Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-24
Forty Feet of Material
Goes Into India Turban

In certain parts of the world, where
exposure either to extreme heat or
cold is great danger, we find hats
designed primarily for protection. Gu
Ilously enough, with all our modern
discoveries, we have not yet been able
TO improve on these types, and ex-
plorers OF to-day resort to the gar
nc nts and methods of protection in
use among peoples in such zones of
danger The sub-arctic people from
the frozen tungas wear a snugly-fit-
tlnB bonnet with ear laps, designed
10 exclude the cold as well as to con-
serve the heat. Although the utili-
| tarlan side is the essential feature,
ana each of the twenty or more little
pieces used in the construction of the
bonnet are necessary to make the
shape. the people who wear this head
! gear have adapted ornamentation to
| it's limitations.
Fur is the basic material, but there
are effective inserts of different col
ored strips of leather, some of which
are woven with leather of a contrast
ing shade. In introducing the bright
! colors they depend almost entirely
on quiz work, although occasionally
DTS OF trade cloth are used. The aes-
thetic value of the colors, in a cold
climate. is an important aspect of
this type of head covering, which re-
mains structural and in good taste.
In India we find the turban worn
to protect the head from excessive
neat, the thickness varying according
To the climate in each locality. These
turbans are made of cloth of from
~ to 40 feet long and from IL to is
inches wide, and are wrapped around
the head in endless variety, according
to rank and taste All those who car
AFFORD it wear Il band of ten or twelve
feet long, made either partly or Who'll
ly of gold thread, on top of the tur.
ban There are number of accessor.
les worn in combination with the tur.
ban. One beautiful ornament, limited
TO the use of kings, princes and no.
bles, is beautifully embroidered vel
vet band about six inches long anG
two broad. into the middle of which
is inserted a gold plate set with prec-
ious stones. This is worn obliquely
in front of the turban, and the band
is tied behind by means of a sill,
! thread fastened to each end.
The natives of the Philippines and
| South Sea Islands wear large sun
hats as protection from the heat
Palm leaves of various kinds furnish
! the material generally used, but the
shapes differ Some are woven fiat
and some with peak. The common
est form in the Philippines is made of
! palm leaves covered with cane a
| cane bandeau giving an air space
| above the head. The ornamentation
OF these hats is very simple. No col
ors are used with the exception of
brown, which is occasionally intro
| duced in the use of hemp
! In China we find, in addition to the
! large peaked Coolie hat used as a pro-
! lection against heat. that hat which
! Is emblematic of rank. The social
position of a Manchu woman, for in
stance, could be always determined
| by the ornaments on her bonnet, Of
| ten consisting of precious jewels.
| These hats ranged in price from a
! few dollars to as high as $4,000
I apiece. making our so-called extrava-
giant hats of to-day sound cheap in
\ comparison.
One of the most interesting speci-
mems on exhibition at the Brooklyn
| Museum is a hat covered with deli
cate ornaments of turquois blue king
! fishers feathers in imitation of jewels
| formerly used. fastened to a frame
! OF a stiff black open mesh These or
naments. which are made with a met
| al foundation, stand out about half
all inch from the hat itself, and are
| beautiful both in design and color. 1t
is easy to imagine the life of mac
tive, passive luxury that developed
such a type of head covering.