St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-05
EARRINGS FOR ONE.
The Event Which Begins al
Epoch in Girls Life.


Speaking of earrings, it may be re-
marked that in every maiden's life
there are epOchs, says writer in the
Chicago Tribune. One closes and an
other begins when she leaves her
mothers lap and first goes to
school. The mother cries for q
week, and the poor little damsel gaZes
out at the world with her heart
in her mouth, very much as she would
ii she were left in circus OF loose
beasts. Another epoch is closed when
she puts on long dresses and takes her
briadS off her back. after which she in
variably writes her first love letter.
Then there Is the epoch when heart
Wilderness closes, and she puts on her
engagement ring, and again the ending
of the maiden'S epOchS in marriage.
But there is another, which usually
occurs before the putting on of the long
dresses. 1t is the piercing of the ears,
and it marks the birth of vanity.
1t is the coronation of Self-cOnScious-
ness.
1t comes about suddenly. Some fine
day, when there is an unusual amount
OF electricity in the air, little school
girl looks in the glass and begins doing
up her hair. Like the Lady of ShalOtt,
other side of the street. Her cheeks are
flushed, her eyes dancing, her hair
hayward and bewitching, her lips full
of laughter and life. Suddenly she stops
with her braid half done. She leans a
little closer to the glass.
Dear me-" she says, softly. She
turns her head sideways and looks shyly
out of the corner of her eyes. She
shakes out her hair and spreads it over
her shoulders.
"Welln' she cries, enraptured. She
talks to herself a little to see how her
mouth looks when it is not in repOse.
Il should say So" she remarked at
length, and she does up her hair and
goes down to inform her mother that
she wants her ears pierced. Oddly
enough, she always gets permission.
len to one there are a couple of pairs of
earrings waiting for this suspicious
occasion, presented her in her infancy
by bachelor uncles or dOting grandpar-
entS. Then arises the question how
to get the hole punched. The
elder sister volunteers to- undertake
it. The entire family gather to wit
ness the operation. Father looks up
over his paper with an ill-cOncealed in
terest. another holds the trembling
hands of the willing victim. Tom gets
dl duScI dllu Is urlVen from the room
with reprOofS. Then sister comes with
the needle. She is shaking from head
to foot. She sets the point of the little
instrument in the velvet flesh. lets out
little squirt of blood, and quietly
faints. 1t is evident that the operation
will have to be conducted by some
one of less tender SenSibilities. Pretty
NarciSSa goes to the family doctor.
lie is brutality sensible old man. He
tells her fatty that he won't help her to
make a fool of herself. Tom suggests
that she shall try the blacksmith. Sis
ter thinks the dentist may be prevailed
upon. NarciSSa concludes that who
ever does it, for her part she had better
take chloroform. No one thinks of CIV
ing it up.
At last happy thought strikes father.
He takes NarciSSa with him to a Jew
elry shop-a diamond emporium" the
advertisements call it.
II would like to get my daughter
pair of SOlitaires," he says to the clerk,
but, unfortunately, her ears are not
pierced"
The clerk smiles and offers Narcissa
chair. He stands behind her and
pinches each little ear till it is white.
Then he runs sharp steel needle
through both lObeS and wipes off the
half drop of blood with bit of muslin.
'Do up your ears for a week when
you go out" he says in a buSiness-like
way: Nov, sir, what size SolitaireS
would you wish to look at?"