The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-07-04
HISTORY OF GLOVES.


Their Significance In Past Times.
When women draw on their gloves
they perhaps imagine they are wearing
an article which shows high state of
civilization, and is really quite mod
ern 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 a modern dandy.
And Xenophon also speaks of them,
thinking itnot beneath to mention that
the great Cyrus once forgot his gloves
upon an importtnt occasion.
Next, we hear of them as playing a
picturesque 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
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. t aR &r
They were, even then, generally made
of skins. but the handsomest were more
clumsy than at present, for 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 mark of favor it is
no wonder it soon became u gage
d'amour, or pledge of affection, which,
when given by lady to her knight was
worn by him in his helmet, and proudly
Iio,I nc bo tO1zaY, ~ har
highest regard.
Kings and high church dignitaries also
wore them, and were exceedingly par
tieular about them, too upon all state
occasions, for there are records of large
sums being appropriated as 'glove
money" for these royal personages. In
fact, this matter of glove money became
in time quite universal custom, it
being the habit to bestow either the
| glove or its equivalent in 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-thus intro
ducing pernicious 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
anew pair, presented by the family.
This finally grew into such an extrava-
gance that the Legislature of Massa-
chusetts took the matter up and forbade
this lavish glove giving under penalty
of a20 fine
1t 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, pay
ment of service, and gift of gratitude.
1t was once, also, the signal of mercy
the dropping of the royal glove before
culprit under punishment securing
instantaneous release; and from early
times it has also served the baser use OF
a challenge to deadly combat.
Thus the glove has served an impor-
tant part in the worlds history, and the
next time polite gentleman removes
his right hand dogskin before shaking
hands with friend, remember it is
simply the perpetuation of a custom
handed down from those warlil1e days
of chivalry, when a knights gauntlet Of
woven steel might have hurt the tender
fingers confded to its clasp: hence the
habit of removing it now becomes {
mere point of etiquette, quite unnec
essary except as u delicate attention.
Jenness Miller Magazine