Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-04-16
THE GLOVE.
rt Is Feature of Modern Rather Than
Ancient Civilization.

~ As a y ctAtUIo VI 44COeEa 1ta1tneE 11A1
Ancient Civilization.
The prevalence of the glove is feature
of modern rather than of ancient eiyiliza-
ton. Musonius, writing in the first CEN
tury, says. g 1t is shameful that persons in
perfect health should clothe their hands
and feet with soft and hairy coverings"
1t was undoubtedly the spirit of luxurious
fashion that gradually advanced the glove
to its present position. For every thousand
gloves now worn as protection from cold
many thousands are worn simply as an
adornment of the person.
The symbolism of gloves grew up slow
ly under medieval fostering. Tho traces
OF this symbolism that still remain may be
seen in the white gloves worn at weddings,
the white gloves given at maiden assize,
the black gloves Of funeral ceremonial.
With the clergy the glove became symbol
Of their office, its purity and incorrupt-
Utility; with feudalism it became synony-
nous with knightly honor. Tho last rest
ing place of old customs is generally to be
found in popular phraseology-as when
we speak of throwing down the gaunt-
let Even now at the coronation of Brit
ish sovereigns the glove is thrown down
in Westminster hall by the armed cham
pion of majesty, and it is remembered that
at the browning of George II an unknown
Jacobite came forward and raised the
glove on behalf of tho eziled Stuarts 1t
was plucky though foolish action In
the days Of the Plantagenets it appears
that the kings were not only crowned with
gloves on their hands, but were buried
with them.
When the tomb of King John was open
ed in 1897, it was found that his hands
were gloved, and the remains of Edward /
were discovered in the same condition.
The glove had long been symbol Of in
vestiture, and possibly the kings were thus
buried with some grim idea of investing
them with the rights of the grave-their
regal rights having passed to their success
sors. At the coronation of French kings,
the royal gloves were blessed by the bishop
who otficiated. In some parts of Christen-
dom bishops themselves were indicted to
their dioceses by receiving glove, invest
ing them with temporal as well as spiritual
rights. The glove became SO associated
with episcopal authority that at different
times the wearing of gloves was absolute
ly prohibited to the lower clergy. While
one council issued this edict, another de-
clared that monks should only presume to
wear gloves of common sheepskin. Epis-
copal gloves were often richly adorned as
we may gather from the fact that Bishop
Recalfus, dying in the year 915, bequeath-
ed pair of gloves in his will For the
word glove it would appear that we are in
debted to the Icelandic glof. AS gift Of
gloves was mark of the highest honor,
a token of investiture, comforting of
trust, so the deprival of persons gloves
was sign of the deepest degradation. We
read of the Earl of Carlisle, condemned
to die as traitor in the reign of Edward
II, that his ''spurs were cut off with a
Ratchet, and his gloves and shoes were
taken off &"
In yet another sense to lose the glove of
lady at tourney was deep disgrace.
knights wore their ladies' dainty gloves
as the most precious of insignia, and he
who lowered his ladys honor need little
look for her smiles. The practice of giving
gloves to the judge at maiden assize prob
ably had its origin in the fact that Judge
was not supposed to wear gloves while on
the bench; to present him with a pair
might signify that he was now free to do
as he chose.-London Standard