily from side to side
in his efforts 70 catch glimpses of the preacher
! as he moved about.
The little openings between hats enabled him
to do this-occ aSlonally.
Safely screened behind another group Of hats
several had bOvS ate "goOherR." swapped
knives and exchanged baseball news with az
much IMMUNITY rs II they had been in the back
yord at home.
still the preacher talked to those hats. I
hogan to wonder Ct no longer cared to listen
- he was telling them how to he good hats
COW II vas their duty 70 stay at homo and let
PEOPLE come 10 church-and no wthe only L.
Ultimate use Of big hat Is TO keep tho sun off
people when they walk the streets and have no
psrasol.
Rut here my reverie wGs interrupted by the
congregation rising IN sing tho doxology. I re-
turned home in full sympathy with Father
Adams oft-repeated soliloquy: Women are
strange creatures"
ANNIE DURHAM METHVIN.