Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-08-05
STORIES IN GLOVES.
xnr Haudvear of n Century Ago
Comnared with That of To-Day.
"What is the latest thing in glove

/ evival, or otherwise style, was Inc
ply. 'Well. this seven-button atlam
! Is. perhaps. Yet it was worn at the
Court of Charles H., we know by man,
ustripts and specimens In museums, ana
Professor Boyd Dawkins says he knows IL
was worn by prehistoric men, by the evl-
.aence of perfect picture of ii which ne
found in Durwald Cave"
1t is a curious and interesting circum-
stance that styles in gloves are sub
stantially the same as they were in the
earliest times after gloves were made
with fingers. The ancients made use OF
more fabrics than modern glovers, ana
gloves have at different periods been
more splendid and costly than any maze
at present. There is doubt In the
minds of some glovers whether modern
workmanship has in all respects attained
The skill of the Venetian glovers, or oil
the medieval Frenchman. But there Is
never any doubt that all present fashions
In gloves are copied directly from those
Of the remote past. 1t is a MINOR fact In
connection with an article of familiar use
which the philosophers of the Ruskln
school probably seize on to prove, their
theory that there are some things modern
progress cannot improve.
Throughout long history of more
: than two thousand years scores OF inter
ssting-often beautiful-customs have
clustered about gloves. A few
only survive One, which mod
ern criminals will regret is not at
present observed, allowed a criminal
under sentence of outlawrv to purchase
pardon by present of gloves to his
Judges. Sir John Bell, in 1464, outlawed
for murder, took advantage of this, and
after paying money into the court to buy
three pair of gloves for the judges and
two dozen for the officers, was released,
Or, as the record dedicately describes it,
given up to God" Another custom
connected with the judicial system of
England is vet extant This is the pre-
sentation of pairtof white gloves to the
recorder when no criminal has appeared
1T his assizes. 1t is a matter of record,
however, that the gift is rare one. In
.he olden times judges in certain instan-
ces, it appears, were not averse to receiv-
ING substantial rewards from suitors
whom their decisions had gratified. The
celebrated Sir Thomas Moore received
pair of gloves filled with golden angels
from Mrs. Crocker, in whose favor he
had decided litigation, and was so glad
70 get it that he publicly acknowledged
, the gift.
To be struck IN the face with a glove
ever so lightly was considered deadly
, insult, and is at present also in certain
circles To bite the glove was in Shakes.
peare's time a mode Of expressing con-
tempt. TO deprive knight of his
gloves was a deep indignity. The Earl
Of Carlisle, on his way TO the scaffold.
complained that the worst punishment
inflicted on him was depriving him Of
his glove. In the middle ages the signal
to dispatch a noble prisoner was given
Oy striking him in the face with the
glove. The young prince, son of Queen
Margaret, whom Edward ". captured
At the battle of Tewksbury in 1471, was
brought before his stern captor that the
latter might thus order him to be dis
patched At this time gloves were so
Intimately connected with the functions
Of royalty and kingly dignity that mon
irchs were invested with authority by IL
glove. Flanders was given to Philip the
Fair by the delivery of a glove. Conrad
Of Hohenstaufen, seeing that he was
about to die at the hands of his rebellious
subjects, cast his glove amid them and
begged some staunch heart yet remain
ng to convey it to his relatives, that
hey might avenge him. A young knight
.ook it up and carried it to Peter, Ling
Of Aragon, who, by virtue of the same
glove, as an actual representative Of
power, was crowned at Palermo.
In burial ceremonies gloves played
heir part. 1t was customary until the
beginning of this century to present
gloves to the mourners, and it is indeed
retained by elderly people
Kings and queens, high mobiles and
ecclesiastics only were formerly ac-
corded the privilege of being buried with
gloves on their hands. Sometimes the
glove was suspended over the tomb.
Edward, the Black Princes gloves, are
hung over his monument in Canterbury
cathedral. This custom was afterward
so extended as to include soldiers aud
lawyers, but fell into disuse finally.
The Romans had a custom Of throwing
gloves instead of flowers at their victor
lous generals.
In the marriage ceremony Of most peo-
pie gloves are an important essential.
The origin of the custom of presenting
the trademarks with gloves is lost in the
shadows 1t is observed by nearly every
civilized race. A Beigic custom pre-
scribes that the bridegroom shall hand
The bride, in a peculiar manner, pair
of rcd gloves containing tbree uiaces Of