The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-10-07
Gloves.

In some northern countries there exists
custom for brides, on their wedding day,
to present pair Of gloves of their own
woe betide the unlucky bride who neglects
single one, for his or her revenge would
follow the young wife throughout her
whole life, however distant her home might
be. To provide, therefore, for the utmost
emergency, girl begins early in life to lay
by dozens and dozens of gloves of her own
knitting ready for the eventful day. In
most countries 1t is still customary to give
white gloves to menials on wedding day.
but these need not be worked, stitched, or
knitted by the BRIDES own fair fingers. 1t
is also usual to give gloves at christening;
and abroad, especially in Switzerland, it is
the godmother who presents them rather
reversing the laws of gallantry. The Gus
tom Of giving gloves at funerals is also
very old, though now it is generally restrict
ed to the mourners. Thus, in almost every
age and country, the glove has been linked
with love, marriage, birth, and death. 1t
has also formed the theme for many a
romance and poem, and it has more than
once proved powerful instrument of re-
vense in the hands of jealousy and hatred
poisoned gloves being at one time but too
frequently used as the means whereby to
dispose of the hated rival. The Medici
knew the fatal secret, alas! too well, and
pitilessly employed it to safe their cruel
passions.
Cosmetic gloves, with thick lining OF
paste whereby to soften and whiten the
hands, were also very much favored at one
time, and, believe, may still be had in
these days, and are eagerly bought by some
ladies, who regularly wear them at night,
though where they are to be procured I
cannot tell.
But let us return to every day life and to
gloves as we find them. White kid gloves
should be especially reserved for occasions
of the greatest ceremony: on all other
occasions they are out of place, common
and vulgar, and white gloves must never
be of any material but kid Next to white
kid gloves, straw-colored are the most
dressy, for they look almost white by night,
and may be worn when white may not for
fetes, small evening parties, etc. Straw
| colored gloves have often played consider
able parts in fashionable novels, just as
gauntlets did in old romances, and since
|
Pelham headed the list, every novelist fol
long period thought himself compelled
| to glove his heroes and heroines in straw
colored kids. But lavender has now usurp-
ed the plrce of straw, especially with gen.
tlemen, who even have occasionally the
| bad taste to dance in them. l say bad
taste, because every custom must be in bad
taste, however fashionable it may be, if it
be productive of damage or injury to others,
and though gentlemen may not generally
know it, lavender kid gloves often spoil
their partners dresses, who frequently can
not wear a second time dress body after
it has been held by hands encased in laven-
| der.
Black gloves should only be worn in
mourning, and never at any other time
under any pretext whatever. Ladies who
are forced to study economy may select
useful dark shades for gloves, but never
black, black gloves being exclusively re-
served for mourning. 1t was Count d Orsay,
l think, who used to say that the sight
of black gloves made him shudder. Apro-
pos of Count d'Orsay, it is also said that
he used to regularly wear four pairs of new
gloAes day, of different quality and color,
according to different times and places
Indeed it is a popular belief on the Cont
nent that every English gentleman wears
at least three pairs of new gloves day.
must here confess my ignorance on this
point, therefore can neither affirm mol
deny it; shonld it be correct, however,
should say that it must make tolerably