Whig Republican. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1840-18??, 1840-11-12
The wearing of Rings.

: people III the wearing 0sTlngS, became SO
delicate and Gtstidious, that each person
y commonly had two rings, one thick and
heavy ior the winter, and a lighter one
! for SUMMER. By moderate people, one
ring was worn OIL the middle finger In
4 the course of time, the number of rings
worn by each Individual was increased;
), three rings On one hand soon became
common, and soon after, one on each fin
ser. One man: we arc tod. wore sixteen
{ Oh lis haifd "A oae. tins they used the
right h;dltlsa aaheher time the lei, then
slls rs turn; ut last the fingers
4 aftlle left fafid were entries covered With
Jswelled rilgs,it being fo,tad that the
4 rig HARD was incoaEe1ieat for the p,lr4
Pose. The face ofin ances.or, ofa friend
or OF the rciglllllg emperor, was some
times scn.ptured Oh the rings, and al
other times, soale public event, such as ii
victory or a triumph; such ring was
commonly used in sealing letters. Tn.
der the sculpture OF the stone was often
concealed deadly poison, that the wear
er OF the ring might by this sricida.
method, free hialse from the frowns o.
/ fortune. This sad and dreadful a.terna-
tive was chiefly had recourse to under
despotic rulers, and in the declining ages
OF the Romm Empire. The cyses or
isemoStheneS and Hannibal are vel.
known. When Il person was dying the
! ring was taken from his finger. If tie
ldylng person delivered it to any one, ii be-
toSened the adoption of the person TO
whom it was Delivered, us heir to him who
gave 1t. Sometimes the diving parent de-
llvered it TO the eldest sou, in token o.
the dominion OF the latter over the tnrni.
ly estate. The birthday ring was only
worn on that day, and was present from
friends.
The ornaments of the ancient Britons.
like those OF the Gauls, consisted in part
OF rings, made OF gold and silver, and, In
default OF these metals, OF brass lhey
were exceedingly fond of these ornaments.
and had them oisiron. when. ncthiner be,. !
Ter was 10 be he'd. On opening some of
the u lbarrows, or hs'ry. ng places 9tt.Eome of
I the ancient BriollS, VIZ are SO hllnler-
oasly scattered over the downs OF SSouth
) l.tshire, Sir l.ichard Cot Hore found |
numerous rings and female orname,lts so
elegant and SO Acll as 10 make ii evident
hat the ancient Britons were not so bar
barons as we generally imagine; for they
mist have had foreign commerce TO en-.
rich them, especially with gold; so that
they either Imported expensive works of
art from abroad, or paid for the produce
ton OF them at home.
The antiquity of the marriage ring is.
IN all probability, very great 1t was a t
I1.etlge Of an engagement so,emny con-
tr;scled; aud OF nevercnding unity and al
tsciion. It's use as u pledge, was at one
time more regarded than ITS value as an i
ornament; therefore il was made OF iron.
IN the course OF thine the iron gave way
TO god, but women were Still not in the
habit oil wearing rings III the early times I
OF the Christian church, except such as +
Their s.litors sent them. / he nuns ofthe +
order OF st, Anne, at Rome, show rude
SILVER ring as the wedding ringof oachiml
aud nue., the parents OF the Firgin Mary.
We cannot conclude this part of our
subject without noticing an ancient form
OF tie marriage ring, termed the orinlmall
ring. The origin OF the word sSrinmal,
IS TO be referred, perhaps, TO the Latin
9enelills, twin or double, and inn les. the
unity of heart which Should be.ono tal
tie married pair The ring is.constfnet-
cd, therefore. OF double hoops, which plavI
one with another, like the links of =
an Each hoop las one of its sides
the other convex: EACH Is fsvist,sd
Ground and each IS sarinounfed IN
ilflna issuing ifosl an embossed f.licv q
work wrist or sleeve, the hand rising some
WAL apoEe me circe and extending in