El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-08
200 Mesa

composed of shells of the pearly nautilus,
supplemented by plumes of brilliant
feathers.
In the countries of North Africa, along
the Mediterranean. one finds some mar
| Vellous hats of cloth adorned with elab-
crate Jewels. The peasant woman of
Hungary deems nothing more becoming
than a headdress which has much the
appearance of a section of stovepipe. In
Holland the traveller beholds eXtraOr-
binary headgear, sometimes taking the
form of huge constructions Of starched
linen which spread far out on either side
of the wearer.
Every now and then one sees on our
own streets two or three nuns of one
sisterhood or another wearing aStonish
ing headdresses of starched linen, some
times supplemented by other materials.
These are extremely interesting for the
reason that they come directly down
from medieval times. They carry the
observer back over many centuries. But
they are not more remarkable in their
way than the contrivances in headgear
adopted by women in some of the coun-
tries of South and Central America.
Thus, for example, on the IsthE.rs of
fTehuantepec a universal article OF iemi
nine apparel is a great eonical hat which
IS incidentally a jacket, reaching below
the waist 1t has sleeves, which are
never used. but the garment is adjusted
in variety of ways for different en-
Payments, such as going to church and
what not.
Hats of Ancient Mexicans
Monuments of stone. preserved to this
day, make it clear that the headdresses
worn by the ancient Mexicans were far
more elaborate than on--thing of the kind
known in modern times The face of
the wearer was surmounted by a huge
mask of wood, which in its turn was
adorned with great ~plumes of feathers.
These were doubtless ceremonial hats,
being used by high rriests and other i'm
portant Dersonages on occasions of re-
igious festivity. There is a distinct
relation between hats and masks, the
latter being employed in both ancient
and modern times for representing the
gods in religious drama. Thus the hat
NAV be said to have a duasi-religious
meaning Behind it-a fact of which the
cardinals hat and the bishops mitre
afford examples.
Hopi Indian Styles.
Among the Hopi indians of Arizona
the headgear tells whole story
though in this case it is the arrange
ment of the hair that is concerned. The
maiden, when of marriageable age, puts
I'D her hair on either side of her head
IN Jne 10TH Oh a Suudcu flower III 1ull
bloom. After she is married, she ar
ranges it to represent the fruit of the
same vine; and, in old age she twists
it into the likeness of the withered stem
of squash In the corn dance of the
Hopi, the girl who takes the part of the
corn maiden wears, upon her head a tall
structure of painted wood which repre-
sents rain cloud while on her fore
head and chin the rainbow is shown in
colors.
The first headdress was doubtless
fillet-that is to say, a simple band to
oonfine the hair. It might be said to
be represented today by the band of
hat-though. of course, women's hats
nowadays do not ordinarily have bands.
Everything about the headdress of wo-
men possesses more orr less symbolism,
and it is not without g God reason that
the Easter hat is adorned with feathers
and flowers, inasmuch as the coming of
the new year-that is to say. of spring
brings blossoms and the b. res.
Rene Bache.