The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-10-24
A JewAl of a Woman.

We saw a lady at Sirakosch's great concert on
Saturday evening last, tsays the Philadelphia City
Item of the l4th) who had nineteen rings upon her
fingers and thirteen bracelets of different descrip-
tons upon her arms, which were barred to the
shoulder and very handsome. Her hands were
small. white and beautiful Some of the rings con-
tanned diamonds of large size, and whenever she
moved her hand, it appeared to be in blaze Of
light. This gaily decked lady was subject OF adj
miration to some of envy to others, and of pity TO
few Her fan was expensive and secured to her
wrist by heavy gold chain. She wore ear-rings,
and a breastpin Altogether she presented the ap-
pearance of a walking iewelry store, and as such
we regarded her as the most valuable woman, liter
ally speaking, that we had ever seen. Talking of
rings, we will give an interesting article upon this
subject, which we find going round without credit
Rings seem TO have been worn from very re-
mole period. Their antiquity is attested by the
ScriDtures-see Genesis XII. IL. 'And Pharaoh took
off his ring from his hand, and arrayed him in yes
lures of fine linen, and put gold CLAIM about
his neck" In this instance the ring seems to have
been bestowed as a mark of power, since, by the
tokens here mentioned, Joseph was designated
ruler over all the land of Egypt" The Ara
bian Nights contain frequent illusions to the
ring as in the following passage: " Then CANA
ralzaman raised the hand of the damsel, and took
her ring from her finger; it was worth large
sum of money, for its stone was precious jewel
So he took off this ring frem the finger OF the
Queen and put it on his own little finger" The
Israelitish women wore rings not only on their
fingers, but also in their nOstrls and ears. DIR.
Adam, in his Roman Antiquities speaks thus" No
ornament was more generally worn among the
Romans than rings. This custom seems TO have
been borrowed from the Sabines. The Senators,
euuites and legiOnary trlbunes wore golden rings,
though ancienily none but the Senators and equities
were allowed to wear them. The plebeians wore
iron rings, unless presented with golden one Tor
their bravery in war; or some other desert. Under
the Emperors the right OF wearing golden ring
was literally conferred, and often for frivolous
reasons AT last, it granted, by Justlnlan, to
all citizens. Some finical with respect to
this piece of Dress as TO have lighter rings for sum-
mer, and heavier for winter. The ancient Ro-
mans usually wore but one ring, which was placed
on the finger next the least of the left hand, hence
called the 'ring-fnger.' Rings were set with pre-
precious stones of various kinds, on which were
engraved the images of some of their ancestors or
friends of prince or great man, or the represen-
tation of some signal event. Rings were used
chiefly for sealing letters and papers. They were
affixed TO certain signs or symbols used for tokens,
like what we call talies, or tallystcks, and given
in contracts instead of bill bond, or for any
sign. When person at the point of death delivered
| his ring to any one, it was esteemed mark OF
particular affection. They were worn by women
| as well men, both before and alter marriage
| Those who triumphed wore an iron ring. A ring
used to be given by man to the woman be was
about to marry as pledge of their intended union
plain iron one, according to Plny, though Others
say of gold"
| In reference to the wedding ring, Brand say:
that its supposed heather origin well nigh caused
its abolition during the period of the Common
wealth. An old Latin work which ascribes the in
vention of the ring to Tubal Cain, contains the
| following: "The form of the ring being circular
that is, round and without end, importeth thus
much that their mutual love and hearty affection
should roundly flow from the one to the other as IL
a circle-and that continually and for ever" Her
| rick has versiied this quaint idea as follOws
| And as this round SO let our love
| Is no where found As endless prove
To flaw or else to sever And pure as gold forever.