Mr. Trevor reached behind him and picked up a sample hat that he had brought from England. It resembled a western cowboy’s headgear except that the brim was straight and stiff. Above the brim was a smart leather band and a buckle. The top was picturesquely pinched into a four-sided peak, while beneath the brim and hanging down behind was a light leather cord.
“What’s the little cord for?” came from several, while each boy sprang from his chair to get a better view.
“These hats were devised by General Baden-Powell for the English cavalry in tropic Africa,” explained Mr. Trevor. “The cord is to fasten beneath your hair on the nape of the neck. It holds the hat securely against the wind and in the wildest charge.”
“Cowboys have those strings to hold the hat,” exclaimed Connie.
“Very true,” answered Mr. Trevor. “That’s another thing General Baden-Powell saw on one of his trips to America. And he also saw that cowboy hats have loose, floppy brims. He made his hat with a stiff brim to keep the brim out of the eyes.”
“Our soldiers wore them in the Spanish-American War,” persisted Connie.
“Sure,” said Mr. Trevor smiling, “after General Baden-Powell showed them how good the hats were.”
By this time the hat was on Wart Ware’s head and every guest was clamoring to have a try on himself.
“In addition,” continued the host, “each Boy Scout has a knapsack to carry his mess kit; a khaki shirt with a fine sailor necktie and a belt. In England they wear ‘knickers’ and Scotch plaid stockings. And I tell you they look mighty fine when they march out with their patrol pennants on their staffs and the patrol flag in front.”