The morning call., 1890-12-07
SPECTACLES AND
EYEGLASSES.
Some Extravagant Uses to Which
They Have Been Put.

When Ajessandro de Spino OF Florence
invented spectacles he could never have an
tieipated that they would be used as marks
of social position and intellectual superb
ority by some of the most civilized nations
of The earth. Yet, strange as it may APP
pear, they have been put to this extrayagant
use.
In Spain during the seventeenth century,
the wearing of spectacles by both sexes was
mark of social eminence. Although they
were not necessary, many kept them on
while eating or attending public functions,
such as theaters, in concerts and bull-fights
so that the wearerS might command respect
from those of the lower orders with
whom they might be compelled to
come in contact. A story is told of
a young monk who, having accomplished
some difficult task, was promised by this
prior any favor which it was in his
power TO grant. He gravely replied that he
had long yearned to be permitted to wear
his superior, who, with an air of satisfied
pride, said to the young monk, "Hermano.
ponga las olalas brother. put on spec
tacleS)." The concession filled the recipient
with such joy that he forthwith fell on his
knees, and, kissing the prior's hand, earn
estly expressed bis gratitude for 20 great an
honor. There is another story which shows
how highly the right to wear these orna-
ments was esteemed. 1t is said that when
the viceroy of Naples, the Marquis PASTOR
gas, was having his bust sculptured III mar
BILE, he was most careful to have his best and
largest spectacleS put in, as he thought it
could not be good likeness if these neces-
sary appendages of nobility were omitted.
In this century the size of the spectacles
was also matter of important constdera-
ton. just as carriages and men-SeryaDtS are
nowadays. As n mans fortune increased,
so did the size of his spectacles. And the
Countess d'AulnOy assures US that as men
rose in political and social rank, the specta-
Giles, too, rose higher and higher on their
noses. She also states from personal OBJ
Servation that some OF those worn by the
grandeeS were as large as her head, and that
for this reason these personageS obtained
the sobriquet of ocales. These glasses were
for the most part made in Venice, until
the Nenetlans, out OF revenge. played
trick on the Spaniards. The Marquis de
Cueva, with two other mobiles, had under
taken 10 set the arsenal OF Venice on hire by
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 spec
tacles or ocales 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 to explosion,
and thus blind their wearers. 1t is said
that the explosion actually occurred, 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 We
netians, causing them 10 withdraw their Gus
tom 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 adopt the eye-glass. that vain decOra-
ton of a mans face which Coleridge de-
scribed as "a piece of glass stuck in "a fop's
eye to show that he was coxcomb." How
many men wear this curious ornament for
affectation it were useless to speculate; but it
is known that in the greatest majority of cases
it is worn to give the wearer a supercili0us
air which he i'll his inOrdlnate vanity mistakes
for dlgnfied one, and without which he
would be unnoticeablr among the thousands
OF commonplace beings with whom we
daily come in contact For a time this
single piece of glass was much in vogue,
but 1t has by degrees given place to a more
refined and less dangerous To the eye-Sight
ornament-the pince-nez. This is the eye
gear which is most affected by actors or men
who wish to attract attention TO their puny
individuality.
In Germany the habit of wearing specta-
Giles first began in affectation, consequent, it
may reasonably be presumed, on the inter-
course which existed between that country
and Spain under Charles V. BY degrees
this atfectation, following the theory of
natural evolution, became a necessity, and
now it is almost an obligatory badge of
SCHOldieHip hiuOuS tUOSe VINO aspire 10 the
distinction of being considered savantS in
Germany. Mark Twain wittily observes
that if lie had the monopoly of the sale of
speciacles in that country he would mo-
mentarily be rendered happy, inasmuch as
the revenue he would derive from it would
supply all his wants.
In former days the inns 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
spectaces can now be had which weighs less
than half an ounce; still, the tortoise-shell
frame. with long handles OF the same sub
stance, is most in fashion for ladies glasses"
for with them insolent gazers may be the
more easily 'snubbed." and unpleasant ac-
Quaintanees, by an ostentatious appearance
OF near-sishtedness, be conveniently cut
1t is a strange fact that those who have real
need of spectacles are slowest to wear them,
though by their timely use waning eye
sight may be preserved or restored, and a
pleasant old age secured 10 him who other
wise would have a gloomy one.-American
Notes and Queries.