Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-12-04
THE LOVE OF GLOVES.
INTERESTING FACTS FROM HISTORY
CONCERNING THEM.

Gloves ARE now worn indiscriminately
by rich and poor and have no special
significance excepting as completing
article Of the toilet. much attention be-
ing given to their fit in case the wearer
is woman. Strangely enough, that
which is regarded as particularly nice
effect in the fit Of woinan's glove be-
comes positive blemish when worn by
q man, if indeed man could be found
who would wear glove that was fitted
to his hand without "a wrinkle.
The antiquity of gloves reaches into
remote ages AS early as in the reign Of
Robert III glove manufacturers were in
corporated by charter i'll Perth, a guild
being then established that still exists
in name, although the town is not de-
voted now TO the manufacture of gloves
as leading article Of commerce.
| A glovers' company was established
| in London in 1864, but was not char
| tered until 1858. In 1861 company
| for the manufacture and sale of gloves
was incorporated in Worcester, Eng
|
present time, the famous English dog
| skin, made really from Cape sheepskin,
| and of a warm tan color, being unap-
preached in excellence by any other
makers.
Paris is u glove market for the whole
world. In the Swiss mountains kids are
raised especially for this industry and
great pains are taken to have the ami
mails killed while the skin is fine and
soft Tanneries at Milan. Annonay,
Paris and Grenoble prepare them for the
stitchers. But there are not enough kids
raised i'll France to supply the great de-
mand for gloves, and the gamins of
Paris find steady and profitable employ
ment catching rats at the mouths Of the
great drains of the city TO exc out the
trade. Dogs and even cats contribute
also. though supplying an inferior ar
ticle of kid.
In ancient days glove represented
contract or pledge, "a substitute for the
hand, being cast down by one contract.
ing party to be taken up by the other
1t also represented challenge, to throw
down the glove often being an invita-
ton TO mortal combat. AT the same
time to give an enemy a glove i'll {. pa
cific manner was pledge of faith, to
break which was regarded as crime.
The borGerers of Scotland were so par
ticular about this use Of the glove that
when one of their knights broke faith
with his glove keeper they proclaimed
his pertidy by riding to appointment
holding aloft spear, from the point of
which the dishonored glove dangled.
And if the knight was slain by his own
clan it was conceded to be righteous
punishment.
A fur lined glove worn by Henry VI
is preserved in AN old mansion that gave
him shelter after the battle Of Hexham,
l464. 1t is of tan leather lined with
deerskin with the hair on and turned
over to form a cuff.
1t is recorded of unfortunate Anne
Boleyn that she possessed many pairs of
extravaganza gloves and would always
wear them to hide certain blemishes on
her nails which offended the eye of
the king. Her royal predecessor used to
delight in making her play cards with
ont them, us it was sure to result in her
discontinue.
Queen Elizabeth took much pride in
her gloves, and made an entry III her
book of expenses of Zone payr Of gloves
embrawret with gold, which she sent
as gift to her sister Mary. She also
II corded the fact Of receiving "ten payr
of Spanyshe gloves from duches i'll
Spayne.
1t has been customary for gentlemen
TO remove the right hand glove when
shaking hands with a lady. This Gus
tom descended from an ancient one
which forbade any one to enter the pres.
ence Of royalty in gloves, because visit.
ors were 10 stand unarmCd, with the
helmet off the head, the gauntlets off the
hands, TO show that there were no hos
tile intentions
Biting the glove is looked upon with
disfavOr as an unpleasant habit. But it
had once deeper meaning-a pledge
of deadly vengeance.
Stern Rutherford but little said,
But bit his glove and shook his head.
Thus wrote Sir Walter Scott in his
Lay of the Last Minstrel.
II was considered no crime for law.
yers and special pleaders TO take the
bride of pair of gloves, and the custom
did not fall into disfavor until the
gloves were ''lined" with coin, which
gained the name of glove money. To
this ancient custom can be traced the
present habit of presenting gloves to the
guests at weddings or funerals.
Gloves were first worn by the clergy
to symbolic that their hands were clean
and not open to briLeS.
Both the old and the modern poets
have written tender verses TO this capri
cious article of feminine attire.
"Send Inc glove you have lately
worn and will tell your characters.
tics" was the way i'll which an adver.
tisement was worded a few years ago.
Incidentally fee of 81 was mentioned
as consideration But the people who
were enticed into sending their dollars
were more than satisfied with the re.
emit Tho uloya ,ouIar fold rho,,, ,L