A TALE OF TWO TILES.

NZ Truth, Issue 136, 25 January 1908, Page 6

A TALE OF TWO TILES.

"WHERE DID YOU GET THAT HAT?" The interesting subject of hats is occupying the attention of Tom Wilford, who takes the same size m roofs as thc late lamented William Ewart. Gladstone. The Hutt's versatile representative has startled the Dominion by appearing m public m a white hard hat, not of the "tile" variety affected by Vigor Brown, of Napier, but a real snow-hued hard-hit-ter. The fashion has been set by King Ned, who might be a really useful personage to society if he came out here and abolished black-cloth and sundries . now worn beneath the rays of a semi-tropical sun. Royalty wore the white head-gear mentioned m some swagger public place like Ascot, Epsom, or Whitechapel, and his accommodating subjects are following the lead, with enthusiasm.. His original Majesty has sworn to kill the black egg-boiler, and substitute the white ditto for three reasons (1) Because the white cady- can be kept clean ; (2) because it is less expensive ; (3) because it is lighter. Wilford's unexampled specimen was ac* tually made by the King's hatter for Ned VII-up, and for that reason it staggers under a sentimental worth m marked disproportion, to its intrinsic value. In the hands of an unscrupulous, unprofessional person, the singular bun might be placed m a glass case and a charge made to inspect it, with highly satisfactory financial results. A halo of romance surrounds Barrister Wilford' s possession of a green beaver hat, which is girdled with green ribbon, the ends of which tail out behind when the gentle breezes blow. This unusual brain cover was ob]t ained .from the hatter of the Seventh Edward by Charlie Kennedy, of Napier, who combines the dual professions of surveyor and solicitor, and ■ WAS PRESENTED TO JIMMY CARROLL by the globe-trotter. The Native Minister didn't have the moral courage to wear the extraordinary thing, and meeting Tom Wilford m Auckland he offered to give it to Mm if he would wear it. In the opinio.n of this appreciative newspaper, Wilford would tweak the nose of the Governor if anybody dared him to do it, and Carroll set him an easy one when he? asked him to attend the sale of yearlings at Papakura m the verdant beaver. Wilford. would have worn a surplice for a side bet, for that matter. The consciousness that one is wearing a king's potae is refreshing to the-csensibilities ; therefore, consider the horror and mortification of wilful Wilford when he' dropped across Teddy O'Rourke, some time amateur rider and popular sport, just out from 'Ome and garbed m the latest from Bond-street, and, moreover, wearing a. green beaver apparently identical wjfth the costly and unique lid on the generous thinker of Thomas ! A near inspection of the rival attraction; however, demonstrated that it didn't bear the impress of Royalty and was a base imitation of the real thing. It's a pity Parliament isn't sitting ; otherwise, what a sensation the honorable mem>ber for the Hutt would create with his conspicuous tile In the august Chamber.