The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-02-23
from the Independent
ABOUT FINGER RINGS.

r-s From the Independent.
ABOUT FINGER RINGS. ''
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Almost every ring worn by . human
finger II ! prophecy or . history. Ifthe
story Of all the hnger. rings ever worn
could be told, It would make the most
marvellous revelation Of human life ever
published. BY that little circlet have
hearts been won and broken, Kingdoms
bought and sold, destinies sealed for time
and eternity. a..a ..- s..aaoa
We not only find rings in the most
ancient times, but we also trace them in
mythology. Rings have been discover
ed In the cincrary urns Of the Greeks.
The idea that rings In Roman urns were
secretly aud piously placed there Is
strengthened by tile fact thit It was
contrary to the laws of Rome to bury
gold with the dead. zse 5.E
In the Scriptures the signet ring ID
frequently named and Quintus Curtius
tells US that Alexander wore one. After
his fatal debauch, and fin'ling himself
past recovery. aud his voice. beginning
to fail, be gave his ring to his general,
/ kPerdiccas, with orders to convey his
corpse to the Temple of Ammon. A
ring denoted eternity among the Hin
docs, Persians, and Egyptians; and
Brahma, as the creator Of the world,
bears a ring In bis hand. The Egyptian
priests in the temple of the creative
Phtha Vulcan of the Creeks represen-
ted the year under the form OF ring
made of serpent having its tail in Its
mouth-a very common shape OF an
cient rings. Although Jupiter is often
figured with attributes Of mighty power,
yet he is seldom coupled with mark of
eternity. There is, however, gem IAN
acqua- marine) engraved in intaglio Of
this deity holding ring as the emblem
Of eternity.
There is scarcely hard substance of
which rings have not been composed.
All the metals have been brought into
requisition. First, iron; then, as in
Rome, it was mingled with gold
Conquerors wore iron rings until Caius
Marius changed the fashion. He had
one when he triumphed over King Ju-
gurtha. And, while stones have lent
their aid as garniture for metal. these
two have made the whole hoop.
We find rings Of two stones. Such
were those which the Emperor Valeri-
anus gave to Claudius.
Near to the Pyramids cornelian rings
have been discovered. Rings Of glass
and other vitreous material have been
found. Emerald rings were discovered
at Pompeil, also glass used instead Of
gems. Some made entirely of one stone,
a. Of amber, have been obtained.
With the Egyptians bronze was sci.
dom used in rings. though frequently in
signets. They were mostly Of gold, and
this metal seems to Lave been always
preferred to silver. ..
Ivory and blue porcelain were the ma
terials of which those worn by the low
er classes were made.
An ancient ring of jet has been dug
up In England.
The rings of the classical ancients
were rather incrusted than set in gold
in our slight manner.
The first mention of q Roman gold
ring Is in the year 42o B. c.; but they
at last were Unfortunately worn by
the Romans. Three bushels were gath.
cred out of the spoils after Hannibal's
Victory at Canine.
Sir Isaac Newton was possessed of
small magnet set In ring, the weight
Of which was only three grains, but
which supported, by its attractive pow
er on iron, seven hundred grains. Some
Of the gyptiau signets were of extraor.
dinaIy size. Sir Gardiner Wilkinson
mentions an ancient Egyptian one
which contained about twenty pounds
worth of gold.
When wealthy Egyptian had been
embalmed, and placed in q superb case
or coffin, with diadem on his heart
and bracelets upon his arms, rings of
gold, ivory, and engraved cornelian
were placed upon his fingers.
Nothing is new. One of.the prettiest
modern rings, used as remembrancer,
has socket for hair and closing shut
ter. Roman remains were found at He
ronval, in Normandy, and among them
were rings. One OF these was almost Of
modern form, with small place under
where the stone Is usually fixed, into
which hair might be inserted. We are
constantly retracing the steps of antiq-
uity.
A Roman gold ring of triangular
form has been discoved in England
with an iatagtio representing the story
of Hercules strangling the Nemean lion.
And also ring that, while it was re-
markable for its thickness, had whis-
tie on one side, which was useful in call
ing servants, before the time Of domes-
tic bells.
In the Catacombs Of Rome, where the
early Christians wandered about in
shecp-skins and goat. skins, being desti-
tute, afflicted, tormented, where they
stealthily prayed and lived and died,
vast quantities Of signet and other rings
have been discovered, as well as medals,
canoes, aud other precious stones. Sig
net rings of different devices, as belong
ing to different owners, are in the Cata-
combs here; and this has raised the idea
that they were deposited by relatives
aud friends, as the stone lid of the grave
was about to be shut-ofierings of love
and affection.
Among the Romans, before rings came
to be adorned with stones, and while the