St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-01-07
WHEN MEN WORE EARRINGS
In Obedience to Notion That Pierc-
ing of the Fan Was e9ed 4

for s y 1ss: !,
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 ring
through it, SO that Sarah was able to full
FL her rash vow without danger to the
bondmaid's life. ''f'zs''''}' ''r'''tl 20 l''
From that timeon, thg s4y., statei the
London Globe, itsbecape customary for
women to wear earrings. The story Of
Rebekah's s, earring is only one Of many
early Biblical illusions to.thI ornament
When Aaron made the golden calf, it
will be remembered he called upon the
1sraelites to break off the golden ear
rings. which are in tie ears of your
wives. of your sons AndFof y6ur daugh-
ters, and bring thetnsun tome And ont
of these and other golden ornaments
the calf was made. From this it is plain
that earrings were wornsby the Hebrews
Without-regard- to sex or age.~-.@~~..,-7-s --
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 it to Bishop Juxon for transmission
to his daughter, the princess royal
Rabelais teiiss,is that1t vas in hisday-
the era of our Henry vI1.-that men in
France first began u wear earrings Tt
is worth noting that at least one exist
ing portrait OF Shakespeare represents
him as wearing such an ornament. This
is at WentB0th Bark, Yorkshire. and
shows thApoet w1tfn ac1a and beard,
and an SSrring in his lett7ar. Lord
SherboEne p3nass. at SherAofne house,
near the old world town ri Nprthleach,
a portrait of pnesE - ttp1A six
teenth century WORTH: fpre:
scented, says his IordsnIpa hs prime
of life, and wearing l:rem3SkSbly line
pearl inhis left ear Therio not
shown, sbutlpresuma bly, the W6rs 4 CORE
spending earring. init
: Nowadays, IN this country, few men
wear them, save some sailors and fish,
ermen and navvies. Among southern
peoples their use by both sexes is more,
common and often begins at an early
age. In ssp,ans babies"ems saresboyeds
soon after BIRTH The family doctor
performs, thsssoperati0p and inserts y
gold ear Wire. Boys Weor these eur wires
till they attain manhood, when the wires
are removed: The idea IS that the proc
ess'has most beneficial influence ON thu
eyes. ts~sss 3 s* 80 =
a Spanish lady wates:~ "Ophthalmis
and scrofula are very rare in Spain, and
the natives A#slaaiatai that freedom
therefrom is owing to ear-piercing." In.
Portugal and Italy, and very. frequently
in France, children usually have their
ears pierced at an early age Many
men in the south retsin. their earrings
after reaching manhood. Cardinal Mez-
zofanti, famous as for his powers as q
linguist, is said BY. his biographer to,
have worn them from infancy as pre-,
ventive againstyans affection Of the
eyes to which he had, been subject.
The popular notion that piercing the
ear. exercises beneficial influence upon
thGoptic nerve is very Widespread. An
English traveller of little more than 4
century ago noticed that men in Vienna
wore earrings, and was told they were
worn q good deal for thee ssthehole
in the ear and the weight ofsthe earring
drawing any humor in the eyes to those
parts which IS hardly scientific. VII
lage folk in England believe in the good
effect of eat piercing on the eyes Just as
firmly as their like IN Italy and else
where abroad.s II fact. in some places
ear piercing is regarded blythe rusticsas
a remedy for many troubles. At the
other side Of the world boys have, their
ears pierced from q different motfve, 4 y
writer on Chinese superstitions says
thata John Chinam41l apderces his little
boys. ears and makes him. wear. ea.-.
rings, for if an evil spirit happens to
see him he will mistake him for a~girf
and will not take the troublesto carry
him away.