The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1888-12-21
The WEDDING RING.


Its Importance In England. and Lava Re-
gulating Its Construction.
Lives there woman with heart 80
dead who never to herself hath said,
mean some day TO get marriedG This
phrase is turning the patriotic mascu.
line outburst about ones native land,
familiar to every schoolboy, into q
new. absurd rendering. The publica-
ton of series of love letters from
famous men and women puts one Tin
touch" as it were, with the subject of
marriage, as this is or should be the
outcome Of loves illusions. Whether
or no marriage is a failure the
young men and women who go sweet
hearting are usually disposed to solve
the problem in their own obstinate
way. Marriage is tolerably serious
business at its rosiest reckoning. No
man, save in rare exceptional in
stances, is fit to marry under six-and-
thirty years of age. No woman
amounts to much save in similar ex-
ceptional instances who is less than 80.
Prior to these respective ages they
surely are in their salad days." and
wofully green in judgment. But
what is the use of talking2 The boys
and girls Of 16 to 10 will get married
and enjoy happiness thereby or be
sorrowed thereby, as the case may be,
proving how truly in this, as in all
else, LIES history repeats itself. Let
us, then, admit the gracious fashion
OF marriage and proceed to look up
some of its curious English observ-
ances, handed down by long genera
tons.
The word wedding" is pure Anglo
Saxon, and signifies "a pledge" From
time immemorial this recognized
pledge" consists of ring, and is used
as indicative that the man will perform
his part of this free contract. The
ancient English wedding ring is
thread like band of deep yellow guinea
gold. In primitive times the coin
called "a guinea, now out Of date and
valued at twenty-one shillings, was
used to melt up into wedding rings
This is the sort of ring the queen of
the realm wears, likewise the coster-
monger, if she bemarried. On level
all wives meet in England, in this if
in no other observance. Latterly the
fashion permits wider band, but the
great, vulgar belts of gold SO popular
in A,-ierica have never found favor on
this side Of the herring pond" The
ring is never removed and is buried
with the wife. Long years wear it
nearly in two Sometimes it breaks
apart. Then it is mended-never re-
placed by new one.
In the early English marriage SER
vice the man put the ring on with this
dedication: with this ring | thee
wed; with my body I thee worship"
ETC. 1t is a pity the latter phrase has
been eliminated from general use.
What can be more sublimely, more
tenderly loyal than an open declara-
ton of body Worship" IT'S this
quaint phrase which lifts the husband
far above the temporary lover. IT'S
this which transforms sexuality into
sacredness. However, some couples
still insist on the ancient formula.
The wedding ring is always "hall
marked" This mark is the symbol of
the goldsmith's craft. It is proof posi-
tive Of solid ware, whether Of gold or
silver. The Goldsmiths' hall stamps
this, and to counterfeit such stamp
involves the smith in heavy penalties,
Imprisonment and fines, with his trade
insignia taken from him forever. In
early days death was the penalty or
lifelong penal servitude. But the wise
march Of time has naturally somewhat
relaxed this Spartan law of punish
ment. Annie Wakeman in San Fran
cisco Chronicle.