Telegram-herald., 1890-11-18
USES OF RINGS.
Ancient and Modern Significance
Cg Small Banda

History OF Rings fron The Trsss OF the
Ph4raohs 70 the Prssest Dsy-of-
ns,.l RiaE OF the ESaans-
Their Y2gioas Charn4s.
From the most ancient tims rings
have been worn either as personal
adornmsnts or as insignia OF ocice. Fin
cars and toes, arms. legs and feet, necks,
ears. lips and noses, al are or have been
decorated with this universal ornament
We read of Pharaoh investing JOSEPH
with a ring whom he made him a ruler
over Egypt: Va read OF the men and
women Of Israel contributing their ear
rlngs-paFt. 40 doubt. OF the Egyptian
spoil-to the making Of the golden calf.
In all times the ring seems 70 havo been
asymbol . OF dlgnity aad authority.
In the early days Of the Roman RO-
public ambassadors wore golden rings
as part OK their Official dres8 Later on
every free Roman wore ono as right
although some who Affected tho sim
pliclty of olden times wore iron rings.
Ia more degenerate days the lux xuvious
R0aans loaded their dngers with rings,
some Of the more exquisite dandies even
going so far as TO have different ringsf for
win ter and summer wear. The Lacedse-
monians, as became thelr rugged sim
plicity wore rings OF iron.
Cesar mentions gold and iron rings as
used in Gaul and Britain for money!
thing customary among ancient peoples
and pracsiced even IN Sweden and Nor
way down % the twelfth century. as it
Is now amongst some Of tho tribes OF
Africa.
In days when writing was q rare ac-
complishment a seal or siypet-ring was
= necessity 20 kings and mobiles; and
such rings were never parted with. even
temporarily, save 70 persons in whom
implicit confidence was placed. These
rings would pass from father to son for
generations and wore. in fact the sign
manual Of the head Of the house. IN
"AlTs Well that Ends Well" Shakes
peare makes such a ring the principal
turning-point in the plot:
- A ring the county wears
That Downward hath suocoeded IA his house
From son 20 son, some four or ave 6escents
Since the first father wore IT,"
We must suppose that old Jack Fal-
stafT mado somo pretensions to gentle
ancestry in that scene at the "Bore's
Head" where he complains OF having
been robbed during his vinous sleep be-
hind the arras:
shall l not take mine ease in mino
inn, but shall have my pocket picked?
have lost seal-ring Of my grandfa-
theirs worth forty marx"
At which old Dame Quickly re-
marks:
Il havo heard tho Prince tell him,
know not how Oft that that ring was
copper.
All the old ro-nancers and dramatists
have illusions to the customs Of wear
ing and giving rings. When lovers
parted they made an interchange Of
rings At betrothal rings were the
sign and evidence Of troth-plight In
Twelfth Night" a betrothsl Is de-
scribed In the priests answer 10 Olivia:
" A compact Of eternal bond Of love.
Confirmed by mutual ioiader of your hands
Attested ny the hoty close Of lips.
/ Strengthened by lnssrcAansenent Of ycnr
/ rings;
I And al the ceremony of this compact
I Sealed IN ny function. by ny testimony"
In ''TroiIus and Cressida." there is
reference 20 tho interchange OF rings.
In ''Cymbeline." Imogen, parting with
Posthumous, gives aim adlamond ring.
Tnis diamond vas ny mothers, take it.
heart,
But keep it I'll vOu WOO another wife
Similarly. IN tae Two Gentlemen Of
Verona" Proteus and Julia exchange
rings "a pledge Of constancy.
Even Shylock, that ''currish Jew
had. In his youth, wandered into
the realms Of loFc's romance. one
can not bat sympstsise with him when.
mad with grief and rage Tor tho loss Of
his daughter and his ducats, he meets
w.sh his friend Tu5al, who. with other
news. tells him:
'One Of them showed me ring that
be had oi your daughter for monkey.
The poor old Jew replies.
''Ous upon heri Thou torturest nc,
TubaL Il was ny turquoise bad IL
of Leah when I was = bachelor"
This heartless action Of his migrate
ful daughter cuts him 20 ne quick. and
tacra IS touch of pathos in the mental
torture Of she poor, lonely old Jew "a he
thinks Of The gifs of his dead wife thas
lightly cast % uockinE enemies In
she same play Shakespeare makes other
references 20 the customs of bis time
concerning rings Portis. "a reward
for saving Antonio. demands ring from
Fassanio. who sars.
Gccr sir. thls ring was rfrsn n. ~ rv VIE;
Ard whea ere u1t l- On. she riass ne rcv
Taaf sacrlf aslthtr eel nor ~fvr. rcr loss
So
Nerfsss sisc obtains Cratiano's ring.
sna nics quarrel arose thereafter, a.
BE exr sincd.
trcut hccr q go raltrv ring
rss- sac sit z're ne wacss reesv -,
~ Al re ro-iA re -gtiar's ac~f-T
Usc1 snitet Lcrs re ar cave ~ -cs.~
These pcs7 rings. AZ th.v wee called,
were at one sine verg porular. thoaza
tha nosies were not 81 great roetisAi
meris We may aaoto a. s-eclnenss
p rhsa my ctrlce
60 rriclce~
Again.
-Cansterr~ anf Esasra 49, r-u-t
Ard ID thls thc Eneleerrs fsarar
Perhaps sac ncst Important ring
a~~taf-f~ Fl sha r-t- -faa - tna fair sex