The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-09
FINGER RINGS.
ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THESE
MYSTIC CIRCLES.
Curious superstitions Connected
With Them in Ancient Days
Rings Of the .Elizaberhan
Era-EngagemntR Rings.

Era-Engagemnt Rings.
Ring.lore is a curious subject, says th,
New York World, and leads one into al
sorts of historical highways and by-way'
searching for information. In formel
times, according to an old writer, it was
esteemed highly improper for single Of
unmarried persons to wear rings, Gun
Less they were judges, doctors or Sena
tors" For all but these dignitarie.
such an unwarranted ornament was con
sidered an evidence of s'vanity and
PRIDE" and was looked upon asa great
piece of presumption on the part of the
weaYer. .-....< ~.
Another authority dwells upon the fact
of affianced persons being allowed this
honorable decoration, and cites it as an
evidence of the high honor in which the
estate of wedlock was then held, that
those about to enter it might be SO
adorned. But while finger rings have
figured conspicuously in the political,
court and ecclesiastical history of all
times, it is their record as love tokens
and marriage emblems which lends the
greatest interest to these pretty or price
less Gas the case may beg baubles OF
mankind.
Traditions tells that the first of these
mystic circles was invented by Prone
theus and forged by Tubal Cain. An
Arabian legend relates how King Solo
mon possessed magic ring that he once
upon time dropped inadvertently into
the sea, whereupon his wisdom i'm
mediately abated, so that for forty days
he abstained from administering justice.
At the end of that time the missing jewel
was found in fish and restored to the
monarch, who straightway betame once
more exceeding wise, and continued SO
until the end Of his days.
The history of ring superstitions is
notably rich. In most cases, where they
were supposed to possess especial signif.
canoe and virtue, these qualities abided
in some particular stone, or symbol, or
inscription. But "charm rings" were
fabricated in various ways and OF
different substances, which were believed
to establish their efficacy. In Berkshire,
England, there was popular supersti-
tion that ring made of piece OF com.
munion silver was sure cure for hts and
convulsions. The same diseases were
also cured by ring formed Of FIVE silver
sixpences, collected from as many
bachelors, who must have been kept in
ignorance of the purpose, for which the
contribution was levied, else its efficacy
would be destroyed.
Rings fashioned from coffin hinges
were looked upon as q specific for cramps.
And so on, through long list of ills
and illusions, the ring has constantly
been put forward as remedy or pre-
yentative. The "jimmsl ring" was
originally love-token merely. Herrick
writes of it:
Thou sendest to me true-love knot, but
Returned ring Of jimnlals to imply
Thy love had one knot, mine triple tye.
Later this became the ring of the
espousal and was intended to typifg COM
munity of interest, mutual forbearance,
endless devotion, and all the other at
tributes Of the estate of matrimony in its
most ideal perfection. The orthography
changed slightly also, and it was writ
ten with G. One of these gimmal rings,
supposed to belong to the time Of Queen
Elizabeth, was found at Horsleydown, in
Surrey, England. It is preserved in the
British Museum collection, and it has
been described as follows: :.
''The ring is formed of twin, or double
hoops, which play within one another like
the links of a chain. Eeach hoop has
one of its sides fiat, the other convex,
and each is twisted once around, and sur.
mounted by hand issuing from sn en-
bossed fancy work wrist or sleeve, rising
somewhat above the circle and extend
ing in the same direction. The course OF
the twist in each hoop is made to CORE
spond with that of its counterpart, SC
that on bringing together the fiat sur
faces of the hoops they Immediately
unite in one ring. On that hand ol
which the palm is uppermost is repre-
sents heart, and as the hoops close the
hands slide into contact. The whole
device thus represents a triple emblem Of
love, fidelity and union-the whole be-
ing of fine gold and weighing two pen
nyweights."
In marriage, according to the ancient
ritual, the husband began the ring bust.
ness by placing it upon the brides thumb
and putting it successfully upon the next
two fingers, pronouncing for each one 6
person of the Trinity, until, with the
final "Amen," the fourth finger was
reached, and there the wedding ring was
suffered to remain.
The Greek Church ritual directs thai
the ring be placed upon the right hand.
Among The Anglo Saxons ring blessed
by the priest was given to a maid at hel
betrothal, and she wore the same upor
her right hand until her marriage. when
it was removed by the bridegroom
again blessed by the priest and thcr
placed on the first finger of her left
hand.
There is au old belief dating back to
ancient Rome that small artery runs
from the third (or fourth counting the
thumb) finger of the woman's left hand
directly TO the heart. Modern anato
mists have exploded this sentimental
idea, but it formerly obtained the wldes,
crcdence, 80 much so that in cases ol
sudden seizure, or 'tswound," restora
tives were applied to this finger in the
belief that its direct communication
with the heart would convey the healing
influence more quickly to the seat Of
life. Also old physicians mixed theil
potions and medicamcnts with this fin.
ger because, as an old chronicle afirms,
mo venom can stick upon the outmost
part of it, but it will offend a man and
communicate itself to his heart.
Founded upon this belief was the custom
of wearing the wedding ring upon that
Gno,r Other reasons have been ASSIGNED