The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1891-08-07
HISTORY OF GLOVES.

Homer aard ZenOphOn Mention Then
Their Significance In Past Times.
When women draw on their gloves
they perhaps imagine they are wearing
an article which shows a high state OF
civilization, and is really quito q mod
er-n luzzury: 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 d modern dandy.
and AeuOphOn also speaks of them,
thinking Tb not beneath to mention that
the great Cyrus once forgot his gloves
upon an inporttnt occasion.
Next, we hear Of them as playing a
picturesque part In the days Of chivalry,
when glove, presented by a dignitary
on some public occasion, was considered
as much of an honor as the bestOwal of
a medal or decoration is 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 y made
Of skins, bat the handsomest were more
clumsy than at present tor the dress
ing OF these skins was not then carried
TO the degree OF perfection it has since
attained. When the bestowal of "a
glove was SO signal q mark of favor IL is
no wonder Il socn became rage
d'amOur, or pledge Of affection, which,
when given by "a lady to her knight, was
worn by him in his helmet, and proudly
displayed rs the Ou ward token of her
highest regard.
Kings and high church diguitaries also
wore them, and were ez-.ee. .IiuuIv par
lIcular about them too upon all state
occasions for there are records of large
sums being appropriated as. glove
money for these royal peUsCnagcs.- IN
fact, this matter of glove money became
IN tine quite q universal custom. IL
being the habit to bcstCw either the
glove or Its equivalent Ia coin upon
servants. by those guests who had
received their attentions, much as they
now give drink money in Europe.
and fees in our country intro
ducing Il pernicious custom.
This habit of presenting gloves was
kept up even unto In 'ttan times, though
st 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 lYv
q new pair, presented by the family.
This finally grew into such an extrava-
gauce that the legislature OF NFassa-
chusetts took the matter up aud forbade
this lavish glove giving under. q penalty
of e20 fine
IL is strange how many uses the glove
has served, besides it's Legitimate one of
a hand covering. We have seen it as
the award of honor, token of love, pay
meut of service, and gift of gratitude
1t was once, also, the signal of mercy
the dropping OF the royal glove before
q culpr-o under punishment securing,
-nstautan cons Eslease: and from early
times it has also served the baser use Of
= challenge 10 % deadly combat.
Thus the glove has served an i1por-
tant part in the worlds history, and the
next time a polite gentleman removes
his right hand dogskia before shaking
hands with q friend, remember it is
simply the p6rpctuation of a custom
handed down from those gvarlille davs
OF chiyalry, when a knights gauntlet of
woven steel might have hurt the tender
fingers cOuhded to its clasp; hence the
habit of removing it now becomes Il
mere point OF etiquette, quite unnec-
essary except. as q delicate attention.
Jcnuess AIilIer Magazine.