The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-12-22
WHEN MEN WORE EARRINGS
In Obedience to a Notion That Pierc-
ing of the Ears Was Good
for the Eyes.

The Mohammedans have curious le-
gend to account for the beginning of the
custom of wearing earrings. They say
that Sarah, being jealous of Hagar,
vowed that she would not rest until she
had imbrued her hands in the blood of
her bondmaid Abraham quickly
pierced Hagar's ear and drew a ring
through 1t, so that Sarah was able to full
fiji her rash vow without danger TO the
bondmaid's life.
From that time on. they say, states the
London Globe, II became customary for
women to wear earrings. The story OF
Rebekah's earring is only one of many
early Biblical illusions to the ornament
When Aaron made the golden calf, IT.
will be remembered he called upon the
Israelites to "break of the golden ear
rings, which are in the ears of your
wives, of your sons and of your daugh-
ters. and bring them unto me-" And out
of these and other golden ornaments
the calf was made. From this 1t is plain
that earrings were worn by the Hebrews
without regard to sex or age.
In our own country the familiar orna-
ments have been worn for many CEN
turtles, and not by women only. Charles
l., 1t is said, wore pearl earrings of con-
siderable value, and the day before his
execution took one from his ear and
gave 1t to Bishop Juxon for transmission
to his daughter, the princess royal.
Rabelais tells us that it was in his day
the era of our Henry VII.-that men in
France first began to wear earrings. 1t
is worth noting that at least one exist
ing portrait OF Shakespeare represents
him as wearing such an ornament. This
is at Wentworth Park, Yorkshire, and
shows the poet with mustache and beard
and an earring in his left ear. Lord
Sher6orne possess at Sherborne house
near the old world town Of Northleach
a portrait of one Thomas Dutton, six
teenth century worthy, who is repre-
sented, says his lordship, "in the prime
Of life, and wearing remarkably fn'
pearl In his left ear. The right ear is no
shown, but presumably he wore CORE
spending earring in It,"
Nowadays. In this country. few mel
wear them, save some sailors and fish
ermen and navvies. Among southern
peoples their use by both sexes is NOR
common and often begins at an earl
age. In Spain babies ears are bore
soon after birth. The family docto
performs the operation and inserts
gold ear wire. Boys weor these ear wire
till they attain manhood, when the wire
are removed. The idea Is that the prot
ess has most beneficial influence on tn
eyes.
A Spanish lady writes: "Ophthalmi
and scrOfula are very rare In Spain, an
the natives maintain that freedol
therefrom is owing to ear-piercing."
Portugal and Italy, and very frequentl
In France, children usually have the
ears pierced at an early age. Mar
men In the south retain their earring
! after reaching manhood. Cardinal Me
zofanti famous as for his powers as
, linguist, is said by his biographer
have worn them from infancy as pr
ventive against an affection of Il
eyes to which he had been subject,
The popular notion that piercing h
ear exercises beneficial influence upt
: the optic nerve 10 very widespread.
English traveller OF little more than
, century ago noticed that men in Vienl
wore earrings, and was told they we
worn good deal for the eyes-"the he
in the ear and the weight of the earri
drawing any humor In the eyes to tho
parts"-which is hardly scientific. v
lage folk In England believe In the go
a effect Of ear piercing on the eyes just
firmly as their like In Italy and eli
where abroad. In fact, In some plaf
!. ear piercing is regarded by the rustics
q remedy for many troubles. At I
other side of the world boys have tn
!, ears pierced from different motive.
r writer on Chinese superstitions 50
that John Chinaman pierces his lit
boys ears and makes him wear el
! rings. for II an evil spirit happens
see him he will mistake him for 8
and will not take the trouble TO cal
him away.