Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-08
.FORE|GN-|MADE HATS
IN PLACE OF QUEUES
Change to Western. Style
Forces Curious. CONNER
ciaI Crisis in China.

Reports to the State Department show
that among the early results of the
change Of government in Kwangtung
province and southern China generally
has been the cutting of queues by the
more conservative of the Chinese and
the more or less general adoption by the
people of some articles of occidental
dress. Consul General Anderson, at
Hongkong, says that more than 35,OOu
queues were cut off in that city alone
during the week following the establish
ment of the provisional government at
Canton. That action led to an unprec-
edented demand for foreign hats and
caps as well as other articles of foreign
clothing The demand has caused a fam
cheaper grade in Hongkong and south
China generally.
| The more influential Chinese, Con-
sui General Anderson says, are advis-
| ing against this sudden change in
dress on the part OF the Chinese peo-
| pie on the ground that it will take
large sums Of money from China to
passed resolutions to that effect, and
| a movement has been inaugurated for
the protection Of Chinese hat and
clothing makers with the shibboleth
orally admitted that sudden change
from present dress in China would
damage Chinese business in many
lines. 1t is held that an unusual de-
mand for foreign goods would so re-
duce the demand for some Chinese
goods. especially silk, as to damage
great industries and influence the mar
kets Of tho entire world. Notwithstand-
ing this opposition, the consul general
says. it is apparent that there is a
odnnfiOn nf f0raipn p1nf hinp
and dress, and that the demand for
such goods will rapidly increase.
Comfort and Convenience.
"Whle 1t has been expected that po-
litical and social changes In China at
tendant upon the development of the
country along western lines" says Mr..
Anderson, would have the result of in
creasing the demand for all sorts of for
eign style clothing, and while one of the
chief arguments against cutting off
queues in China has been the fact that
such a change is almost invariably fol-
lowed by a change in the style of dress
and that change in turn would upset
great business interests In China now
dependent upen the present style Of
dress, the present increasing use of these
foreign style articles seems to be due
more to their actual comfort and con-
venience than to any social or political
change"
Consul Arnold at Annoy reports also
that heavy demand has sprung up for
foreign clothing, shoes, hats, ETC., ere
sulting from the dislike displayed by the
younger element toward the old order OF
things" THAT statement he says, lis
not intended to convey the idea that
every man, woman and child of China's
800. 100000 is ready to step into foreign
clothes Even IL they were. the vast
majority are too poor to afford that
luxury. There are, however, numbers
Of Chinese throughout the empire, main
ly students or young graduates, who are
DESTROYS Of adopting the foreign dress,
but even these are, In the majority Of
cases. not tn position financially to
be able to purchase other than the very
cheap qualities of the various articles
of foreign clothing"
Consul Arnold notes that the general
cutting of queues by Chinese has largely
increased the supply Of human hair upon
which the foreign dealers may draw.