Hatless! I Roam.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 6 October 1891, Page 3

Hatless! I Roam.

An incident occurred on Saturday that was so far amusing as being an instance of how easily some persons are apt to accuse others of a similar bent to mischief which they themselves possess. Two well known residents were dining at an hotel in town when one left before the other had finished. On the second meditating a departure he discovered that his hat was missing, and herein lies the joke, as without a moment's calm reflection, he immediately jumped to the conclusion that number one had, in the excess of animal spirits, played a joke on him, and hidden his hat. Fortunately the supposed victim of misplaced confidence is a small man, and is therefore incap* able of a great amount of bad language, but by the time he had finished his search, which was not successful, he had become completely bankrupt in what he considered language fitting for the occasion. He nearly caused the death of those who were still at the dining table, by his mysterious groping under chairs and table, in the room, to see if his hat was there. His residence Avas not far off, fortunately, and there he abtained another covering, but " with fire in each eye," and anger in his breath, he roamed the street seeking the despoiler of his hat How different fared it with the real culprit, as " Next o'er his books his eyes began to roll, la pleasing memory of all he stole. Until at last his conscience smote him and he awoke and hurried after our much ill-used friend, and explained that in error he had misplaced the hat upon his head, and had just then discovered his mistake. " Mad as a hatter " is a well known phrase, but it will bear no comparison to " mad as a hatless " after what has occurred.