other side as a
"billycock." That singular structure for the human head, the derby
hat, one time well-nigh universally worn, has now gone somewhat out of
fashion and been superseded by the soft hat of smart design, though
there are indications, I fear, that the derby is coming in again. When
we were young the soft hat was most commonly worn by veterans of the
Civil War, in a pattern called a "slouch hat" or "Grand Army hat."
Though, indeed, such romantic beings as cowboys in popular ten cent
literature and the late Buffalo Bill wore sombreros, and the
picturesque Mexican a high peaked affair.

Our grandfathers wore "stove-pipe hats"; and the hats of politicians
were one time frequently called "plug hats." This male head-dress even
more extraordinary than the derby, books of etiquette sometimes say you
should not call a "silk hat" but a "high hat." In London but a few
years ago no man ever went into the City with other than a top-hat, or
"topper" as they say there. It is said that the going out of general
favour of the silk hat has been occasioned in a considerable degree by
the popularity of raincoats in preference to umbrellas. If you observe
any great crowd in England to-day you will find in it few hats of any
kind; it is in the main a sea of caps. The American "dude" and the
anti-bellum British "knut" always wore silk hats. Gentlemen at the
British race courses and fine old clubmen of Pall Mall affect a white
or grey top hat, of the sort which was so becoming an ornament to the
late King Edward. The opera hat is said to have startled many persons
who had not seen it before. Intoxicated gentlemen in funny pictures
have always smashed their silk hats. Some men have worn a silk hat
only on the occasion of their marriage. High hats are worn by small
boys in England. The most useful occupation to-day is that which
envolves the wearing of a "tin hat."

The day in the autumn fixed by popular mandate when the straw hat is to
be discarded for the season is hilariously celebrated in Wall Street by
the destruction by the affronted populace of the straw hats of those
who have had the temerity or the thoughtlessness to wear them.
Coloured men in livery stables, however, sometimes wear straw hats the
year round. To the habit generally of wearing a hat baldness is
attributed by some. And the luxuriant hair of Indians and of the
cave-man is pointed to as illustrating the beneficent result of not
wearing a hat. And