Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-03
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HISTORY AND POETRY.
The Part Played by Pins in the
Works Of Great Authors
The Pin That 1t Is a Sin to Steal-A Polish
Nobleman's Reason Preserved by Pick
ing Up Pins-Superstitious Beliefs
and Eancies.

Nobleman's Reason Preserved by Pick
ing Up Pins-superstitious Beliefs
and Fancies.
Antiquarians differ as to the history of
pins, writes Pamela Macarthur Cook in
Good Housekeeping. We are told that they
are OF modern invention-some writers as
sorting that they were invented and brought
into use about the beginning of the six
teenth century. Others tells us that Anne.
Of Bohemia, first Queen of Richard IL,
(1367-1394) introduced them into England.
But metal pins were used in dressing the
hair of Greek and Roman ladies', and ivory
pins have been found in some of the ancient
British barrows. But though the precise
date of their Introduction into England is
uncertain, there is no doubt that they were
a luxury, and for a long time comparative
~ rare. Garments were fastened in many
and various ways-''wlth strings, laces
with points, and skewers of wood and of
metal" Among savage nations, and in
times of peculiar restitution among civilized
peoples, thorns have taken the place usual
ly filed by pins. Virgil, describing the
wretched Greek captive, Achemenides,
mentions his clothing fastened with thorns
(conser1ina tegltmeri SpfniS)
Literature has not disdained to mention
pins, as Shakespeares pages testify. The
princely Hamlet, fearless of danger, says ::
I do not set my LIE at pins fee.''
The afflicted Queen of England, proposing
to her companions to listen to the CONVEX
satlon of the gardeners, says:
My wretchedness unto row of pins
They'll talk of state. Richard II.
A great Shakespearean critic considers
this passage Of value as showing that pins
were put up IN the same way three hundred
years ago as now
Though small, they are by no means un-
important "Dear me- what signifies a
pins'' were the naughty words of the
heroine of poem of Jane Taylor's, dear to
generation now past. But she soon saw
the value of the sighted object, when, at
the hour appointed for the pleasure party,
THE carriage ratified to The door,
Then ratified fast away;
But poor Eliza was not in,
For want Of Just single pin I"
The story is told of a poor young man
seeking business, that having applied for a
situation and been refused, he was walking
away, sad and well nigh disheartened, when
he stopped to pick up a pin lying on the
ground. The wealthy merchant into whose
service he had just failed to obtain admis-
sion was looking from the window and saw
him He had himself risen from poverty
by his own exertions; he was struck by this
incident, and, accustomed TO Judge of char
acter by trifles, he believed the young man
would prove honest and careful. He ordered
him to be called back, gave him employ
ment, and a pin laid the foundation of
wealth and success.
These trifes have done better work
Many years ago a certain Polish noble
man was imprisoned for having, it was said,
spoken insulting words concerning the Rus
sian Government. History has told US of
many a captive whose prison hours have
been cheered by the converse of friends and
the enjoyment Of fayorite studies; but for
him was no alienation. No companion re-
lieved his loneliness, and had be been al
lowed any means of employment, the dark
ness of his dungeon would have prevented
his making use of them. But he discovered
In his clothing four pins, which supplied
that great want, something TO do' Drop
ping them on the floor of his dungeon he
would search, cropping in the darkness, IN
til he found them. To do this was his sole
occupation, and it was his belief that only
the employment thus furnished had pre-
served his reason. When, after six years.
imprisonment, the news of his freedom
was brought him, he was on the ground
hunting for one pin which had been for two
days missing. The four pins, bent and cor
roded, were set in brooch and worn by his
wife, to whom they were more precious than
gems. "a .E
Superstition has not forgotten the pin.
Like other pointed articles, it is ito be lent,
not given,n and we are told in strains en-
bodying equal measure of truth and poetry:
"See pin and pick it up,
All the day you'll have good luck"
Law has deigned to notice the pin. Not
long before the close of the reign of Henry
VIII. a law was passed entitled IAN Acte
for the true Makyng OF Pynnes," enacting
that the price should not be "more than Is.
sd. a thousand" In the days when pins
were rare they were q very acceptable
present; instead of the gifts, compensa-
Iion was sometimes received in money!
this was called, of course, pin-money, a
term which has been extended 10 a sum Of
money secured by husband on his mar
riage for the private expenses of his wife,
Addison has recorded his dislike Of what he
calls 1.-The doctrine of pin-money;' '1t isl
he writes in l711-12, 'sof late date, and it is
for the interests of both sexes to keep it
from spreading" He proposed needle
money as better name, as it would have
implied something of good housewifery."