Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-15
WEDDING CUSTOMS.

VEDDlNG CCSIONS.
The Prince of Wales set good example on
his marriage, when he gave the Princess Alex
andra a keeper-ring In which the initial letters
OF the six stones-Beryl, Emerald, Ruby, Tur-
Quoise Jacinth, Emerald-formed her favorite
name for him: "Bertie." The language and
are those Of flowers; and, like the latter gems
have the proper seasons in which their good
qualities predOminate. High priests in this
Kind of knowledge inform us that whoever Is
touched with any stone set in a silver ring shall
be Immediately recCnciled. A pale sapphire set
in gold, and engraved with a figure and with
the half OF fish, procures any desire. Capri
corn, or COMEDIAN set In silver ring and car
ried about, inSureS the wearer against harm in
purse and person; no judge can pass unjust sen
tence against him; he shall abound in business
and honor, gain the friendship of many, and be
allpowerful in battle A favOTite superstition is
that every month is under the influence OF
some one of the precious stones. The garnet
signifying consistency and truth, is sacred to
January; the amethyst sincerity. to February;
the bookstore courage and presence OF mind)
to March; the diamond dnnocence), to April
the emerald success. in love), TO May the agate
(health and long lifel. to June; the comedian "a
contented mind), TO July; the SardonyX (cOajJl-
gal felicity, to August; the chryS0te {antidOte
10 insanity, to September; the opal (hOpe), to
october; the topaz [tidelity), to November. and
the turquoise prosperity to December In
Germany the turtuoise is still the favorite be-
trothal ring; it is supposed to prevent dssensions
between husband and wife and also to give warn
ing OF danger. In addition to the virtues alre ady
enumerated the diamond is said to be an antidota
TO Satanic temytation. The ruby makes its pos
SCISSOR brave. The topaz is preservative against
poison. The amethyst is preServaJive against
drunkenness The turquoise acts as a charm
against the evil eye and from looks forboding
miSfortunes. The emerald promotes piety. The
sard0Qfc SardonyX brings unholy thoughts
though it promotes cOnjugal felicity-is, in TACT
sort of bane-and-antidote affair. The opal, I'M
less its influence Is cOunteracted by having other
stones set in it, brings i'll luck.
In the choice of an engagement ring, there is
therefore, ample scope for the exercise of deli
cate fancy in the selection OF the stones, and in
SymbOliZing the virtues of the adored one.
One very pretty form of betrothal ring which
has fallen into disuse was the gemmel, or gim-
mal-that is, double or treble ring. This was
made of two or three hoops so chased and en-
graved that, when fastened together by single
rtvet, the whole form one design. The usual
device was hand. When an engagement was
contracted, the ring was taken apart; one division
was worn by the nancee. one by the intended
husband, and the third by mutual friend and
witness of the betrothal. On marriage, the three
minor rings were reunited into one and worn By
the bride as Keeper or as wedding ring.
Tertulan who died A. ID. 216 tells US that a
golden ring was, In his time, sent TO the intended
bride as pledge. Selden says that betrotha
rings were first given as substitutes for dowry
money In earlier days, when the art of writing
was not so Familiarity known as 1t is at the pres
ent time, the ring had greater significance
a symbol of power. 1t formed d seal by which
all orders were signed and all things of value
secured. Therefore, the delivery of it was
was admitted 10 the highest friendship and
trust. For this reason it became used in mar
riage ceremonies; and In some OF the earlier
marriages, We find that not only the ring but
also the keys. were delivered to the bride
Wedding rings We're not always made OF gold.
Iron was at one time generally used; and the
Roman Senator's in the primitive days OF the
republic, wore rings OF that metal Prometheus
whose ring was OF iron, is said to have set this
fashion. Among the very poor in England
rings made OF PUSHES were used in the marriage
ceremony,
Though the ring of gold has long been looked
upon as necessity In the marriage ceremony, 1t
is by 10 means Indispensable and civil marriages
may be contracted without it. The PuritanS
abolished the ring, or rather tried to do so; thcJ
looked upon its supersttiorls and OF heath
en- origin. Quakers generally object to the ring
on account OF its heather origin; but tine ladies
OF that persuasion have shown a determined
preference for its continuance, on account OF the
tnViGiouS position in which a married lady might
he placed for the want OF 1t.
Wedding rings are placed on the left hand on
account OF the obedience that is typified thereby
The cOnverSed is probably the reason why che
engaged band in placed on the third right
hand finger Of n .hd8cee. who still possesses
large amount OF freedom. and frequently eXer-
cises her power in an arbitrary manner. - II is
pity that the symbolism OF rings is dying out.
When was boy, it was the fashion for men on
the lookout Tor wives TO wear ring on the first
ringer OF the left hand. IL they were engaged TO
De married they wore the ring on the second
finger. If married, on the third; and on the
fourth ii they resolved upon bachelorhood Thus
the most sensitive and modest young lady might
always with ease detect the matrimonial diSpo-
Sition OF a man by glance But this fashion
being gone, Il girl has TO make love TO man be-
fore she can ascertain his views. This is hard
upon the girl, and often very hard upon the man.
This fashion, In my opinion, should be revived
though the symbolism OF 1t might he enlarged or
modified, to save trouble. For girls / Should
propose this Geographic code: :. A ring on the
INST nnger TO denote poverty and willingness to
get married; on the second finger, money and q
disposition TO listen, though nothing is promised
ON the third finger, ALREADY engaged and 50
you needn't trouble yourself: on the uttIo
finger. celebrating. Some such a code would
simplify mans views, and be of great use In
helping TO save him nom making an ass of him
SELL"
''AlackI' said Douglas Jerrold, 1.-THE wedding
wing, like the ring OF saturn, for good or evil IL
circles whole world"
Queen Victoria, In her DIARY records the
manner in which Prince Albert declared his love
and her acceptance-by means OF q nOSagay on
his part and the gift of q rose on hers. In Genoa
a proposal OF marriage is made by sending a lady
large and peculiarly arranged boQuet, the ac-
ceptance or refusal OF which signifies her lovers
success or the reverse. Every morning during
Si.S Mh i Time they are engaged, he presents
IN heI Win an enormous boquet, the size OF which
Is supposed to be commensurate with his regard
ing IN public. - NFf0
IN carry ages, among jews Pagans and
Chrlstlans, the practice OF crowning both bride
anu bridegroom with chaplets OF flowers was
at us, ~ Among the AngloSaxons
purpose. The origin OF the veil is lost in obSnlI
fity. Mr.. Jeafreson thinks it may be ascrIbsd
TO the Hebrew ceremony, or to the east where
wells have been worn from time immemorial: or
TO the yellow veil which was worn by the Ro-
man brides. 1t has not always been looked upon
as an Indispensable adjunct to the bride in this
country II may surprise my gentle readers to
learn That knives and daggerS were part OF the
customary accoutrements OF brides, and were
commonly worn by ladies. The wedding knives
aliefed Irom others only in being more highly
OInahen,ed Shakespeare, in an old quartO,
ecu. The woollen girdle, or cincture, worn By
roman brides, was most essential part OF their
costume, and the peculiar form I'm which this
siraie was tied originated the true lovers knot.
But wedding cakes, as we understand the
WIm are comparatively modern. The origin OF
our Orldescake In its present form may be traced
oack 10 about the middle of the seventeenth