---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 5
number: 2
published: 1901-12
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "The Old High Hat," *Improvement Era* 5, no. 2 (December 1901): 144.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0502unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera0502unse
start_page: 144
end_page: 144
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1901-12)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0502unse
  publication_year: 1901
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1901, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# The Old High Hat

<!-- page:144 -->

—

144 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

completely disregarded the present time than at any time in the
history of our country, by the use of intoxicating drinks. There
is a specious argument that people who work all the week need
some relaxation and pleasure on the Sabbath day. The trouble
with those who advocate the Sabbath day for pleasure resorts, is
that what they would have us think they mean by relaxation and
pleasure is really indulgence in vice. The Sabbath day God made
holy, and man cannot disregard that divine injunction without reap-
ing the awful consequences of its neglect. People must not im-
agine that the civil authorities alone can correct the great evils of
the Sunday saloon. There must be an ever vigilant watch-care by
parents over the conduct of their children. There must be no re-
laxation in preaching, teaching, admonishing and warning upon the
evils of drink. There is a spirit as well as a letter in every divine
command, and when the spirit of the law is gone the letter becomes
ineffectual.

THE OLD HIGH HAT.

Thrown out here on the rubbish heap, dusty, battered and dented deep
—
Style, the pattern of 'fifty-three my! old hat, you're a sight to see!
Cleanin' house and yer had ter go? Well, that's nateral, don't yer know?
Hats and men, that have had their day, have ter git if they're in the way.
Changed a little we have, I swan! sence that night when I put yer on.
New and shiny and grand and tall, and took Her to the fancy ball.
Mind the walk from the hall that night? Moon shining so big and bright,
— —
And she sayin' with arm in mine How becomin' you are, and fine!
Hum-a-day! that was long ago. Now she thinks you're a perfect show,
And the children are lafiin' at Grandad here and his old, high hat.
Time don't linger fer man ner tile, hats and heads they go out of style,
—
Have to pass and make way fer new that's as sartin fer me as you.
Come, old feller, I'll take yer in, hang yer up on the nail agin;
For, though now we are worn and gray, we've been somebody, aint we,
hey? Saturday Evening Post.
