The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1889-06-29
MY LADY"S RING.
FACTS AND FANcIEs CONCERNING
MANY HOOPS OF GOLD.
The Engagement and Wedding Rings anu
the Fingers They Adorn-Superstition
and Omcns Connected with Them-The
Posy Rim: of the Sixteenth Century.

The Engagement and Wedding Rings anu
the Fingers They Adorn-Superstition
and Omcns Connected with Them-The
Posy Rim: of the Sixteenth Century.
The origin of the circlct that adorns my
ady's hand is obscure, though very ancient
Therc is a tradition which assigns the invcn-
tion Of the ring to Tubal Cain, and the old
Latin author who gives circulation to the
story, in speaking of the wedding circlet,
says: "Thc form of the ring being circular
that is to say, round and without cnd-im-
parteth this much, that mutual love and
hearty affection should roundly flow from
ono to the other, as in the circle, and that
continually forever"
Tho hands of female mumnlies found in
the tombs of Egypt are profusely decorated
with rings, thus proving that ring wearing
was an established custom at a very early
day The wealthy ladies of Egypt wore
rings on nearly every finger-and costly rings
they were, too. Their poorer sisters used
less costly circlets, and rings formed of
bronze, glass and pottery with suitable mot
toes were their finger friends.
BETRoTuAL AND MARRIAGE RINGS.
Marriage by the ring is common in many
countries besides our own. The Russians
have two rings, which are changed three
times. In the first place, the man places the
ring on the woman's finger. then the priest
changes the mans ring and puts it on her
finger, and then priest and man Join and give
her the ring for life When Henry VIII cs
poused Anne of Cleves he sent her ring
which bore the inscription. God send me
well to keep" 1t was fatal motto, as we
know, for ''bluf King Hail. ero long grew
tired of her and began to look around for
another pretty victim
Wedding rings have not always been made
of metal Necessity has caused the invention
OF some singular ones. On several occasions
"a piece cut from tie finger OF kid glove has
answered for the wedding circet When the
gallant Duke of Hamilton married Miss Gun
ming almost Oh the spur of the moment, one
might say, for tho courtship was of but two
days duration, | believe, no proper cere.
monial ring was at hand. The archbishop
refused to act without ring, and the lord
aud his lady We're for u while distracted.
But at length tho knot was cut in an ngen-
ious manner and the young couple were mar
riel by the ring of the bed curtain, which no
doubt cut q curious figure on the white hand
of tho fair dansel.
jectcl to early betrothal by ring ceremony
This is done by the mothers, who make the
occasion a very solemn one, and at any time
Years afterward the man can claim his bride.
But once Il year from tho date of tho be
trothal the prospective bride is entitled 10
receive all Easter dress from the hands of the
future husband. Customs similar to this one
prevail in various countries of the east. and
the ring is made to play very important
part in the wonlan's life.
In Roman cspousals, mentions Macroiius,
the man gave the woman Il ring by way of
pledge, and the woman put it OIL the third
finger of her left hand, because it was be-
lieved that a nerve ran from that finger to
the heart. The Egyptians ascribed the
possession of this important nerve to
the fourth finger of the same hand. Com.
ing down to later belief and usage we
find that Madame de Ia Tour, writing of my
lady's ring, says that if the lady is willing tc
marry, tho circlet should be worn on the in
lex finger of tho left hand; If engaged, OF
the second finger; if married, on tho third
but if she has no desire to we'd, then on the
little finger.
The sign language of the ring is varied and
quaint. For instance, we are told that q
ring on the forefnger indicates a naughty
bold and overbearns spirit, on the long
finger, prudence, dignity and discretion; on
the marriage finger, lo.;o and affection, on
TIC little finger, u masterful spirit.
Ono would not think that rings were oIce
worn on the thumb, but such was one of thl
customs that prevailed from the Fourteenth
to tho Seventeenth century We arc quit.
familiar with Falstalf's cztravagant boast
that, When young, he was slim enough t.
creep into any u!derman's thumb ring
But thumb rings never came into general Use
among tho ladies. They preferred to keer
the ring on tho tapcring fingers, where il
could be worn with more ease and to better
advantage.
Wedding rings in all ages have been re
g:,rtlel sacred When Mary of Modena, one
Of the beautiful and unfortunate heroincs OF
history, was forced to dispose of her jewels
she Kept us most precious to her her wedding
ring. Dr. Samuel johnson kept his wifc's
ring us Il sacred treasure, and the keepsake
most valued by Victoria is known to be tho
ring placed on her finger by Albert on thciI
wedding day. There is u story told of Rus
sian prince who, on being searched previous
10 Il life long exile in Siberia, begged to be al
lov:ed to retain a plain gold ring which kept
alive the memory oi happy marriage. And
tie story goes, am glad to say, that he
went to TIE mines with the treasure next tc
his heart
PosT A:D MOTTO RINGS.
Posy rings came into vogue with the Six
teenth century These We're motto rings, and
they form one of the most interesting chap
ters Of ring lore. 1t is said that the famoE:
ring which Essex sent to Queen Elizabeth by
the Countess of Nottingham, but which the
=; Il
dukes DEATH was q posy. These rings We're
common between lovers and friends all over
Europe. They bore rhylning notices and at
fectionate sentiment, and the lady without {
p.sy ring was looked upon as forlorn anC
with but few hopes of marriage ahead.
Shakespeare knew the posy ring, for in the
Merchant of Venice he makes Gratiano ant
Ncrissa say:
Cratiano-About hoop OF gold, paltry ring,
That she did give me- whose posy was
For oil the world like cutler's poetry
Upon knife, Love me, love me rot. ;
Ne!iss.i-What talk you Of the posy, or the value
| You sworc to me when did give /. you
| Tha. you would wear it till your houl
OF death
Some Of the notices On the old posy ring:
are beautifully quaint. Tho list of them il
entirely too long to bc embodied in this arti
Gle. DuL cdGHCU relralll lTOu1 giving lew:
''In thee my choice, ] Go rejoice"
| May God above increase our love"
| Not two but one till life is done"
''My heart and until die"
| "As gold is pure, so love is sure"
"As long as life your loving wife"
| Love is sure where faith is pure"
"Love is heaven, and heaven is love-"
''Not for day, but, love, for aye"
her, ipl, e
In gold I'm cast to bind two fast
my heart is thine, true love of mine" IT
c. Harbaugh in Pittsburs Bulletin.
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| L ia estimated that fullv 1oo mn of tho in