The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-12-26
WHEN MEN WORE EARRINGS.
Once a Popular Notion That Piercing
 Ears Was Good for Eyesignt.

The Mohammedans have curious legend to account for the beginning of the custom of wearing earrings. They say that Sarah, being jealous of Ha- gar, vowed that she would not rest un- til she had imbrued her hands in. the blood of her bondmaid. Abraham quick ly pierced Hagar's ear and drew a ring through 1t. so that Sarah was able to fulfil her rash VOW without danger to the bondmaid's life,
 From that time, they say, it became customary for women to wear ear rings. The story of Rebekah's Is only one of many early Biblical allusions to the ornament. When Aaron made the golden calf, it will be remembered, he called upon the Israelites to break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of yours wives, of your sons and of your daughters and bring them unto me- And out of these and other golden ornaments the calf was made. From this it Is plain that earrings were worn by the Hebrews without re- gard to sex or age.
 Tn our own country the familiar. or naments have been worn for many centuries, and not by women only. Charles l., 1t is said, wore pearl carr ings of considerable value, and the day before his execution took one from his ear and gave it to Bishop Juxon for transmission to his daughter, the Prin- cess Royal Rabelais tells us that it was in his day-the era of our Henry V111.-that men in France first began to wear earrings. It is worth noting that at least one existing portrait of Shakespear represents him wearing such an adornment. This is at Went- fwcrth Park, Yorkshire, and shows the poet with mustache and beard, and an earring in his left ear. Lord Sherborne possesses, at Sherborne House. near the Old World town of Northleach, a por- trait of one Thomas Dutton, a six teenth century worthy, who Is repre- sented. says his lordship, in the prime Of life, and wearing remarkably fine pearl In his left ear. The right ear is not shown, but presumably he wore 8 corresponding earring in it"
 1 Nowadays. in this country, few men wear them. save some sailors and fish, ermen and navyies. Among Southern people their use by both sexes Is more common and often begins at an early age. Tn Spain babies ears are bored after birth. The family doctor performs I the operation and inserts a gold ear wire. Boys wear these ear wires til they attain manhood when the wires are removed. The idea is that the pro- cess has most beneficial influence or the eyes.
 1 A Spanish lady writes: "Ophthalinia and scrofula are very rare in Spain and the natives maintain that freedom therein is owing to the ear piercing. :, IT Portugal and Italy, and very frequent. 4 ly in France children usually have their ears pierced at an early age Many men in the South retain tileil tearrings after reaching manhood 3 Cardinal Mezzofanti, famous for hi: powers as a liguist, Is said by his bio grapher to have worn them from in. fancy as a preventive against an afsec ton of the eyes to which he had beer subject.
 The popular notion that piercing the ear exercises beneficial influence up on the optic nerve. is very whispered l An English traveller of little more than century ago noticed that many men in Vienna wore earrings, and was told they were worn good deal fol I the eyes-'the hole in the ear and the I weight of the arrings drawing any ] humor in the eyes to those parts''
 which is hardly scientific. Village folk I in England believe in the good effect of ear piercing on the eyes just al I firmly as their life in Italy and else where abroad. Tn fact, in some places piercing is regarded by the rustics as : remedy for many troubles. At the othel side of the world boys have their ear! lpierced from different motive. 4 Iwriter on Chinese surperstitions sayi that John Chinaman pierces his littlt boys ears and makes him wear ear. rings, for if an evil spirit happens tt see him he will mistake him for gir and will not take the trouble to carry him away.-From the London Globe.