Amongst modern head-dresses the Spanish mantilla undoubtedly stands out in pleasant relief from the general rule of the commonplace which obtains at present. It is an entirely becoming head-dress, and reasonable, as is also the habit of Spanish women of carrying fans, which are usually attached to the waist, and serve also the purpose of sunshades, being held up to the head on the sunny side of the street. The action is a most graceful one, and the convenience is obvious. The panama hat is certainly the most satisfactory male headgear, both as regards appearance, health, durability, and comfort. The "bowler" can scarcely be said to be a thing of beauty. It has, however, been rendered historic by the Right Honourable John Burns, who has established a precedent by appearing at Buckingham Palace in this form of head-covering for the purpose of receiving his seals of office. To return once again, and finally, to the chimney-pot. Milan has just recently inaugurated her third International Exposition of Industries, Commerce, and Art:-- "An amusing sidelight of the Exhibition is the unprecedented stimulus to the sale of stovepipe hats occasioned by a rigid regulation excluding every other kind from the inaugural function. Such a rigid enforcement is quite unknown in Rome itself, where there are said to be Cabinet Ministers, Senators, and Deputies who are innocent of ever having donned one. The story is told that several provincial Deputies who were invited to Milan were so fearful of mishap that they bought tall hats _for their wives as well as themselves_" (_Vide_ daily paper). [Illustration: FOOL'S CAP OF LEATHER, GERMAN. Worn by the court fool of an Elector of Mayence (seventeenth century). _South Kensington Museum._] FOOTNOTES: [21] It would appear to be a corruption of "mad as an atter (adder)". The word "adder" is _atter_ in Saxon, _natter_ in German. Its origin, however, is apparently somewhat obscure. [22] The above story was told to the knight by a lady of his acquaintance who was an eye-witness of the event. We give here Caxton's version:--"For her clothyng and araye was different and no thyng lyke to theyr, and therefore she had wel her part beholdyng and lokyng. Thenne said the good ladyes to her, 'My frende, telle ye us, yf it please yow, how ye name that aray that ye have on your heed?' She answerde and saide, 'The galhows aray.' 'God bless us,' said the good lady, 'the name of hit is not faire.'... 'As ferre as I me remembre of it,' continued the knight's informant, 'hit was highe culewed with longe pynnes of sylver uppon her hede, after the makynge and maner of a gybet or galhows, right straunge and merveylous to se.'" IX THE DRESSING OF THE HAIR, MOUSTACHIOS, AND BEARD