The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-15
THE HATIESS RRIGAnE

The hatless movement % San Francis
co Is said already TO have many members
in its ranks. This IS not surprising. for
the gay ana festive breeze that IS due in
that hiliy city at .. m. and is always
on tine long ago taught the citizens
70 go bareheaded a i2cgc portlcn OF the
afternoon, and in addition gave them a
line en- Marathon racing many years be-
fore the craze happened 10 this part OF
the country. But IN early historian claims
that the hatless movement began right
IN Washington. with our statues: they
certainly are a hatless set. and as a rule
they are all well provided with hair. and.
K certainly does not fail with time. The
historian IN question seemed TO think Il
cruel in the artists 10 give no shade 70
the venerable and honored heads ana sail
II spoiled her pleasure in the beauti-
ful city TO a certain extent 70
see the hoEored lineament so played
upon by sumner storm and winters
sleety blasts" Wen. they are right IN
the fashion now. 50 the fair writer will
probably turn from sympathy 10 envy on
her next visit.
But II Is probably that neither windy
"Sanfran" nor The City Beautiful Is
responsible for the hatless craze, but that
T. is the large class Of gentlemen who
earn their daily bread and beer in the
neighborhood Of the "Old Lady Of Thread
needle street. London. England, who
first braved public opinion by running
out % the tea house near by without
the formality Of wearing the regulation
tile without which a bank clerk is never
seen on his way 20 and from his Office.
4 certain carefulness IN dress is one az
&c an ID cir ~,
London, and the wages are disgraceCuly
small, and any one who has experienced
the cost and trouble Of keeping a high
hat brushed and in condition can imagine
10 20 be the original white mans bur-
dem when used in daily affairs.
The easy-goiag American can hardly
realize the sorrows Of the middle-class
Ensiishman In this EFFORT to keep up ap-
pearances. in the majority Of cases a
position is only retained as long as a
stylish front is maintained, and 20 do
this on small salaries and in an atmos-
phere or sOot-ladened fog and high chang.
ing laundries is a heart breaking task.
Something Of this was brought out in
the case OF a bank clerk misappropriat-
ing his employers money, when the
charge was made by q London daily that
the wages were so small and require
ments in dress so great that excuse might
be found for the clerks as q class when
they made free with the till The con-
servative Tribune made the round Of the
city financial houses TO inquire into
the truth OF the statement, and the fol-
lowing IS the conclusion. In part. arrived
at: 1t may be said that the junior clerk
is engaged generally on leaving school
at a salary 0f go TO cG0 per year. rising
regularly so per annum until as high IS
ESQ q year may be reached. After this
point Ii becomes a question OF luck, In
nuence, or ability. whether he gets out
OF the routine and becomes a cashier or
reaches any Cf the higher runEs OF the
ladder. If he remains a fixture his salary
stops ar the point indicated for save in
rare and exceptional circumstances pro-
motion is slow. almost automatic. re-
sembling in this and IN its security OF
tenure the civil service.
But whatever his position and salary,
q bank clerk must keep up Appearances.
He must dress well. he must inhabit a
respectable neighborhood. and he must
lunch at an unexceptionable restaurant
or tea shop near business. There are
certain contributions which he cannot re-
fuse--the firms cricket and football
clubs. an occasional testimonial and a
charity or two. II a married man. hs
may find II expedieEt 70 invite certain %
his colleagues 10 dinner or tea some
times
"On the whole. the life &c a Flooding but
not unusually brilliant man is not ons
OF roses. The chance 10 save mOne,- 8
not easily vouchsafed him. But COM
pared with other clerkly Jobs his IS
superior by virtue Of Its regularity and
security. And in no case IS there any
excuse for nilfering."
Il can easily be seen that to save wear
the attire as a high hat Is a matter Of
consideration. so a bank clerk eov the
past several years can be known during
Office hours when IN The street by unccv-
ered head. and Il also Is noted that
these Young gentlemen have good hair;
and the fashion hes extended so the bare
heads now embrace ali classes. Speak
ing OF necessary economies. Il is rather
pathetic 10 note these nice looking long
coated gentlemen Ia the trans with their
shirt cuffs carefully covered with note
paper held in place with clips. so a.
TO prevent any SCOT or stain OF travel
from spelling the linen. for even with
only yearly wage OF 500 these young
men would never think OF wearing a de-
tached cUff d" TWould be simply bar
baroUs. don't YOU know, so American"
so the life Of the shirt IS only the fresh
ness Of the cum, hence the note paper
decoration
the foolish restriction Of trying 10 make
believe without the price. London town
Is very interesting to visit. but America