Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-08-28
Gales aud Sketfhts.
Weddings and Wedding. Rings.

JOINING Tue TlSub uouuS III eiAO "o~'o 3
ceremony was customary 10 Assyra and
Persia. says a writer in the San Francisco
Alta, and the bridal veil was worn in
Greece and Rome.
The Bible does not mention wedding
rings, but it describes the giving Of them
az pledges of honor and affection. Pharaoh
gave Joseph ring when he Sc, him over
the land of Egypt. and the prodiyal was
given a ring upon his return to his father.
Legends relate that Joseph espoused
Mary with a ring in which set an amethyst
and of course this precious relic was
found. (by a miracle,) and performed
manv valuable cures for the benefit OF all
mankind. and The treasury of the church.
The young Roman sent to the maiden
his family had selected TO become his wife,
a ring in token of his fidelity. Gold was
the usual material. but in the time of
PIiny iron rings, set with adamant. we're
used to denote the durability of the con-
tract.
As now this ring was worn on the fourth
plain, but often bore device as key to
denote the authority and responsibility OF
a wife in her husbands house.
The diamond was much esteemed as a
wedding ring in Italy during the 18th and
10Th centuries. tor that gem was believed
TO have a mysterious power of maintain
ing happiness between husband and wife.
Silver rings, inlaid with Niello, were also
much used.
Gemmed rings were in fashion 40 or 80
years ago. Two, and sometimes three
and four delicate rings we're hinged or
linked together. and bore upon the top,
when closed. clasped hands, or heart.
emblem of love and fidelity. Notices or
poses were engraved on the inside of
these rings. The pre,tiest one ever saw
read:
Endless and pure be our love"
The Anglo-Saxons used these gemmed
rings. and they in turn borrowed them
OF the French. I, for one. would like to
know from whom the French borrowed
them. but history is silent on this point.
The wedding-ring has been worn upon
the thumb. and upon the right hand. The
women of all nations have been as busy
as bees. and with spinning and weaving
to occupy their fingers. it is easy to
see why even a princess should put her
priced wedding ring upon the head and
the finger which would keep it the safest.
The fancy that vein or nerve runs
directly from the fourth finger of the left
hand to the heart. is very ancient, and no
doubt helped to make it the bearer of the
wedding ring; and there was in the early
DAYS of the charch, curious custom of
recognizing the Trinity by placing the ring
on the first finger or thumb of the Father,
on the second finger for the Son, and on
the third finger for the Holy Ghost Then
it was placed upon the fourth finger, from
which loving and superstitious wives new
er removed it,
Scholars are fond of telling US that the
wedding ring meant the subsection OF the
wife, and the placing it upon the left hand
meant more subsection. But in the past
the subsection of women has needed no
sign to emphasize it. 1t was an accepted
and expec'ed fact. and was perhaps con-
dition of safety.
In the middle ages the wedding ring
was blessed or hallowed by the officiating
priest, and the form used seems to me
very beautiful.
"Hailow Thou Lord. this ring. which
we bless in Thy holy name. that whatso
ever woman shall wear it. may stand fast
in Thy peace. and continue in Thy will.
and live. and grow. and wax old in Thy
love, and be multiplied with length of
DAYS. Through Jesus Christ. our Lord"
The service of the Church of England
compels the use of ring, and an odd
story is told of two paupers. who, too
poor to buy IA ring, were securely married
bv means of a curtain-ring. supplied by
the sympathetic clerk.
Two rings are used in modern Greece
"A gold one for the bridegroom, and
silver one tor the bride. The inferior
metal marks the inferiority of the wife.
say the aniiquarians again, but it seems to
me rather a survival of the old worship of
the sun and the moon.
The ring fell under the displeasure OF
the Puritans, as did all signs and symbols
used by Rome. and during the Common
wealth they tried to abolish it with Christ
mas and Easter observances, but the de-
scendants of those Puritans wear engage
ment or betrothal rings, if not a wedding
ring.
When a marriage between patrcian
families was celebrated in ancient Rome.
a loaf of bread, made of wheat and bar
ley, was solemnly tasted by the bride and
bridegroom. before the priest of Jove.
and ten Roman citizens as witnesses.
Children of a marriage in which the cere-
mony was observed. were entitled to GER
tain privileges and offices, for this was the
highest and most sacred rite of marriage.
Dainty and sweet as it is, the bride-cake
is the modern representative of that wheat
and barley bread. Whence the Romans
derived the custom. is not known. but it
came, no doubt. from Asia. Dreaming
upon wedding cake is an old English
custom.
In Greece, the bride rode to her hns-
bands house in litter, seated between
the bridegroom and his frlend-the best
man.
In Rome. two boys led the bride. but her
attendant was married woman. whose
duty it was to lead the newly married pair
to the altar of the family gods.
In the time of the Anglo-Saxons, the
bride was led by a marion. and followed
by a company of young girls. who were
called the bridesmaids. From them the
custom has descended to us.
His Quick-Witted Wife.