The Butler weekly times., 1889-08-28
HISTORY OF GLOVES.
Their Introduction Into England Datin
BACK TO the Eleventh Century.


Back to the Eleventh Century.
Gloves date back to a very remote
period, the ancients not being stran-
gers to their use. and by the eleventh
century they were universally worn.
In a tomb IN Egypt pair of striped
linen mittens were found tina. had been
worn by lady Xenophon alludes to
the Persians wearing gloves. and gives
it as proof OF their effeminaoy; and
Homer describes Laertes at work in
his garden wearing gloves. to secure
him from the thorns. The Romans
were severely upbraided by the philos-
ophers for wearing gloves; but these
reproaches had no effect in diminish
ing their use--they were too conven-
lent and comfortable 70 be lashed out
OF being by the tongue o. philosophy.
They do not appear to have been
worn in England until the beginning
of the eleventh century. and were OF
German manufacture. In the course
Of time. a great deal of ornamentation
was used on the gloves in England.
The effisies Of Henry II. and Richard
/. had gloves adorned with precious
stones. and real gloves ornamented
with jewels were found upon the hands
| of King John and Edward l.. when their
tombs were opened during the last
| century. Gloves were even orna-
mented with crests and armorial bear
ings.
The ecclesiastical gloves were al
| ways richly adorned They were made
Of silk or linen. embroidered and jew
eled. A pair preserved at New Col
| lege. Oxford, are of red silk. with the
| sacred monogram surrounded by a
| glory. and embroidered in gold On the
backs. Pope Boniface VII. had gloves
of white silk embroidered very beauti-
fully and studded with pearls.
About 1900. leather gloves appeared
They were embroidered, adorned with
pearls and gems, and trimmed with
lace. Perfumed gloves. too, made
their appearance. and were very popu-
lar with the ladies. We are told that
Queen Mary Tudor had pair OF
'swete gloves sent to her by a Mrs.
Whellers. The college tenants of Ok
ford had perfumed gloves presented to
them, as we'll as distinguished guests.
The custom went out soon after the
reign of Charles |.
Gloves were presented on various
occasions. They We're given at wed
dings, funerals, as valentines. as
Easter gifts and New Years presents.
At maiden assizes in England-that
is, when no prisoner is arraigned fol
trial-the judge is presented with
white gloves.
Gloves have played an important
part in various ceremonies. although
originally intended simply as cover
ing for the hand. In bestowing land.
or comforting dignities, possession wa:
| given by the presentation of a glove
Bishops were sometimes put in posses
sion of their sees by the delivery of ;
glove. To throw down glove was
challenge to a duel, and to pick it u
was to accept the challenge. Thi
method of challenging was in vogue
down to the reign of Elizabeth.
France has the credit of making tn
best gloves and the cheapest. bu
George Augustus Sala says that tn
cheap gloves in Paris are really dea,
that you will give from eight to twelv
l francs for pair with three to six but
tons, and the same price in LondOr
but while the latter are good, tn
former are very bad. The French XII
gloves formerly seen in this countr
:. were far superior to the so-calle
,, French of to day. They could be ha
from French importers as low a
| seventy-fve cents and a dollar. Th
best gloves in Europe are said to b
those made in Grenoble. .-Demorest
Monthly.