National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-04
,JEANNE'S GOSSIP.
SOMETHING ABOUT FINE JEWELS.
Tho Customs and Fashions OF Having the Flesh
Pierced for Jtuelry-Easter CAras-Ncw
Spring Goods--Associatsd Chsrl.
ties OF the District.

My grandfather was " fine old Irish gentle
man" and had ideas Of his own upon certain sub
jects, Whenever he wns appealed to by his
daughters for permission to have their cars pierced
he always replied "Ics, ifyou will haveyour nose
pierced also and wear n ring init
There was vast amount Of strong good sense in
HAT reply and to me in this day OF enlir' rent
and advancement II does seem incompt, ,.ible
that higher moro sensible view has not been
taken Of this singular custom.
To bore the flesh for the sake Of suspending n
hwel to tits relic of barbarian which should
have been abolished years ago.
Does II ever strike YOU what All utterly incOu.
Eruous spectacle IL Is To see a woman mount the
platform and cry out for her rights and to demand,
with all her energy that she shall be made the
equal Of man, and yet at the very same moment
have costly gems glittering in her ears, which arc
attached 10 golden wire, piercing her delicate
flesh to keep II in plucc, bearing upon her person
the sign Of her womany weakness and love OF
display and determination to follow fashion, how
evor monstrous may be It's dictntcs7
How would 1t look think you, 70 see the Pres.
dent OF the Senate rise In his place TO cast his vote
upon some weighty political question, or some i'm.
portant financial scheme, and TO have oil eyes
drawn to him in admiration Of the magnificent
jewels sparkling in his earsH or TO see the Speaker
Of the House rise with gayel In hand to quell un.
swinging baskets of 1lagree work, or with costly
drops ofmosaio or pearls? ltwould detract from
their dignity and influence, / am sure, and
think my sisters will be obliged to remove their
car Jewels before they can gain their so.called
rights
Tho women of certain tribe in Africa bore the
under lip and insert in II q small piece Of wood
This is gradually increased in sse until the lir
becomes fearfully distorted.
Another tribe not only bore the under lip, but
the upper lip also, and insert circular piece OF
onyx, or wood, ivory. In course Of time the lip
becomes so large and heavy that when they wish
to take draught Of water they are obliged TO
raise 1t with the hand and pour the water down
their throat. This is a fashion which certainly
does not add to their beauty and 1t is in every way
revolving. Those women are however, very low
down in the social scale. They are ignorant, wea
no clothing, and ARE mere ssvnges. Probabl!
when they become educated, refined and cultured
they will throw away the coarse bits Of bone ant
wood, and, instead of cnlarGing the lip, will b
content to have very small hole,nRdc in 1t, and
with the help Of a delicate wire, wear daint
pearl, golden sunlower, or daisy, or lily, u
their highly cultured sisters OF the nineteenth cen
tury wear in their ears.
The custom or fashion of boring the ears is no
confined to class or station The mother Of
statesman or Il warrior or learned divine wear
her car-jewels with as much complacency as tn
dusky cook or laundrcss wears hers. The forme
may be of priceless gems aud the latter Of blu
glass, but they are worn all the same.
Jewels are becoming to a woman, and she has q
perfect right 10 wear them, rs well as the othe
pretty things which add so much TO her attrac
tons. There ure many ways though, in whicl
khe can display them-if she be the fortunate pos
SCISSOR OF them. Around her snowy neck may b
clasped a Circet made up OF gems, each one wort
ransom. or her dimpled arms INA
be twined with golden bands, adorne
with ell manner Of precious stones Her way
locks may be caught with glitterng butterflies G
!eweled combs, nnd her pretty hands fairly losde
with diamonds, pearls, emer0lds, opals, and cat
eyes, but for the sake OF common sense let he
Ipnre her ears.
Easter cards have appeared already, and ar
more beautiful this year than they have ever beei
Indeed, they have taken many forms and arc S
elaborate they might more properly be calle
souvenirs than cards. Some very pretty ones con
sist Of u white satin sachet with II tui1 Of whit
down resting upon II, in which are nestled tin
birds eggs, some ofthem blue, some specl;led, an
so on. Others are in the form of pincushion
mouchair cases, &C., with an appropriate desig
painted upon the upper side. The coloring an
finish of many of the cards are perfectly eS
quiste.
The new spring dress goods displayed in II
stores are extremely ultra in style, and the lad
brave enough to wear some of the patterns ma
expect torcprcsent perambulatng flower garder
Panses poppies, and full moons are the mo-
popular designs.
The association known us the Associated Char
ties Of the District Is doing II good work amongth
poor Although this winter has been very mil
compared with last winter there has been and
still much suffering among them. Some Of tn
cases brought to notice are very touching and th
needy ones are not to be classed as ordinary beg
gars prcicrrng to suffer OH in silence rather tina
expose their poverty. Women have been foun
without food to eat who have in better days bee
accustomed ito not only the comforts but h
luxuries of life, and they reluctantly make the
wants known JEANNE