The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-04-17
BETR0THAL RINGS.
The Superstitions in Circulation
Regarding Them.

The jewelers. patience was ebbing
rapidly. He did his very best to appear
urbane and suave, but his customers
seemed determined to tax his powers Of
endurance to their utmost limit. The
lady had no idea what she wanted.
The gentleman was merely there in
the role of whatever she
bought he would indorse with dollars
and cents. . He had no ideas of his
own on the subject, and offered no adj
vice.
"Whatever shall / get?' said the fair
customer presently, IN accents of des-
pair. IL declare if had thought that
it would be so hard to choose an en-
gagement ring l would never have
been engaged.
The gentleman appeared vexed at
this display of feminine veXation; the
jeweler smiled and rose to the occa-
sion. Rays of amusement struggled
through the misty annoyances which
had been clouding his genial counte-
nance. II don't mind devoting half
an hour to an explanation of the signif-
canoe of rings" he said, presently.
"Of course, l don't want to lose my
time, you know"
at shall not be lost" interposed
John, hastily. 81 promise that l will
buy ring from you in any case. So
kindly advise my wife that is to be
upon the selection of fitting one"
with pleasure" said the jeweler,
as he motioned his customers to seats.
"Of course you know" he began,
'that most of the superstitions at
tached to rings and the wearing of
rings date from the fifteenth and six
teenth centuries, and are popularity
supposed to be completely extinct at
the present enlightened time. There
never was such mistake. Ring SUI
perstitions are as rife to-day as they
ever have been, though no one would
dare to confess that he believed in
them. | have scores of people come to
my shop armed with an array of facts
alleged facts, l should say-concern-
ing precious stones which would fill an
octave book without difficulty. The
other day lady and gentleman came
in. They were in the same pleasant
relations which-ahem!-I am pleased
to observe in my present customers. !"
"She was about to present him with
a ring, which she insisted that he
should accept. He had declined sew
eral times upon the ground that it was
not customary for lady to present a
gentleman with a ring But she was
adamant, and he was forced to comply
with her request. 1t appears that he
lived very dissipated life, and that
she was quite aware of the fact. She
selected a sapphire ring from the case |
showed to her. 1t was the only one
there, and she put it on his finger with
out any hesitation.
"'Wear that, she said, for my sake.
81 know what you mean he said,
eoloring wildly and growing extremely
indignant. L know something about
the meaning of rings. and let me tell
you, Estella, that | do not appreciate
the generosity which prompts you to
offer me this
w tdl ~ buC ollu uOllN, VI Will
break the engagement. If you know
what it means, so much the better. II
you do not l shall never tell you-be
quite sure of that, Accept that 1 ask
it as the very greatest favor you can dc
me. "
what did she mean?" asked the
lady customer, much interested.
Remember, am only telling you
this for-for recreation" stammereC
the jeweler, Don't imagine that ]
mean to insinuate anything. A sap.
phire ring is supposed to possess very
great moral power. No man would
dare to wear one in any haunt of dissi
patton if he had any knowledge of the
subject. Should he be indiscreet
enough to do so, his action will at once
become known to the one whom he
holds dearest. Now, you may suppose
that sensible people wouldn't believe
such a story. But they do-hundredI
of them, can assure you. The sap
phire is also supposed to signify piety
and godliness. In the olden times
clergymen were very partial to thu
stone, and it was considered quite ap
propriate for them to wear it in ring