WHAT TO WEAR 85 



sensible coat it is, much to be preferred for com- 

 fort to the cut-away ; whilst as for the buttoned-up 

 "swallow tail," however men came to hunt in 

 such a coat is one of those puzzles of which the 

 solution is hard to find. They certainly look 

 smart enough, but on a wet day they afford no 

 protection to the thighs, and are cold and comfort- 

 Jess. Curiously enough, some good sportsmen still 

 stick to them, prompted thereto doubtless by some 

 happy association of ideas. 



A hunting cap, save in some few countries, is 

 now never worn in the hunting field, the silk hat 

 taking its place. Probably the hat came into 

 favour through the fatal accident which happened 

 to the Marquis of Waterford, whose death was 

 supposed to be due to his having worn a cap. 

 That a cap is a very useful and comfortable head 

 covering in a woodland country, where a tall hat 

 is constantly getting into the way amongst the 

 branches, every one who has worn them will allow, 

 but concussion is supposed to be less liable to take 

 place if a hat is worn, and a man's neck is also 

 considered safer. I don't know that there is any- 

 thing in this. Poor "Bay" Middleton was wear- 

 ing a high hat when he broke his neck. After all, 

 I think the hat is worn for fashion's sake more 

 than for safety's, and many Masters of Hounds do 

 not like to see their followers wear the velvet cap. 

 I remember on one occasion when the Question of 

 the members of his hunt wearing caps tos mooted 

 to a well-known Master of Hounds, his^^ was : 

 " Well, gentlemen, there is no law to prevent you 

 wearing velvet caps if you like to do so ; only if 

 you do I shall put my men into white hats." 



This seems to be the prevailing feeling amongst 



