HARROW'S STRAW HAT

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 90, 12 October 1929, Page 20

HARROW'S STRAW HAT

"RIDICULOUS HEADGEAR"

A vigorous attack on the Harrow, School straw hat is made in "The Harvorian/*' the school magazine. ;

The writer of the article is Mr. R.: Bamsay, .an old Harrovian, and father of A. P." Ramsay,'a member of this year's', cricket: Xli.:--'The present' queer-shaped straw hat was adopted for week-day wear instead of the "topper" about sixty years ago, Mr; Bamsay writes. . '': -.' .'■,.. .'■■.-

"I have been, out •■ of touch- with Har-1 row for some years, and possibly the subject, of 'The . Harrow. Straw' has been discussed unknown to me; in this event I offer .my apologies. Is there any. single argument "'in- favour •• of the ridiculous headgear? ';. I-lhave never heard one,-.nor-,can I think of one.

"Could anyone imagine a' hat loss suitablel fqr;.-with .'standing either-: the English.-climate or. the-onslaughts of the even more boisterous English schoolboy?-I-sincerely hope that-.some one—x>r better still,.some body of men, such as the 'Phil.'—possessed of the requisite energy, Takes the matter up and secures its- abolition.; I say energy because I'fancy that energy, and prob-. ably 'a'certain naincrant of doggedriess' also, will bo required to" achieve success.

"Possibly it may be looked upon as a sort of old tradition, and defended as such. It is not an old tradition. It was not the school headgear sixty, years ago, and sixty years ■ is.' a very short span compared with the age of the school. ; Let us get rid of the- beastly thing before it does become an old tradition." . : . ■'■■'...

Tho Hairow straw possesses a wide brim, and is ■'.very shallow. It is so shallow that it cannot possibly fit the head, and is kept in its. place by elastic. The cricket XI. wear speckled straws, and monitors have tho badge of the crossed arrows, but all alike are of the-same curious shape. . '