Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 296, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 December 1919 — Hatless M. P.'s [ARTICLE]

Hatless M. P.'s

Among the changes noticeable in this house of commons is the absence of the hat when members are in the house itself. Formerly hats were universally worn when members were seated or in the lobby. Only the whips were hatless in the lobby; that marked them out from the others. Now nearly the only members who. still retain their headgear—both glosSy silk toppers—are Mr. Chamberlain and Sir Frederick Banbury. Both make great play with it. Sir Frederick raises his hat when a minister answers one of his questions or when, in the fencing phrase, he is touche in debate. The chancellor of the exchequer takes his off when he rises to speak and puts it on the table in front of him, and when listening to a speaker sits with it well forward over his eyes and his feet planted high up on the side of the table. —London Morning Post