The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
EYEGLASSES.
SPECTACLES WERE FIRST A
BADGE OF NOBILITY.
Their Use Was Born Of Affectatfon
and Continued Through Neces-
sity-Origin and Development
The E6femfnate PIncenez.

u UCuC1G Ou OIL tAOoO Va shS
human race who suffered from defective
vision. II cannot be surmised that he
ever anticipated that they would be used
as marks Of social position and intellec-
tual superiority by me of the most civ
ilized nations of the earth. Yet, strange
as it may appear, they have been put to
this extravagant use, especia ly in Spain
in former days, and Utterly in England
and America. In Germany the habit of
wearing spectacles first began in a.: :ecta'
tion, consequent, it may reasonably be
presumed, on the intercourse which ex-
listed between that country and Spain
under Charles V. By degrees this atfec-
tation, following the theory of natural
evolution, became a necessity, and now
1T is almost an obligatory badge of schol-
arship among all those who aspire to the
distinction of being considered savant
in Germany. Mark Twain wittily OBJ
serves that if he had the monopoly of the
sale of spectacles in that country he
would be monetarily rendered happy,
inasmuch as the revenue he would de-
rive from it would supply all his wants.
In the seventeenth century, in Spain,
the wearing of spectacles by both the
sexes was mark Of social eminence. For
this reason they were worn by many
who by right of birth were not entitled
to them. 1t was then the custom that
no one carried on conversation until
these brain-i -illuminators were first fixed
on the nose, and adjusted carefully by
the dainty pink-naiied fingers of their
fair wearers Although they were not nec-
essary, many 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 10 come in contact. There is
story told of young monk, who, hav-
ing accomplished for his order very
difficult task, was asked by the prior to
request him any favor which it was in
his power to giant, and it
should be conceded to b m. With grave
and anxious looks he replied that he had
long yearned to be permitted to wear
spectacles. This request evidently graft
fled his superior, who, with an air of
satisfied pride, said to the young monk,
..Hern,ano, pDaaya kls oatas" ("Brother,
put on spectacles"(, which concession
filled the recipient with such joy that he
forthwith fell on his knees, and kissing
the hand of the pr.or, earnestly ex-
pressed his gratitude for so great an
honor having been thus readily bestowed
upon him. There is another story told
which shows how highly the right to
wear these ornaments was esteemed. 1t
is said that when the Eiceroy of Naples,
the Marquis d'Astorgas, was having his
bust sculptured in marble, he was most
careful to have his best and Target spec
tacles put in, as he thought it cou not
be good likeness of him if these nec-
essary appendages of nobility were
omitted.
In this century the size of spectacles
was also q matter of important consid-
Grafton, just as carriages and men SER
wants are nowadays. AS mans fortune
increased so did the size of his spectacles.
And the Countess d Annoy assures US that
as men rose in political and social rank
the higher the spectacles were placed on
their noses. She also states from per-
sonal 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. it is recorded
that the MARQUIS de Cueva with two
other mobiles undertook to set the
arsenal of Venice on fire by means
of burning glasses, and thus render up
the city to the King of Spain. To be
revenged for this attempt on their city,
the Venetians caused large number of
these huge spectacles, or oc1les, to be
made of burning glass, and had them set
IN frames OF an explosive material, SO
that when the suns rays beat upon them
they would heat it so that it would eX-
plode, and thus blind their wearers. 1t
is said that this desired end &C ually was
arrived at, but with no more disastrous
consequence than the burning of the
eyebrows, eyelashes, and hair Of the
wearers, a circumstance which made the
Spaniards very irate with the Nenet!ans,
causing them to withdraw their custom
for Oclles from them forever.
1t would seem that the English caught
this quaint and ridiculous custom from
Spain, but, not to appear slavishly imi-
tat.ve, they adopted the eyeglass, that
vain decoration of mans face which
Co!eridge described as "a piece of glass
stuck in q fop's eye to show that he was
a coxcomb." How many men wear this
curious ornament for affectation, it were
useless to speculate. For time this
single p ece Of glass was much in vogue,
but it has by degrees given place to the
more refined and less dangerous to the
eye.sght ornament-the pince-nez. This
is the eye gear which is most affected by
actors. or men who wish to attract atten-
ton to their puny indlv:duallty-for
surrey that individuality is puny indeed
which is marked by the aid of the op.
tician and tailor rather than by their own
intellectual merit.
In former days the rims of spectacles
were made of bone and tortoise shell,
but this clumsy framework has given
place to gold, nickel: and steel, so that
pair of spectacles can now be had
which wei CHS less than half-an ounce.
Still, the tortoise-shell frame, with long
handles of the same substance, is most
IN fashion for 'lades' glasses" 1t is a
strange fact that those who have real
need of spectacles are slowest to wear
them, though by their timely use wan
ing eyeslght may be preserved or re-
stored, and pleasant old age secured to
him who otherwise would have sad and
gloomy one. Pull Null Gasstle.