Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-08-08
HISTORY OF GLOVES.


Their Introduction Into England Dating
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 a pair of striped
linen mittens were found that had been
worn by lady. Xenophon alludes to
the Persians wearing gloves. and gives
it as proof of their effeminacy; 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 to be dashed out
of being by the tongue of 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 effigies of Henry II. and Richard
I. 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 1000, 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 a pair of
''swete gloves sent to her by Mrs.
Whellers. The college tenants of Ok
ford had perfumed gloves presented to
them. as well as distinguished guests.
reign of Charles /.
Gloves were presented on various
occasions. They were given at we'd
dings, funerals, as valentines. as
Easter gifts and New Years presents.
At maiden assizes in England-that
is. when no prisoner is arraigned for
trial-the judge is presented with
white gloves.
Gloves have played an important
originally intended simply as a cover
ing for the hand. In bestowing lands
or comforting dignities. possession was
given by the presentation of a glove.
Bishops were sometimes put in posses
sion of their sees by the delivery of a
glove. To throw down glove was a
challenge to duel, and to pick it up
was to accept the challenge. This
method of challenging was in vogue
down to the reign of Elizabeth.
France has the credit of making the
best gloves and the cheapest. but
George Augustus Sala says that the
cheap gloves in Paris are really dear;
that you will give from eight to twelve
francs for a pair with three to six but
tons, and the same price in London,
but while the latter are good, the
former are very bad. The French kid
gloves formerly seen in this country
were far superior to the so-called
French of to day. They could be had
from French importers as low as
seventy-fve cents and dollar. The
best gloves in Europe are said to be
those made in Grenoble. S
Monthly.