Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-02
A Study of SpectacIes.

Inc mats, necktleS or BOOTS or certain people
seem as much parts OF their persons as their
noses or their Whiskers; but no artificial ad-
luncts OF the human body are so apparently
Identical with its nature as spectacles. We
tacles, to frown. to sheer, and even to eat with
them. They are the most prominent features,
SO to speak, OF their cOuntenanceS, and we
should miss them as much as we should miss
their eyes or their ears. Indeed it would almost
seem Indecent If they were to take them off. 1t
never occurs to us for moment that they were
born without them. nor would Ii strike us as
strange II we were to see little specialized face
peeping out OF their babies cradles We are of
course, referring TO the habitual chronic, and
lncuraple spectacle WearerS. and not to Occa-
Slonal offenders. There are probably but few
civilized people OF certain age who do not
make more or less use Of glasses, and we might
give worse definition OF our fellow creatures
Than by describing them as spectacle wearing
animals.
An observant person can scarcely have failed
to notice how much and how var1ously the use
OF glasses alters the expression. With some
people spectacles look what they are, mere In
struments; but with others they seem part and
parcel Of their faces. Although the wearing of
glasses always affects persons face, we
scarcely notice that they are worn by certain
people. Yet there are cases in which the
glasses are more conspicuous than their
WearerS, and we feel as If we were talking to
the spectacles rather than to the human being
behind them. The lenses seem to have life
and spirit, and we should almost fancy we were
committing manslaughter If we were to break
them. Some peoples spectacles have pecu
lfarly Objectionable and 1mpudent expression.
The Wearels throw their heads back to look a.
ole, and there is an unblushing and staring ap-
pears nee about the whole arrangement, man and
spectacles, which is decidedly offensive. We
feel at disadvantage, TOO, for 1t is impossible
for tie naked eye to assume like air OF tnto.er-
able impertinence. Then there are, on the other
LAND AFFECT seectacles. 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 uncompronis.ng-
looking spectacles which it would evidently Ee
unpleasant to dispute with, and there are weak
looking spectacles which one fancieS might be
easily bambOozled. There are some Spectacles
which look as if they wished they were not
spectacles, and others which seem to take a
pleasure In being spectacles, and to wish every
one to be aware OF the fact.
Like ether things, spectacles have moved with
the times. The glasses worn by our great
grandparents were something like spectacles.
Those for instance, which are depicted in the
portraits Of Sir Joshua Reynolds by himself,
are instruments which few would be brave
enough to use in these days Their only living
are sold in out-of-the-way village shops; things
With great wide rims made OF tortoise shell.
silver, or brass with double springs or holes al
the ends by which to tie on the whole appara-
OF fifty years ego were heavy cumbrous
machines, almost circular, and broadly
trimmed. They were about as formula
pie looking as the umbrellas OF the same period.
glasses becoming, because they were seldom
used except for Old and dim eyes, for the art OF
being shortsighted was not discovered until
sometime after the invention Of sDectacles.
Among the rural poor, even nov, glasses are
seldom worn except by the old and dim-sighted.
among cottagers there seems to exist su per
st!uon that tue use of spectacles gives an air OF
responsibility if not OF piety to the wearer. An
open Bible with pair OF spectacles laid across
1t is supposed to be conclusive evidence OF the
sanctity OF the owner and to be more than the
hardest-hearted curate or district visitor can re-
SiSt.
There is always something clerical in well-or-
dered spectacles. A parson may be most par
SONIC IN MS bearings and appearance, but his
paISon1f1cation is intensely parsonlfied by the
addition of spectacles He has no sooner nut
tnem on his nose than he seems at once to have
sprung from one to forty parson power His
views may have been sound before. but he
LOOKS LOOKS much sounder when he has put on his
spectaeies. His influence is also much in
creased by this addition, for creature all
Diack cloth and cleaning spectacles is a for
midabie object, especially to children. Glasses
again nave their scholastic uses. There is a
way OF cycling small boys through spectacles
U which Is very awe inspiring. Even looking
u I'VE spectacles has been known to alarm PEG,
PIE before nOW,-SdtlI1'd0D R4pje,r