# Woodrow Wilson, Charlie McCarthy, Mr. Peanut **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 15, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970 "2003-04-15T23:09:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/91b2a8/32.png) [@Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_of_Sandwhich)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/1 "2003-04-15T23:09:21Z")
How do monocles work? I’ve never heard of anyone having problems with only one eye. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/2 "2003-04-15T23:21:54Z")
True, but correcting vision in only one eye is often acceptable. This is often done with modern eye surgery and gives what is called monovision. TheLadyLion had her right eye corrected for distant vision with the left eye remaining still moderately nearsighted. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/3 "2003-04-15T23:28:21Z")
And FWIW I don’t think I’ve ever seen W. Wilson wearing a monocle, only wering pince-nez type glasses as Teddy Roosevelt wore. I won’t presume to be an expert on the physiology of your other two examples. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/4 "2003-04-16T00:07:16Z")
When did the typical eye glasses with ear pieces come in? When were the last pince-nez eyeglasses made? (Which I think look so freaking cool). ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/5 "2003-04-16T00:35:13Z")
I read somewhere – I believe it was a Ripley’s Believe it or Not, so I wouldn’t count on too much credibility – that the monocle was invented by a man with poor vision in only one eye. I know my eyes are not the same. My left eye is weaker than the right, but when I use both of them, my vision is fine. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/6 "2003-04-16T00:55:05Z")
Actually, my daughter only needs correction in one eye. The right lens of her glasses are plain glass. Obviously, a monocle is not a good option for her, but the situation does exist. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/7 "2003-04-17T02:28:09Z")
How did one keep a monocle on, or did they just raise it to their eye when needed? ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/8 "2003-04-17T02:47:34Z")
I’m in the same situation as Reality Chuck’s daughter. I can’t tell teh difference unless I test myself, but I need glasses to drive (can’t pass the eye exam without them, and I’m not gonna risk it). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/9 "2003-04-17T02:52:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*How did one keep a monocle on, or did they just raise it to their eye when needed? \*\* The monocle is usually designed to fit snugly between the eyebrow and cheek, so it can remain in place for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/10 "2003-04-17T04:38:30Z")
I’m sure I read somewhere (on this board?) that monocles were mostly a fashion thing. People learned to sort of look with just one eye. They were never actually recomended by optomatrists (except, presumably in cases like **Menoccio** and **RC** ’s daughter.) I remember my mom (an ophthalmologist) telling me the same thing, so that’s two independant but mostly unverifiable sources for you. (I could verify the second one, but I don’t want to wake her up this late at night.) ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/11 "2003-04-17T05:52:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\*The monocle is usually designed to fit snugly between the eyebrow and cheek, so it can remain in place for awhile. \*\* Until the wearer is shocked by an uncouth person while at a party, whereupon the monocle falls into the wearer’s cocktail. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/12 "2003-04-17T06:14:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*When did the typical eye glasses with ear pieces come in? When were the last pince-nez eyeglasses made? (Which I think look so freaking cool). \*\* [A history of eyeglasses](http://www.eye.utmem.edu/history/glass.html). ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/13 "2003-04-17T14:25:17Z")
Thanks, **Walloon**! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/14 "2003-04-17T14:28:42Z")
And let us not forget Colonel Klink! ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/15 "2003-04-17T15:28:31Z")
My friend Terry wants to get a monocle for the same reason I want to get a lorgnette: theatricality! He wants to be able to have it pop comically out of his eye when he’s surprised. “_Whaaaaa?!_” [monocle pops out] ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodrow-wilson-charlie-mccarthy-mr-peanut/168970/16 "2003-04-17T17:08:54Z")
Eve, can you get a lorgnette with an attachment arm for a 3-foot long cigarette holder? Guinastasia, if you are looking for a pair of pince-nez and have any connections in the Ukraine, there mich be a slightly damaged pair in the lost & found near the Odessa steps. (Oddly, monacles used to be identified with Imperial German army officers. Today’s equivalent is the flip-down night vision scope on American army helmets.)