The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-18
Hats Are DiDided Into Two Glasses, "Bron1ides And Sul
 p1ites," Just Like People
When Ones Time Has Been Taken Up For Days Selecting the Spring Headdress This Fact Is Learned No More Be Acquired Than the Most Remote
 Things Possible
Rv DOLLY DALRYMPLE.

The perennially beautiful Miss Lillian Russell once went to fortune-teller with party of friends and when her turn came to have her future predicted the clairvoyant said
 ~shall I tell you the name of your fu- ture husband?'
 The flair Lillian replied;
 Mercy no; tell me what will be the style in spring hats"
 The everlasting question bobs up serene ly in the mind of the average woman so often that 1t has become study with woman kind as to how she will array herself, and in what garb she will be clothed
 During the past week when every wom- an with an atom of vanity has literally camped on the trail of spring fashions, overheard at one of the fashionable mil linery shops very unique and interesting conversation between two clever women, who had tried on nearly every hat in the shop, including automobile bonnets, aero plane chapeaux. Chanticleer models and the barbaric Fra Diavoo type.
 "They all look alike to me-" said one whom I shall call Maggie, as she leaned back in a chair while the saleslady brought forth creation of green leaves and grass 'Ar'nt hats silly, anyway"
 Mot a bit of it." sighed Nancy, and shook her head wearily.
 "Wherefore the oplnion?' asked the other.
 i've been reading Maeterlinck's The Bluebird, and all those fantastic things that he talks about when the fairy waves her wand, and out of a loaf of bread springs a gay little sprite, while another jumps from the milk pitcher and all sorts of surprises happen from the things that we consider dull and void, so l know per fectly well that hats have intelligence and are endowed with understanding. They look just like people and l believe they know thing or two"
 You silly creature; l suppose you mean they have temperament? said Maggie as she heard the idea exploited And that's absurd; either temperament is born With people or it isn't and if a woman hasn't it she might just as well try to raise mustache us to raise temperament. and that's all there is to it!'
 You've caught my idea exactly" said Nancy delightedly at her quick percep- tion Life is just like a hat shop if you'll study and analyze the situation. There are people with real personality as there are hats with 1t. These are the ex- captions. Most of us are copies anyway. Did you ever think of that2'
 "Bromides and sulphites?' asked Mag gie interestedly.
 Precisely" observed Maggie. ''There are the pattern hats and all the rest are mitations--so it is with people. Now look at this one,' she commanded as she picked up a great fiarng leghorn with dozens of bright colored roses on 1t. Who does this look like?"
 "A wicked little chorus girl" said Mag gie, impressed with the characteristics. .'I can just see her now at Atlantic City ambling down the board walk looking like an edition de luxe of naughty French novel;
 NOW, look over there at that one piled with lilies of the valley and white maline," said Nancy. Isn't that the breathing twin of a debuntante? And look at that black hat over there for the widow who is just beginning to take notice, while close to it is one that has all the earmarks of q spinster who has been taking no- tice all along
 That makes me think that shopgirls know about hats and personality" said Miggie, because l recall that they al- ways speak of 'matronly turbans, 'girish picture hats, 'demure poke bonnets' and saucy toques.'
 Why. certainly! You've thought this all along, said Nancy, "only you just haven't given vent to your expressions on the subject. But you do see my point now and agree with me that life is like a hat shop?'
 ''of course I do, was the quick re- sponse.
 And as with people. so with hats continued Nancy. you can no more name the elusive charm that they have than you can count the sands of the seashore. Hats that are creations have much temperament and individuality as though they lived and breathed. We can't tell for the world what ii is about a pattern hat that makes it different, neither can we tell about some people what it is that makes them true sulphites totally and entirely different from the herd of bro- mides. Take this hat, for instance" continued Nancy, as she picked up a wonderful Paris creation. Just a few yards of black and white straw. twist of black velvet ribbon and tall. slender flashing crimson aigrette, all put together with less than five yards of sewing silk and look at 1t! It lives and breathes with a personality so striking that you'd pick it out of any crowd just like you would a person of wonderful magnetism and yet for the life of you 1t would be