Me Hat

[Brian K]

Good point Rex, you got me there. But honestly, the picture was taken inside only because there was no one around to take it so I had to set the camera up on the rail of my staircase, which happened to be inside. As soon as the photo shoot ws over the cap went on the top shelf of the closet. I had just gotten back from golfing dressed as you see, with the exception of golf shoes instead of the slip ons and I also golf sans sporran.

I agree, a bonnet, cap or hat should be removed indoors for proper etiquette and appearences. Thanks for that reminder.

Oh, and yes my mother taught me a lot, but my grandfather and grandmother are the ones who taught me hat etiquette.



jeff

The interchange between Rex and Jeff brings up the question of hat etiquette (sorry about the hijack).

My example and teacher in this regard was my oft mentioned great grandfather Anderson. He was born in 1882 and was an old school gentleman. He moved in with us when I was five and remained there until his death at age 90, when I was 15. I was lucky to be able to spend time with him every day of my life for 10 years.

If he left the house he wore a hat. If he left the property he wore a jacket and tie. No exceptions.

As I was taught by him, you remove your hat when you enter a home, a church, a restaurant, a theater, a professional office or other such places, or when you meet a lady on the street, unless your hands are full. You do not remove your hat if you enter a barn or a retail shop, presumably because in those places you are likely to need to use your hands and not all hats or caps are able to be stuffed into your pocket. One exception I see to this all the time is when a soldier enters the store - and there are a lot of them where I live - they remove their beret. I assume they've been taught that all indoor spaces are equal and, in any event they can still use their hands because they roll up the beret and stick it in their pocket or their belt and in some uniforms it fits neatly in an epaulet.

I bring this up because I am constantly amazed at the number of men and boys I see who seem to have no idea about hat etiquette whatsoever. They put one on (usually a trucker style hat - and I consider a genuine baseball cap with a team logo, fitted and made of wool with quality construction a different beast altogether, though they are subject to the same disregard for convention in most instances) when they rise in the morning and do not remove it until they go to bed. I do not just see this in the young, though they are the principal offenders. I see men older than my parents wearing hats in restaurants and who have to be reminded to remove them on the few occasions they darken the door of a church.

I try to be charitable to those benighted souls, but it does bother me. Am I turning into an auld crabbit at the tender age of 53?

Regards,

Brian