Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-08-08
STORIES IN GLOVES.
The Haudwear of n Century Ago
Compared With That OF To-Day.

by that suppose you mean tine latesI
revival, or otherwise style, " was the re-
ply. "Well, this seven.button affair |
is, perhaps. Yet it was worn at the
Court of Charles H., we know by man
uscripts and specimens in museums, and
Professor Boyd Dawltins says he knows it
was worn by prehistoric men, by the evil
dence of perfect picture of it which he
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, and
gloves have at different periods been
more splendid and costly than any made
at present. There is doubt in the
minds of some gloveIs whether modern
workmanship has in all respects attained
the skill of the Venetian glovers, or of
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 minor fact in
connection with an article of familiar use
which the philosophers of the Ruskin
school probably seize on to provS their
theory that there are some things modern
progress cannot improve.
Throughout a long history of more
than two thousand years scores of inter
esting-often beautiful-customs have
clustered about gloves. A few
only survive. One, which mod
ern criminals will regret is not at
present observed, allowed criminal
under sentence of outlawry to purchase
pardon by present of gloves to his
judges. Sir John Bell, in 1404, 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 yet extant. This is the pre-
sentation of pair of white gloves to the
recorder when no criminal has appeared
at his assizes. 1t is a matter of record,
however, that the gift is rare one. In
the olden times judges in certain instan-
ces, it appears, were not averse to receiv-
ing substantial rewards from suitors
whom their decisions had grasifed. The
celebrated Sir Thomas Moore received a
pair of gloves filled with golden angels
from Mrs. Crocker, in whose favor he
had decided litigation, and was so glad
to 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 mode of expressing con-
tempt. To deprive a knight of his
gloves was 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 noble prisoner was given
by 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
archs were invested with authority by a
glove. Flanders was given to Philip the
Fair by the delivery of 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
ing to convey it to his relatives, that
they might avenge him. A young knight
took it up and carried it to Peter, king
of Aragon, who, by virtue of the same
glove, as an actual representative of
power, was crowned at Palermo.
In burial ceremonies gloves played
their 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 and
lawyers, but fell into disuse finally.
The Romans had custom of throwing
gloves instead of flowers at their victor
ious 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 Belgic custom pre-
scribes that the bridegroom shall hand
the bride, in peculiar manner, pair
of red gloves containing three pieces of
silver.
Gloves have from a remote period been
holiday gift. Until 1878 it was Gus
tomary for bishops to present gloves to
every body attending their conservation.
The tax was heavy one for the wearers
of lawn sleeves, and by order of the
council they were relieved of it. paving
in lieu $50 into the fund for rebuilding
St. Paul's cathedral Kings could always
with propriety be presented with gloves
by their subjects or by foreign embassa-
doris. Often they were given by the SOW
ereign as mark of special favor.
In the coronation ceremonies of mon
archs, gloves play a considerable part.
The king of France, whenever Franco
has king, receives from the high eccle
siastic, who hands him the other insignia
of royalty, pair of gloves blessed by the
church. The king of England receives,
however, but one glove-the right hand
from his supporter, who is the duke o.
| Norfolk; while the archbishop of Canter
bury hands him the scepter In rura
England there is pretty custom which
originated in the middle ages. This il
the privilege young man has of demand