About this time the "stove-pipe" or bell-crowned hat made its appearance, made either of beaver or of silk. This was the forerunner both of the top hat and bowler or derby of to-day. As for the soft felt hat, it is unquestionably the descendant of the tricorn of Napo-iconic days and the later chapeau bras which was three-cornered, but was soft and could be folded to carry under the arm. In some parts of American the slouch' only its European o1 has visible modifications from the Mexican sombrero.
For some years now the general style of soft hat with its multitude of colours, shapes, and methods of wearing has been' fashion's fa rite for men. But Master Fashion is just as fickle as Dame Fashion, and who will dare predict the future?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.