NOT FOR WEAKLINGS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12528, 13 April 1935, Page 4

NOT FOR WEAKLINGS

THE SALVATION ARMY BONNET.

General Evangeline Booth's defence of the Salvation Army bonnet is admissible (says an Australian Avriter). It is'an object to be approached symbolically, not aesthetically. Its unchanging severity is- a symbol of fixity Of purpose. If it altered as much as Avomen’s hats, one s faith in the Army would be shaken; for one of the clearest signs of feminine ‘ instability is tlie failure of ivoman to make up her lnind about the sliapo of a hat. Variation in size and design is not its only peculiarity, since the angle of wearing is equally inconstant. Tho surest' sign of \a man’s sterner fibre is the angle of his hat, AA’orn always at rfight angles to tho base: To ■ this symbolic uprightness AA’oinan neVer aspires. As General Booth said, it is impassible- to toll whether aUnicdern womanUs coining orgOiiig when you look at lier hat. To this wayivardncss the. Salvation , Army bonnet' is steadfastly '* .opposed. Ity AA'OuKl! *he absurd to see it a leghofil to-day, a - ■ beret- to-niorroAvj a toque the next day and some other monstrous, perversion , -of the milliiicr’d art the dixy after. In tbo’Ariiiy one must have discipline.. Beau Brutnmell once joined a dashing; regiment which ivas , committed toy a- scarlet uniform.' This sarfdriai monotony "bored the Beau, and lie rode outyin.pale blue. His colonel ordered him off parado and tlid Beau sent in his papers the next day. But -Brumiuell, dandy though ho 'was, had not'the‘qualities which .make the evangelist.'He’Would never have ivalked through the streets clad in serge an.l bloAving.ujjon a truin pet; The bbunot-is not tor the-weaki.' J AVV J- v.y-' . -.».: : .L, • •« *,/.