The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-02-04
ORIGIN OF EYEGLASSES.
they Were the Find of King Charles III.
of England.

They Were the Find of King Charles III.
of England.
1rhe study of the eye is one of the most
Intricate known to science. and vet one
Of the most enchanting and Accordingly
iNeresting to those who pursue it with
any degree of success. New beauties
aIid wonders are developed every day
as9 the oculist progresses with his
stndies.
Now that the study has advanced far
it y interesting to look back upon tn
va FIX which has been accomplished
a nere start in the study. The time
was when there was no aid to defective
vision, and very few who now use
glasses ever dreamed that their dis
covery was due to an accident and the
fact that crowned head was near
sighted.
When young Charles Stuart. after
ward Charles ii. of England, escaped
to France with his head, he became a
pensioner of the great Louis XIV.
While living his indolent and dissolute
life in Cologne he met an expert artisan
in glass, and accidentally looking
through small lens belonging TO this
workman he found that it greatly aid
ed his very imperfect vision. The young
prince was born with myopic astigma-
tism irregular near-sight). BY a
mathematical calculation, based upon
the crude and heavy lenses he is said
to have finally worn, which are now
in he British museum. his vision was
|, fouild-to be about one-twentieth of nor
| NAL sight.
He and the artisan were so impressed
with the possibilities as revealed by the
| rough lens he had tried in the workshop
that the latter from that day gave his
whole time, and the former all the
thought he was capable of exercising,
to this work
The name of this Frenchman is not
known, although he was probably the
first optician. When Charles was re-
called to England and crowned as
Charles II. he took this artisan with
him, together with several others that
he had found in France.
After establishing his London work
shop without regard to cost he ran
sacked all Europe for still other artisans
in glass, until he had secured about 20.
IL is said that as many as 5000 lenses
were made in this shop for the kings
eyes before he got what he wished and
what gave him perfect vision. His gay
and absolute court at once followed his
example by attempting to wear glasses.
without regard to their necessity. but
IS majority of them were young. and
had not overworlled their eyes as stu
dents do in this age, glasses were as a
rule unnecessary.
The fashion originated from a neces-
sity, and the king met it through his
persistence and the sacrifice of many
thousands of pounds sterling and with
many thousand trials through art alone.
The science of refraction was not then
in its present state of perfection to di-
rect the artisan how to grind lenses
to fit the kings eyes at one effort: in
deed, it did not then exist. This fash
ion soon became fad, with a disregard
to the peculiar necessity that originated
it; yet without science to direct them
what to grind, the artisans became rich.
not only in English pounds, but in eN-
perience of mechanical optics.
The way was thus paved for the al
most perfect science of optics that now
exists, as well as the art of grinding
lenses. "'Tis an i'll wind that blows
nobody good" The good, accidentaIl".
it would seem, that followed Charlev's
exile to France has been worth MANY
times over the loss Of his fathers head.
the fear of the same result to himself
having been his incentive to fight.-St.
Louis Republic.