The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-06-21
Aeo0f FINGER RINGS.
seuaething About the Customs of the fess
and Present in Their Use.

seusething About the Customs of the fass
and Present in Their Use.
The famous DR.. John Thomas, bishop
Of Lincoln in 1853, married three times.
On the occasion of his fourth espousal,
he put this motto on his posy ring:
If | survive
I'll make them five
History does not tell us whether the
fourth Mrs Thomas approved the sentl-
ment. nor whether the much marrying
bishop lived to carry it out.
The motto rings of today are patterns
of the posy rings of several centuries ago.
The inscriptions are, OF course, more
modern, but the sentiment remains the
same. Of late society has gone back to
the real old English posy, and the hands
of our American bellies are being adorned
with rings that carry the same notices
that graced them in King Halls time
There used to be a custom in Rome
which made the bridegroom send the
bride before marriage ring OF iron to
show how lasting the union ought to be,
and the frugality they were to obse; We
together; but by and by luxury crept in,
and the iron ring was exchanged for one
of gold, which change doubtless delight
ed the Roman ladies'
Numerous superstitions are connected
with the ring. The English and French
ladies of the times of the Crusades slept
with their pillows while their lords and
lovers were away fighting the infidel.
The custom was supposed to produce
pleasant dreams of the absent ones, anC
the rings were believed to be talismans
of safety. The Scotch lass who looks
through her betrothal ring three times
on the night before her marriage is sure
to see visions of the happiness in store
for her, and the Greek girl who finds a
ring will marry before the year is out.
The women of the uncivilized countries
adorn their fingers with clumsy rings of
bone and metal. Not satisfied with this,
they wear rings in their ears and through
the nose. Gypsy women are fond Of
rings, some of which they claim possess
magical powers.
Of course there is nothing in the so
called invisible rings. We are told that
the famous circlet of Gyges rendered
the wearer invisible when the stone was
turned inward, and that the ring which
Omit, king of Lombardy, received from
the queens mother, always directed the
There is a legend that a knights daugh-
ter once found one of these invisible
rings on the day before her wedding.
Charmed with the beauty of it, she put
it on and wore it to the altar. After the
ceremony she happened to turn the
stone inward, when 10! the prince saw
her vanish, as it were, and rushing from
the palace he was about to throw him.
self into the sea, when he was checked
by the bride discarding the ring and
calling him by name.
The custom of wearing locks Of hair
or pictures in rings has gone out of style.
The poisoned ring is no longer made, fol
we have got beyond the days of the Bor
gias and the Medicis. 1t is generally be-
lieved that Hannibal killed himself with
poison which he had long carried in a
ring made for that purpose, and Demos.
themes is said to have worn a poison
circlet.
The true romance of the ring is con.
nected with the engagement and we'd
ding fingers. My lady wears the one
with anticipation and the other with
pride. AS long as the world stands the
hoop of gold will possess significance
which no other personal ornament can
have.-T. c. Harbaugh in Pittsburg Bull
Iofir,