Among the many things invented by man for his use, none perhaps is more
ridiculous than the _three cornered hat_ at present used by some
persons. That it affords but an inconsiderable shelter for the head, is
a truth scarcely to be denied; and that the face of him who wears it
remains exposed to the piercing rays of the sun, is equally true. If our
ancestors deemed it a conveniency to wear the hats in question,
experience teaches us at the present day, their great inutility: And
shall we then willingly smile on those customs which (tho’ formerly
practised) proves at present highly injurious? No; Let us consult our
own feelings, and not the habits of former times.---Common sense points
out their inconsistency, and reason mocks the stupidity of him who madly
submits to be ruled by custom, that tyrant of the human mind, to whose
government three-fourths of this creation foolishly subscribe their
assent. Again, the weight which is comprised in a hat of that size, is a
sufficient argument for their abolition. Wherein then can the utility of
such an unwieldy machine consist? Is not the round hat more becoming?
And does it not finally prove to the head by far the best covering? The
contrary cannot be urged unless through prejudice or selfishness. That
it looks respectable and sacred, may be urged in favour of it; to this I
reply, that if to be _impudent_, constitutes either of those characters,
the _three cornered hat_ has the great good fortune to be superior to
the other. It may be further advanced in its favour, that by letting
down its brims it will answer the purpose of an _umbrella_ in a hot
summer’s day: true that for size it may, but where is the person that
would not rather make use of the real than the fictitious machine? Why
was the pains taken for the invention of an umbrella, if the hat could
be made to answer the same views? Was it not because the hat attracting
the rays of the sun, was found to be injurious to the eyes, and
therefore recourse was had to a machine which proved not only a shelter
from the sun, but to the eyes far more beneficial. To conclude, nothing
but a false pride, and a desire to be _conspicuous_, could ever induce a
person thus inconsistently to use that which will finally prove his
folly.