The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-26

~ vs q their noses or their whiskcrs; but
M artificial adiuacts oftbe human BODY are
- annarcnt,y Identical with its nature as
snectacies. We know men who seem 10
ss,,s,n with their spectacles, TO frowD. TO
sranr. and even to eat with them. They
are the most prominent features, so 10
socsk. Of their couutenances, and we should
miss them as much IS we should miss iheir
ewes or their ears. Indeed, II would almost
seem indecent II they were TO lake tncm on.
n never occurs to us for a moment that
they we're bora without them nor wou,u
its;fike us rs strange II we were TO see NUE.
spec,acIcd face peepsDg out OF their Daoses
cradles. We are, OF course. reierring 10
babitrn!, chronic, and incuraoIe spec'ac'e-
utsrers. and not to occasional offenders.
There are probably but few civilized peo-
lie az certain age who do not make more
or lees use Of glasses, and we might give a
worse definition Of our fellow-creatures
than Ly describing them as spectacle-wear-
ing animals.
An observant person can scarcely have
failed 10 notice how much aud how various
III The use OF glasses alters the expression.
With some people spectacles look what they
are, mere Instruments; but with others
they seem part and parcel OF their faces.
Although the wearing OF glasses always az
fec,s persons face, we scarcely notice that
they are worn byNeertain people. Yet there
are cases in which the glasses are more con-
sr,icuous than their wearers, and We feel a.
il we were taking TO the spec,scles rather
than 10 the human being behind them.
The lenses seem5fo have life and spirit, and
we should almost fancy we were commit
ting mans Eiighter II we were TO break
them. Som& peoples spectacles have pecu-
liarly Objectionable and impudent express
sion. Their wearers throw their heads
back to look at one, and there is an I'M
biilshipg and staring appearance about the
whole arrangement, man and specfac'es,
which IL decidedly offensive. We feel at
disadvantage, too, for II is impossible for
the naked eye to assume like air OF intoie-
rable imperllnepce. Then there are, on the
other hand, AFFECT spectacles, which seem
cowed in ones presence. Their owners
drop their heads, or slowly raise them on
one side like ducks In storm. There are
strong and uncompromisng-look spec
;acles, which 1t would evidently be uDplea-
SAINT TO dispute with, and there are weak
looking spectaces which one fancies might
be easily bamboozled. There are some
spectacles which look as II they wished they
were not spectacles, and others which seem
10 take pleasure in being spectaces, and
10 wish every one TO be aware OF the fact.
Like other things, spectacles have moved
with the times. The glasses worn by our
great.grandparenis were something like
epectacles. Those, for instance, which are
depicted in the portraits OF Sir Joshua Rey-
nelds by himself, are instruments which
few would be brave enough to use In these
days. Their only living representatives
are the heavy sreclacles which are sold IN
ont-of.the-way village shops; things with
great wide rims made OF tortOise-sheli,
silver, or brass, with double springs or holes
a, the ends by which to tie on the whole APP
paratus at the back OF the head. The spec
iacles Of City years ago were heavy, cum
bfous machines, almost circular, and broad
~ trimmed. They were about as formida-
ble-lookiDg rs the umbrellas OF the same
rstiod. 10 former days little trouble was
taken to make glasses becoming, because
they were seldom used except for old and
dim eyes, for the art OF being short-sighted
was not discovered until some time after
The invention OF spectacles. Among The
rural poor, even now, glasses are seldom
worn except by the old and dim-sighted.
Among cottages there seems TO exist a
supe, stition that the use Of srectacles gives
an ar If re- pectabiiiy il not OF piely to the
wearer. An open Bible with a pair OF
sptctacles laid across it is supposed 10 be
conclusive evidence OF the sanetity OF the
owner, and 10 be more than the hardest
hearted curaie or district visitor can resist.
There Is also something clerical in we'll
ordered spectacles. A parson may be most
parsonic in bis bearings and appearance,
but his parsonifcatiOn is intensely parsoni-
fed by the additional ofspectaclss. He has
no sooner put them on his nose than he
seems at once to have sprung from one to
foriy-parson power. His views may have
been sound before, but he looks much
sounder when he has put on his spectacles.
His Influence Is also much increased by this
addition, for a creature all black cloth and
cleaning spectacies is formidable object.
especially to children. Glasses again have
their scholastic uses. There is a way OF
ewing small boys through speciacles which
is very awe-inspiring. Even looking over
spectacles has been known to alarm people
before now.
We have known charming women who
wore spectacles, but, as a rule, we do not
consider glasses becoming TO ladies. They
are apt 10 give semi-mascuine, semi
scholastic, semi-clerical appearance TO
female wearers, which is not particularly
prepossesslng. A stern look is unpleasant
IN woman, and glasses generally give this
look more or less TO tie wearer. We are
not fond Of extremes, and although we are
far from agreeing with the prudish old
adagc that q woman should never look
straight into the face OF man, we are not
fond Of being deliberately stared at by
specialized lady. Most ladies' noses are not
very well fitted by nature for carrying spec.
iacles, consequently when they use glasses
they are obliged to throw their heads
slightly back In a manner which appears,
at first sight, little superciious. In most
cases, OF course, this appearance IS inayold-
able; but we fancy we have known in-
stances in which women have gladly avail
ed themselves OF the excuse OF spectacles Tor
looking impudent. When women dislike
each other they have method OF staring at
one another through their spectacles which
conveys more meaning than 1t would be
possible for language TO express. Glasses
rarely increase the benignity OF the counte-
nance, but women can look through spec
tacles with disagreeable expression which
is beyond the power OF the male sex. We
have observed that many short-sighied
ladies who never use glasses before men
make unblushing use OF the most uncem-
promising spectacles when they are, or
imagine themselves TO be, exclusively in the
company OF their own sex. At any rate
they will often merely use an eyeglass or
pince.nex In general society, but wear
regular spectacles among women. The
pincs nex has become wonderfully fasbona-
Die Of late years. II you place one along.
side Of pair OF spectacles on table both
appear equally harmless, but upon the nose
the difference OF effect Is extraordinary.
{ II is amusing to meet person whom one
bias been accustomed TO see in regular spec
tacles wearing pince-nez for the first