The Washington herald., 1912-04-14
WEARING Big HATS
In PUBLIC PLACES
Is a Nuisance that Should Be
Abolished.
By FRANCES sHAFFER.

Have you noticed the comment Of some
of the clergy of New York concerning
the opinion of Cardinal Bourne Of Lon
don that women should not wear large
hats in church?
Some Of the clergymen were reticent
about expressing their views, but II is
rather apparent that IL they considered
the massive creations inoffensive they
would not have hesitatsd to voice their
approval
whether he was very diplomatic or
whether he thought il a wise and polite
way TO put It one cannot say, but just
one clergyman, pastor of q Reformed
Church, was without grievance In this
regard He agreed that the cardinal mad
made a very sensible suggestion. but as
for the women in his congregation-'T
preach only to very considerats peo-
pie"
One does not want to question his mo-
tfves. but, you know. nothing so eifectu-
ally puts folk on their mettle as the
assurance Of approval and just bit Of
praise. And there may have been method
10 his subtle commendation.
The comment that seemed most signih-
cant came from tie pastor of a Roman
Catholic Church. He said that he and
=, every other clergyman agreed with the
cardinal They knew that the wearing
of big hats prevented others from fol-
lowing the service as they should be
free to do, butn
If she will she will you may depend On z;
And she won't. she won't: 50 there's an end on Z
That is the way he put Il, in sub
stance. He said that clergymen might
preach all they liked, but II Dame Fash
ion decreed big hats. big hats 1t would
he until the dawn Of a better fashion day
and all the preaching in the world will
not make them. give up any style that
may be imposed upon them" And SO,
believing them objectionable, he still
cspitulated gracefully enough at the last,
saying they better let women and their
styles alone so long as they remained
this side Of the really offensive.
A Quiet Rebuke.
o. It is true; it is not a thing for our
clergy TO take up, because there are
so many other issues of more serious
moment; but there is a world OF quiet
- rebuke in the comment that when It
comes TO a question Of rhoughtfulness in
little things or Of obedience to style,
women are certain to be found on the
side Of style.
For whatever the clergy may say or
others may think. women themselves
know right well that when their turn
comes to sit back of one of the obstruct-
ing millinery products Of this season, it
is disconcerting at best and maddeninE
at worst -
And doesn't that tell the whole story?
: No; not quite the whole story, for the
very worst Of all is the miserable sug-
.gestion that women do not care; that
they are Indifferent to these little ques-
tons that make for public comfort, or
public comment. Very punctiIlous, very
precise and careful in the observance of
rules Of etiquette or propriety, but quite
forgetful, Indifferent, or selfish when a
mere matter OF thoughtfuIness is in
'volved-that is not a pretty arraignment
but one hears il rather frequently.
And the fact is one says 1t with the
rest whenever ones view OF a speaker.
a singer, or any one else whom one has
a right to see, is cut of because OF a
big hat that happens to please individual
fancy.
Removed in Theatera.
1t is a bit significant that hats are
almost invariably removed in theatSrs,
because public opinion made # impera-
tive. For quite a while there was a
thinly yelled intimation that nonremoval
would be followed by a polite request
Now l. innovation has become an ac-
cepted thing. and very comfortable,
pleasant arrangement II is.
One cannot blame a clergyman IL he
hesitates TO ask his women parfshioners
TO modify the size of their hats for the
sake Of allowing his hearers to keep in
seeing touch with him.
And yet the discomfort Is not all with
she listeners. One knows from expert
ence what happens when there is a
big mass of swaying feathers or one of
those wide-rimmed favorites OF the win
ter between a speaker and herself-the
mind trails away from the sermon. the
church. and the day.
And one is very certain IL she were q
clergyman presenting a carefully pre-
pared sermon, with its messages Of help.
its teachings. and all, she would enjoy
the happy consciousness that there was
an unbroken line of vision between pew
and pulpit.
A. Let us call It a foolish little matter.
il we like, but let US not leave It to
thsster folk, to clergymen, to public
critics in general to make US mindful
Of these little ways Of keeping the peace.
Perhaps. after all, the spring styles
may. settle the question for a whfle-but
the other way is vastly more womanly
and considerate. the way of modifying
the size just because II is for the COM
fort Of many who do not publicly COM
plain yet are annoyed, none the less.
Asparagus and It's Sauces.