The Portland daily press., 1888-08-01
SPECS.
a Mark Of Learning and Culture Of
Various Times.

y Mafk OF learning and Culture OF
Various Times.
When Alessandro di Spina of Florence in
vented spectacles, he believed he was con-
ferring benefit on all those of the human
race who suffered from defective vision. 1t
cannotbe surmised that he ever anticipated
that they would be used as marks of social
position and intellectual superiority by some
Of the most civilized nations of the earth.
Yet, strange as it may appear, they have
been put to this extravagant use, especially
in Spain in former days. and latterly in Eng
land and America. In Germany the habit Of
wearing spectacles first began in atfectation,
consequent. it may reasonably be presumed,
on the intercourse which existed between
that country and Spain under Charles v. By
this affectation, following the theory of nat
nrai evoluion became necessity, and now it
is almost an obligatory badge of scholarship
among all those who aspire to the distinction
OF being considered a sayant in Germany.
Mark Twain wittily observes that if he had
the monopoly Of the sale Of spectacles in that
country he would be m0mentarily rendered
happy.inasmuch as the revenue he would de-
rive from it would supply all his wants.
inc Sc century IN Spain the
q mark OF social eminencc. For this reason
they were worn by many who by right of
birth were not entitled to them. It was then
the custom that no one carried on a CONVEX
sation until these Observation-Disclosures were
first fixed on the nose, and adjusted careful
ly by the dainty pink-nailed fingers Of their
fair wearers: Although they were not nee
esscry, they kept them on while eating or
attending public functions, such as theatres,
concerts and bull fights SO that they might
command by this badge of nobility respect
from those Of the lower orders with whom
they might be compelled to come in contact.
There is a story told Of young monk who
having accomplished for his order very diff
fcult task, was asked by the prior to request
him any favor which 1t was in his power to
With grave and anxious looks he replied that
he had long yearned to be permitted to wear
spectacles. This request evidently gratifed
his superior, who, with an air of satisfied
pride, said to the young monk, "Hernadno,
p psaagS las ojates "(Brother, put on specta-
with so much Joy that he forthwith fell on
his knees, and kissing the hand of the prior,
earnestly expressed his gratitude for so great
an honor having been thus readily bestowed
shows how highly the right to wear these or
naments was esteemed. 1t is said that when
the Viceroy Of Naples, the Marquis d'Astor-
gas was having his bust sculptured in mar
BILE, he was most careful to have his best and
largest spectacles put in. as he thought it
could not be good likeness of him if these
necessary appendages of nobility were omit
ted.
In this century the size of spectacles was
also matter of important consideration,
just as carriages and men-servants are now
the size Of his spectacles. And the Countess
dAunoy assures us that as men rose in DO
litical and social rank the higher the specta-
cles were placed on their noses. She also
states from personal observation that some
of those worn by the grandees were as large
as her head, and that for this reason these
great personages obtained the sobriquet Of
ocales. These glasses were for the most
part made in Venice, until the Venetlans out
of revenge, played trick on the Spaniards.
1t is recorded that the Marquis de Cueya
with two other mobiles undertook to set the
arsenal OF Venice on fire by means of burn
ing glasses, and thus render up the city to
King of Spain. To be reyenged for this at
tempt on their city, the Venetians caused
large number Of these spectacles, or ocales,
to be made of burning-glass, and had them
set in frames of explosive material, SO that
when the suns rays, beat upon them they
would heat it so that it would explode, and
thus blind their wearers. 1t is said that this
desired end was actually arrived at, but with
no more disastrous consequence than the
burning OF the eyebrows, eyelashes and hair
OF Tie WedTerS, circumstance which made
the Spaniards very irate with the Venetians,
causing them to withdraw their custom for
ocales from them forever.
1t would seem that the English caught this
quaint and ridiculous custom from Spain. but
not to. appear slavishly initiative. they
adopted the eyeglass, that vain decoration of
a mans face which Coleridge described as "a
piece of glass stuck in fop's eye to show
that he was coxcomb." How many men
wear this curious ornament for affectation, lit
were useless to speculate; but 1t is known
that In the greatest majority of cases it is
worn to give the wearer Supercilious air
which he in his inordinate vanity mistakes
for dignified one, and without which he
would be unnoticeable among the thousands
OF commonplace beings with whom we come
daily into contact. For a time this single
piece OF glass was much in vogue, but 1t has
ny degrees given place to the more refined
anu less dangerous to the eye-sight ornament
tine pince-nez. This is the eve gear which
Is most affected by actors or men who wish
70 attract attention TO their punv iudividual
ity-Ior surely that indiyidnaIitv Is nnnv in
deed which Is marked by the Aid of the on
tician and tailor rather than by their own in
tellectual merit. 'noii o"n in-
In former days the rims of spectacles ware
made of bone and tortoise-shelI hm. VIZ" .Ito
clumsy framework has given place 70 o,o oIio
nickel and steel, SO that a pair of snec.9oiass
can now be had which weighs less then Iii
an ounce. Still, the tortoise shell frame
with long handles Of the same substance =
in use for ladies glasses" for with them