The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-30
WHY ARE HATS WORN
DURING DEB ATES !

him with such marked discourtesy, he
failed to take any notice of him.
The general and his little party had
not been more than q quarter of an
hour upon the field before an officer
cantered up TO them and demanded
in the most imperious and aggressive
tone that he should Immediately ride
up to the flagstaff. where the President
had taken his position, and salute
him by doffing his hat. The envoy
Indignantly refused TO do anything of
the kind. explaining that inasmuch as
the President had declined TO accord
him the customary courtesies due TO
his rank, he was attending the manoeu-
vres. no: in a diplomatic or military
capacity, but as a private visitor. The
officer rode back to the President with
this message, and shortly afterwards
sosad OF military police surrounded
the envoy and informed him that they
had instructions 10 compel him to
leave the field at once. and to remove
him by force if he failed TO comply
with their request.
The envoy thereupon returned to
his hotel with his childten and ad
dressed a strongly worded protest to
the Federal State Department. Re-
ceiving no answer or apology. he COM
piled with the instructions of his gov
eFnment 20 break off diplomatic rela-
tions win the Helvetian Republic.
and closed his legation at Berne. Sew
eral years elapsed before diplomatic
relations were restored.
OF course this incident served TO
recall the circumstance that Switzer-
lands successful war of independence
originated. according to popular legend.
in the mythical William Tells refusal to
don his own headgear TO the hat Of
.
At the time of the coronation of the
present Gar a serious hitch occurred
at Moscow in connection with the ques-
ton of hats. At the grand levee held
by the Emperor at the Krenlin. 1t
was stipulated that every person.
whatever his rank or creed, should
uncover before the Gar. The Emir OF
Bokhara. being a vassal of Russia. was
compelled to submit 10 this decree, in
spite of his being a Moslem. But the
am bassadors of Turkey. of Persia, and
of China, absolutely declined TO bare
their heads. and kept away. In fact.
none of them were present, either at the
ceremony of the coronation or at the
levee. in consequence of this difficulty.
One of tho most sanguinary insur-
rections that narred the reign OF
Charles III of Spain. costing thousands
of lives. and compelling the fight of
the King and of his court from Madrid
to Seville. originated with the issue of a
royal edict that men must fasten up or
else remove altogether the huge flap
ping brims of their hats. The Spaniards.
although willing'to submit to every 9TH
er form of monarchical despotism, abb
solutey declined TO obey the Kings
commands in the matter OF hats. and
announced their readiness to sacrifice
their property and even their lives
sooner than yield-in one word, treat
ing their hats as the most vital point
OF their honor. conscience and pripci-
pies Finally. after much bloodshed. the
King was forced to compromise.
whereby every one within the walls of
Madrid agreed TO wear his brim turned
up, while outside he was at liberty to
let is SLOUGH.
Blood likewise flowed in the streets
of Lisbon about the same time, in cons
sequence of the issue of a decree by
King Joseph. not only ordering the
Punishment of all Jews but likewise
insisting that all Portuguese citizens
protesting the Catholic faith who had
any Hebrews among their ancestors
should wear white hats, so that the
faint" of their blood might be signal
ICED with a view to subjecting them to
ostracism. AS there is hardly a sim
gle family of any importance in Por-
tugal that does not have a number of
was resisted by the people. and an in
surrection of so much gravity ensued
that the existence of the throne was
in danger.
At length the Prime Minister. the
witty and brilliant Marquis de Pombal.
finding remonstrance and argument
powerless to induce the fanatical mon
arch to repeal the decree, determined
to appeal to his sense of humor. He
pretended to have been won over to
the Kings views. and presenting him
self before his Majesty. drew forth
from underneath his mantle two white
hats. which he solemniy placed upon
the table.
Greatly astonished. the sovereign in
quired the meaning of this extraor-
binary action OF the Premier. Said
the latter: II have come prepared to
obey your Majestys commands, with
one hat for you and the other for my
self, - thus recalling to the moharch the
well-known fact that the house of
Braganza itself is not free from He
brew strain. The King had the good
sense to see the joke. laughed heartily
and permitted the marquis to with
draw the obnoxious edict-
Copyright, 1913. by the Brentwood
Company
PINED FOR DOG AND SLED