Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 232, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1910 — The Hat. [ARTICLE]

The Hat.

The custom of men wearing hats originated in the days when they wore helmets. These helmets were usually made of iron or brass or some other durable material and were intended to prevent the head of the man being whacked off by some enemy.' It was a great deal like our presentday method of builamg navies. Some one would invent a helmet that could) not be carved with a sword and then, some one would invent a sword or battle ax that could send the helmet to the scrap pile. Finally the iron hats became so heavy and hot that genuemen refused to wear them, and, when an enemy approached they called the police. So today we have the derby hat, thei silk hat and the straw. Also the folding or collapsible opera hat, which was invented for the use of vaudevlllei comedians. A man in ordinary Hf o may snap his opera hat all he likes, and never get a smile, but let hlmi go on the stage and do it and he is, encored four times and paid |SOO « week. The silk hat is worn by politicians! and physicians. However, any politician south of Missouri and west of! Mississippi wearing anything but at black slouch hat is sent to congress! to get him out of the country. The straw hat is so deftly constructed that it is easily blown from* the head, thus enabling us to scatter* gladness throughout life as we rush in pursuit of the hat. Hats are removed when ladles are present This is for a display of manners, and not to exhibit the contour of! the cranium.