The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-13
EARS AND EARRINGS.
How Lobes are Pierced and Who Does the
Piercing.


Piercing.
Brooklyn Union.
'Tm the happest woman in the world" said g.
beautiful young lady in the store OF Mr.. 7. W.
Taylor, the well-known Fulton-street jeweler,
a day or two ago.
her ears, CHANGING in mirror at the same time,
her face all the while frightening up with
smile.
why, they are not bleeding at all; and
thought it was an awful ordeal to 20 through"
And once more did her handkerchief find its way
to pair of small and delicate ears.
She had just undergone the operation of hav-
ing her ears pierced She renewed her excama
ton of pleasure, while a lady attendant sold to
her pair of diamond pendants.
Modern civilized nations regard the earring al
most exclusively as female ornament, and in
America an Italian or other foreigner with little
rings of silver in the lobes of mis- ears is looked
upon very much as wild being, approaching in
barbarous fashion the original ruler of this land
who yet lords it on the Western plains when
Uncle Sans regulars are at a safe distance.
Among less advanced and Uncivilzed people ear
rings are worn by both sexes, custom which
sailors of different natonalities frequently fol-
low. Among the ancient Greeks and Romans
the earring was considered effeminate. while in
Eastern countries. on the authority of Plny, it
was used by man and women alike.
Ear rings were worn by the glish down to
the tenth century. That custom was revived
Y,
extended even to gentlemen Of the royal court
who followed the example of the courters of
Henry LII of France Satirical illusions to this
habit are common in the writings of contempt
rary dramatsJs. 1t appears to have died out
ABOUT the time of the Restoration. Earrings
in those days assumed a variety Of forms, and
were, as now, of gold enclrcled with precious
stones Pearls were valued for their spherical
shape their size and their whiteness but the
elongated rings worn as late as thirty years ago
were in great esteem as forming a graceful
pendant to the ears. For elegance of design
and beauty of execution the earrings of the
Etruscans and Greeks have never been sur
passed.
To-day woman will submit to have her ears
pierced much more readily than she would few
years back. The facility and painlessness with
which the operation is now performed have
made ear rings more popular than ever.
few minutes after the scene described above
had been concluded a lady entered Mr. Taylor's
store. She LED little girl by the hand.
She wanted her ears pierced.
The jeweler called for small ivory handled
instrument, with a small steel point about
three eighths of an inch long, and about as stout
AS the average sewing needle. He placed a
small, solid cork behind the lobe of the chlds
left ear, and ran the needle through the flesh.
The mother shuddered and put her hands be-
fore her eyes, while the child merely looked up
at the jeweler as if in perfect wonder at what
was taking place.
"Well," exclaimed the mother, ''the nerve that
this child has got is simply astonishing. |
wouldn't go through that operation for a good
deal"
BY this time the childs other ear had been
pierced, and in the holes made were inserted two
little hollow tubes, which were not to be re-
moved until the holes had healed-in few days.
us the operation painful!" Union reporter
asked MIR. Taylor.
Very seldom It does happen sometimes that
the lobe is hard and gristly; then the piercing is
painful Large ears, away from the head are the
toughest Fat ears and small are the easiest to
pierce. AS rule, however, the operation is &C
companied by only twinge of pain, which dis
appears as soon the needle is withdrawn"
Were you ever asked to pierce the ears of a
baby?"
1.-THE age is usually from four to fourteen
years 1t is very seldom that a girl passes the
age OF fourteen without wearing earrings"
Are there many persons who make it a bust
ness to pierce earsa" the reporter asked another
jeweler.
Not that know Of Some years ago women
In straltened circumstances pretended to fol-
low such business. but il has always been the
jewelers. who have done the most of it, If we
sell pair OF earrings to person who never had
her ears pierced she usually asks first whether
we are willing to perform the operation. Some
jewelers. won't pierce ears under any circum-
stances"
What do you charge for piercing one pair of
ears2"
Nothing. We do it to sell the earrings. 1t
is very seldom that anybody, except intimate
friends, ask us to pierce their ears unless they
mean to buy something to put in them"
DO the ears become infamed after the opera
tion2'
Very seldom if care is taken of them Some
times little girls will scratch their freshly pierced
ears, and occasion painful sores thereby
Grown young ladies, however are much more
likely to follow our instructions, in which case
all trace Of soreness ought to disappear inside of
a week"
"Do old women ever apply for such an onara
tion?"
II had one once. She was close on to sixty
She had never worn ear rings; but she got mar
ried in her old age and her aged beau of hus-
band insisted she should wear ear rings He was
laborer He came to me and made great
deal of fuss about wanting his wife to be in the
fashion, etc. OF course, pierced the woman's
ears. She made thunder of fuss over it
tainted, and got her old man all in a worry. But
L didn't mind it much. | could see a sale of
nice pair of ear rings, and could afford to be
cool The old fool didn't buy anything, because
i didn't have pair of ear rings for ST..
''Are ears pierced more than once?'
"Yes, frequently. Sometimes the tube is taken
out too soon. and the opening closes before it
heals Then the operation has to be gone over
again. In that case it is always painful
What proportion Of the female family do you
suppose wear ear ringsF
II cannot say If | can judge by those who
visit my store, should say about ninety nine
out Of one hundred. There is a very strange
case in this city, talking about ears and ear
rings The person l refer to is very respect
able woman and belongs to very respectable
family, therefore l don't like to give you her
name. But I'll tell you her story. Eight
years ago she was courted by two
young men, and finally became en-
gagged to of them. / always thought her
parents influenced her in her decision, for l
think she loved the other the most. One day,
shortly before her marriage, she came into my
store with her discarded lover, and accepted a
handsome pair of ear rings from him. l pierced
her ears and she insisted wearing the ear
rings at once. This was something unusual,
but pretty girl generally has her way in this
world, and l allowed her to crafty her wish.
They both fingered at a show case and when,