Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-16
ANCIENT GLOVES.
Some Curious Facts About Coverings
for the Hands ia the Dark and Middle
Ages.
from the st. Louis Globe Democrat.

From the st. Louis Globe Democrat
There is nothing new under the sun. The
carving OF long glove has been found In a
hole where cave jewellers once lived. Just
when these strange people existed has not
been decided, but it was thousands and thou
sands OF wears ago, and the sculptured glove is
OF the same shape as the many-button ones
worn by fashionable ladies of the present The
gloves of the anti-glacial occupants OF a cave
are supposed to have been made Of roughly
dressed skin sewn with needles OF bone. but
they were worn just the same, and the general
pattern remains unchanged. There is plenty
of other evidence that gloves are of very re-
mote origin. although none that goes back so
far The Anglo -Saxons wore gloves in the sew
enth century, but the men were the ones then
to observe the custom, the ladies covering their
hands with their sleeves Earlier than this.
Norman officials and high personages OF that
country covered their hands and ia many places
In the Bible the word ''shoe" is used when the
scholars maintain IT means glove"
The glove trade is under great obligations to
the church. In the year 700 Chariemagne
granted to the abbot and monks OF SIthIn
unlimited right of hunting, for making their
gloves and girdles of the skins of the deer
they killed, aud also for covers for their books.
But gloves had a more near connection with
the church than the industry OF the monastery.
They had distinctive employment in the rites
and services. They were worn by the priests
officiating. The laity were expected to tale
OH their gloves in church, while ecclesiastlcs
alone might wear them, reversal OF our mod
ern fashions
The symbolism of the church did not forget
the glove as gifted with hidden significance.
Bruno, bishop of Segni, says that they are
made of linen to denote that the hands they
cover should be chaste, clean and free from all
lmpurty." The gloves on the hands of Boni-
face VIII, at the time OF his interment, we're Of
white silk, beautifully wrought with pearls.
Gloves are still used by Roman Catholic
bishops and advertised in the lists Of clerical
necessarIes. According to Saint Charles Bor-
romeo bishops gloves should have a golden
circle on the outsider and this is seen on the
gloves Of Bishop William of Wykeham pre-
served in New College, Oxford.
Gloves were, in 14l6, often set with precious
stones, and sufficiently valuable as to be left as
legacies. The jeweled gloves of St. Martial
we're said to have rebuked an act of sacrilege.
The gloves of Bishop Gravesend, worked with
gold and enamel, were priced at Is, great
sum in 1910. But the sturdier Bishop Button
wore thick yellow leather gloves. at ten pence
pair.
However, that love Of luxury and Of vest
ments which then, as now, threatened to sap =
certain division Of the church. led 10 the pass
ing Of sumptuary restrictions. The clergy
might not wear gloves" red or green or
striped; neither ring, brooch, ornamental
glrdle nor gloves" Monks were not to wear
gloves OF deerskin, but were to content tbem-
selves with gloves of sheepskin. But gloves
were still made OF costly material for bishops
and the higher clergy, who we're then adorned
with jewels. in spite of sumptuary laws.
Rishop Riculfus, who died in 9l3 left as an
important legacy pair OF gloves. and the
earliest silk gloves on record were found on the
hands OF Thomas Beckett
Gloves have o N tha
dress of royalty. They have place in the re-
gala, and we read Of purple gloves ornamented
with pearls and precious stones, which we're
deemed ensigns Of imperial dignitles They
were 50 intimately connected with klngiy power
that monarchs were invested with authority by
the delivery of glove.
The knights glove or gauntlet has more that
Is romantic and symbolical attached than all
others. The word comes from the early French
word 'gant," meaning the hand. As a distinct
i've article Of defensive dress the gauntlet did
not come into use until the thir tee nth century
In the time of Edward ! a leather glove COW
cred with mail was introduced, aud during the
reign Of Edward Ill spikes of steel were liked
to the knuckles. The gauntlet of Edward, the
Black Prince, was q formidable affair, with its
steel goads on the back Of the hand the very
appearance being calculated to inspire terror.
The buff gloves Of Cromwelrs troopers were
protected at the wrist by metal scale work.
well arranged to break a sword blow.
by Edward We're, Earl Of Oxford, after his
exile, and his present to Queen Elizabeth OF a
pair with embroidered roses is mentioned in
history. But the refinement of perfumed
gloves had been known for three centuries in
France before the days Of the virgin queen,
and in Spain the gloves were famous for the
scent impaired to them long before her day.
The luxurious court Of Charles III used per-
fumed gloves. and those trimmed aud laced
as fine as Nelrs" were mentioned in a comedy.
Louis XIV also issued letters patent OF bis
''marchands maitres gantiers parfeumeurs.
In Venice, where the love OF dress con-
spicuous, perfumed gloves were introduced by
a dogess as early as l07l.
Gloves of chicken skin were in vogue in the
early part Of the seventeenth century. These
and delicacy. Thin and delicate gloves were
first made at Limerick. They we're so thin that
they could be put in q walnut shell. Cough
says that gloves were not worn by all women
before the reformation. But this Is not ALSO
lutely correct, for Chaucer speaks, in his trans
laton of the "Romaunt Of the Rose" Of Idle
ness:
And for to keep her hands fayrs.
o. gloves white she had q pair.
The ladies of the court Of Catherine de Medi- |
els carried their gloves in their hands or tucked
them under their girdles.
Mary. Queen Of Scots, wore gloves with |
richly embroidered wrists on the morning Of /
her execution, giving them to a friend at the |
last moment They were made Of light, cool, /
leather, the elaborate embroidery /
on the gauntlet being worked with silver wire |
and silk of various colors. The roses are Of |
pale and dark blue, and two shades Of very /
pale crimson; the foliage represents trees, and /
Is composed Of two shades Of esthetic green. |
A bird in flight, with q long tail, figures among
the work.
The embroidered gloves for women Of the /
sixteenth century we're very beautiful, made Of |
the gauntlet shape and richly embroidered on
the cud. They were Of cheverl leather; SO il
was said of q man, ''he hath . cheveril con-
that would stretch easily. Chew
sril was made of parchment by the use OF alum
and the white Of egga Goatskin was the
The following notice 10 posted on the main
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II my spring chickens are disturbing your gar