The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-07-19
THE GLOVE IN HISTORY.

The Dudes of Antiquity Wore 1t and Ho-
mer and Nenophon Wrote About 1t.
Jeanness-Miller Magazine
When women draw on their gloves they
perhaps imagine they are wearing an article
which shows high state of civilization, and
is really quite modern luxury; but never
were they more mistaken, for these hand
coverings date back almost as far as history
itself. Homer mentions them in his writings,
telling how Laertes wore them in the garden
TO protect his hands from the sun-for all the
world like modern dandy And Xenophon
also speaks of them, thinking it not beneath
him to mention that the great Cyrus once
forgot his gloves upon an important occasion.
Next, we hear of them as playing a pict-
uresque part in the days of chivalry, when a
glove, presented by dignitary on some public
occasion, was considered as much of an honor
as the bestowal of a medal or decoration in
this age. These gloves were often very costly,
being embroidered with jewels and wrought
in gold thread about rich pieces of silk
They were, even then, generally made of
skins, but the handsomest were more clumsy
than at present, for the dressing of these skins
was not then carried to the degree of perfec-
tion IL has since attained. When the bestowal
OF glove was so signal mark of favor it is
no wonder it soon became gage glamour, or
pledge OF affection, which when given by
lady TO her knight was worn by him in his he'll
met and proudly displayed as the outward
GOhcH VI nlRneSL regard.
Kings and high church dignitaries also wore
them, and were exceedingly particular about
them, TOO, upon all state occasions, for there
are records OF large sums being appropriated
as "glove money! for these royal personapes.
In fact, this matter of glove money became in
time quite an universal custom it being the
habit TO bestow either the glove or its eouiya-
lent In coin upon servants by those guests who
had received their attentions, much as they
now give "drink money! in Europe and 'feesS
in our own country-thus introducing per
nicious custom.
This habit Of presenting gloves was kept up
even unto Puritan times, though it was in
vogue then mostly in religious ceremonies
such as weddings and funerals, where nearly
all who assisted in the affair expected to be
enriched by new pair, presented by the
family. This finally grew into such an ex-
travagance that the Legislature of Massa-
chusetts took the matter up and forbade this
lavish glove giving under penalty of 42O
fine.
is strange how many uses the glove has
served, besides its legitimate one of hand
covering. We have seen it as the award of
honor, token OF love, payment of service and
gift OF gratitude. 1t wasionce, also, the signal
OF mercy-the dropping of the royal glove be-
lore culprit under punishment securing in
stantaneous release; and from early times it
has also served the baser use as challenge to
deadly combat.
Thus the glove has served an important part
In the worlds history and the next time a
Pollte gentleman removes his right hand dog
skin before shaking hands with friend, re-
member 1t is simply the perpetuation Of a
custom handed down from those warlike days
OF chiYalry, when knights gauntlet of woven
steel might have hurt the tender fingers con
hded to its clasp; hence the habit ofremoYing
1t now becomes mere point Of etiquette,
quite unnecessary except as delicate atten-
ton.