[MR] Re-enactment canceled

[Michael Beedy]

I hate to break the news to the reporter that wrote that article or the 
re-enactors who are making a fuss about the historical authenticity of 
sunglasses, but sunglasses were first invented in 1752 by James 
Ayscough an eye glass designer, more than 100 years before the Civil War 
began.  Now although the tinting of the glasses was green and blue and not 
directly made for shielding the eyes from the sun, I have no doubt that 
at least a partial side effect of the tinting was shading the effects 
of the sun.
   
  Additionally as early as the 1200's Chinese used eye glasses with 
colored glass as adornment or supposed magical powers (not for correcting 
vision problems) with colored glass, which again I am sure had sun 
blocking properties.
   
  I have also read before that due to impurities in the glass making 
process, glass used for correcting vison in the 13th and 14th centuries 
often had an amber tint to the glass which would reduce glare.  
   
  Just my two cents worth,
   
  Lord Sebastien de Valmont 


  
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