Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-09-23
Glove Manufacture in America.

Glove Manufacture in America
Custom as we'll as necessity has mad
gloves an important article Of dress ant
of commerce. As one of luxury they
have been known from very early times
Homer accords their use among the an
clients of his day, and Xenophon in hi
Cyrop@dia assures that they were thel
in use, by mentioning that on one occas
ion Cyrus went without his gloves. These
were doubtless rudely-shaped hand
covering, possibly something like the
mittens of the present day, IS there Is nc
record of gloves having been distinguish.
ed by pairs before A. d. Sl4. A special
regard has attached to gloves from
the earliest ages in which their nse
was known. The custom of throwing
down a glove as challenge, answered
by raising it and throwing down another,
is of extreme antiquity. They were also
given, as late as the thirteenth century,
BY the English, as pledges on the con-
clusion Of a contract.
USES oE GLOVES.
In the middle ages gloves were on art
iclc Of great luxury, worn only by the
higher classes, and made in the most
costly manner, embroidered with pearls
and precious stones. They were worn
by kings and great dignitarics Of the
church on occasions Of ceremony. The
knight wore his lady's glove in his helmet
as he rode forth to battle or the lists,
and tn, victor received it as his guerdon
and the seal Of his valor and knighty
emprise. Officials wore them while con-
terring dignities, and presented them, at
the conclusion Of the ceremonies, 20 the
recipient. On entering the stable Of a
prince, or, in hunting, at the death of
the stag, it was customary to give G gloves
to the servants, or money as an equival.
cnt. Hence the term "glove-money,' as
applied to gifts to servants, or in return
for favors The custom Of giving them
at funerals is very cd On. In early
times this custom was carried to sach an
extent in Massachusetts that it was pro-
hi5ited by law under penalty Of twenty
pounds.
In the reign of Elizabeth gloves were
very costly on account of an expensive
perfume with which they were scented
They figured on many occasions of ronip
and ceremony, and history mentions them
at one most mournful Que. Charles l.,
when on the scaffold, and just before his
execution, on the 5Uth Of J4nuary, 1919,
removed hts gloves and gave them to
Bishop Juxon, accompanying the gift
with that impressive "Remember,' the
true significance Of which has never been
solved.
FRENCH GLOVES.
In modern times, frem the general use
of the article, the manufacture has be-
come one of immerse Importance
France is the chief seat of the man ltact-
ure of kid gloves, and it is estimated
that no less than 315, 600 dozen of skins
are there annually manufactured into
gloves. Even so long ago as 9,435 900
francs. The Engiist manufacture gloves
to IL considerable ex'eat, but cannot COM
pete with French. Partisan gloves fkid)
20 called, though ney are made III var
ious parts of Fra,ce, are most demani-
ed. Those of German manufacture rank
next. bat Can be sold at u considerably
lower price in this country. Ladies
French kid goes cost At present to im-
port about sl3 per dozen in gold. or
,wenty.nine occurrence. German gloves,
50 in go.d and s2l 0 $22 in currency.
The price las advanced somewhat in
Europe, anc the dus on them is fifty per
cent.
France sends u kid. cloth ard silk
gloves. Eaglaud calf, dos-skin, cloth
and silk, and fS kid of Interior fit and
finish 70 the rench ones. German,
Kid inferior to rench, but often sold as
such. cloth al lislc thread. In this
country are pldnced heavy wool gloves,
buckskin, shes and dog-skn, few kid,
though most .nown by that name are
made of Ca,-shoep, India rubber gloves.
Very execent gloves Of Cape-sheep,
sometimes died dog-skin and sometimes
hid, are me in large quantities. in this
country fo both mems and woncn's wear
though it, to be regretted that the man
utaclurcr often attempt to impose upon
the pubI as Of foreign make, by the use
Of faIseabcls. BY one most important
whole,e house this practice is d'scoarag-
ed 2 A. T. Stewart 4 Co., goods are
sold f; exactly what they arc, and due
promience is given to American manu-
tactuss, many Of which are really better
thanthosc of foreign make, whose labels
hayeoftcn been attached to them.
AMERICAN GLOVE MANUFACTURES.
The principal seat Of the manufacture
Of doves in this country is Fulton county,
Nss YORK. A large ana honrishing VII
lac has sprung up at the principal centre
y the trade, aud taking its name there
rom, is known as Glovcrsville. But
there are also large manufactures and
many goods are made at Johnstown'
Kings5oro, West Galway and Broadal-
bin. Gloves are also made in other parts
of the country-in Philadelphia and
other portions Of Pennsylvanla' IN Con-
uecticut and Massachusetts,.
Skins used i'll the manufacture OF gloves
in America are mostly imported. Dee'
skins are principally obtained from soutf
American and Central American ports
but also iom California, Oregon, Texas