THE RIDING HABIT. 63 



any hatter's ; it has a lower crown than a gentle- 

 man's silk hat, and looks very pretty with a 

 short black net-veil fastened around the crown, 

 as this relieves the stiff look it otherwise pre- 

 sents. This style of hat is very appropriate for 

 a middle-aged person. Care must be taken to 

 have the hat neither too loose nor too tight ; if 

 too tight, it will be apt to occasion a headache, 

 and if too loose will be easily displaced. 



Long veils, long plumes, hats with very broad 

 brims, or very high crowns, as well as those 

 which are worn perched on the top of the 

 head, should be especially avoided. The hat 

 must always be made secure on the head by 

 means of stout elastic sewn on strongly, and so 

 adjusted that it can pass below the braid or coil 

 of hair at the back of the head. An ordinary 

 back-comb firmly fastened on the top of the 

 head will prevent the hat from gradually slip- 

 ping backwards. 



These apparently trifling details must be at- 

 tended to, or some prankish breeze will suddenly 

 carry off the rider's hat, and she will be sub- 

 jected to the mortification o£ having it handed 

 back to her, w^ith an ill-concealed smile, by some 

 obliging pedestrian. Many little particulars 

 which seem insio-nificant when in the dressins^- 

 room will become causes of much discomfort and 



