Do You Know: Why do men raise their hats? (colour litho)

Why do men raise their hats? Diligent searchings have not entirely unravelled the beginnings of the custom, but two reasons are advanced. The first is a legacy from the days of chivalry, when a knight removed his casque in the presence of a lady, or when the Queen of Beauty crowned him for his prowess after a tournament. The other suggests a mannerism adopted by gallants in the 17th century, of raising their extravagantly plumed hats, not as an act of courtesy, but to call attention to their fine feathers. Until midway through this century, gentlemen jealously kept on their hats except in the presence of the king. Illustration for one of a set of 50 "Do You Know?" cigarette cards issued by Carreras in 1939.