Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-21

There was a lull in foot traffic. In
Vulnerable women came by, some
wearing Chanel red, others adorned
in the so-called cape collars, large
horselike affairs which make
shoulders seem hugely wide. We
predict that these things will not be
very popular, and will not last very
long. at best
Three" came a voice at our side,
chalking up another man who dared
] to do as he pleased. AS the minutes
passed the proportion varied. Some
times the count was as high as 10 to
l in favor Of those with hats, at other
times it sunk to to l.
The end of our counting showed the
proportion about to l, and this we
believe to be a fair count, one which
will be borne out almost any bright,
warm day. In other words, whereas
10 years ago not a man dared to APP
pear on the street without hat, to-
day one out of every four not only
dares, but does so appear!
What does this signify?
1t means, in the first place. that
men are becoming more daring in
their dress, or undress, as one chooses
to call - that they are taking a leaf
out e. a~e Women's book, and suiting
thef};sS yes. not other people. If any
enc noDs up at this statement and
asserts that women always dress to
suit other women, not themselves, we
can but reply that their feminine
psychology is at fault, in our opinion.
In the second place, this hatless era
means that people in general, both
men and women, are learning to mind
their own business better. The World
War did a great many things. and
this is one of them. There are at all
times, of course, in every civilized
community a large proportion of per-
sons with empty heads and nothing
to do. These creatures, having no
proper business of their own, have
nothing to do but mind other peoples
business. This they do With assiduity
They are like animals. attracted by
every sound, every movement. every
deviation from the usual-as repre-
sented in their perfect selves.
Whereas men of affairs and honor
mind their own business, these find
nothing better to do than laugh at
their fellows.
In the past a favorite occupation
of these mildly absurd creatures was
to laugh at every man who dared to
walk the streets without hat. A
hat was the usual thing. Did not
they, wondrous fellows. wear hats?
Therefore every one who did not wear
hat was an ass, and was to be
laughed at as such.
Physicians advice following the war,
however, led hundreds of former
service men to appear on the streets
without hats. The Knockers We're
silenced. Then, too, there had been
a good propaganda carried on by
many writer's in favor of hatleSs men.
All this told.
The result is that men may walk
the streets of Washington today with
out any hat at all, even in the hand,
if they so choose. The habit is a
healthy, honest one, and one that will
gain Roadway. A hat at best is
something of a nuisance. Nature
gave most of us excellent hats. in the
form of hair, which, if we but would
use more, would protect us adequate
ly, and at the same time grow thick
and beautiful.
We know several men who wear
no hat the year round. One young
fellow never wore a hat except when
in the High School Cadets. Often we
have seen him walking through snow
storms, head up, hatless, healthy,
happy.
The greatest gain of the hatless
vogue. however. is in that a man
may now do as he pleases, so long as
he minds his own business and hurts
no one. Washington is to be con.
graduated.