Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-19
LESSONSOF THE RING.
USES or THE GOLDEN BAND IN An
GENT AND MODERN TIMES.
Emblem OF Either Evil or Good-Rcception
rendered Miss Leathcrs-Happen.
ing. in Richmond Society.

OF years. rings have been worn by all
peoples and nations
History II too young to record their
origin, which IL lost In the dim distances
OF past ages. From the earliest times
rings have always been emblems OF
mower. The signet among Oriental ma
tons now. as in olden times, In used for
all documents and papers of State. never
being signed with the name, but stamped
with the seal. the ring seals being
stamped with the name and title.
An early custom was the use OF the
amulet or Craftsman" ring worn by the
superstitious TO ward of all harm. They
would keep away entertainments and even
overcome the effect OF tho "evil-eye.
These rings were worn often about the
neck 70 cure disease. and in most cases
were considered infallible. A very strange
custom among ancient physicians was
the wearing OF an amulet upon the
thumb, which was supposed TO aid medi-
cine in fits speedy cure. Sometimes the
fourth finger was called the medicai
finger"
There was time when poison rings
were given as presents by princes 10 those
whom they wished TO remove-these were
called death rings" And then tnere were
'sun-dal' rings. said to give the eAac. !.
time. and Zodiac rings" triple rings,
representing the Trinity. worn by early
CHRISTIANS. and the "gimmal RING" which
consisted OF many slender circles OF gold
playing within each other ana forming
when put together a solid ring. Luther
gave an exquisite one, set with Jewels
10 his wife on her betrothaL
So we gee that Cupid has played his
mart in ring-lore from very early period
A pretty custom of more modern times
vas the regard" or name ring used
few years ago. The French, IN their
pretty, sentimental way. use comDiha-
ton OF gems which spell souvenir OF
"Amitie" This romantic Idea originating
with them was followed UP by the hh-
elish in Regard" and Dearest spehed
en- diamond. emerald amethyst, &c.
Early I'm the sixteenth century 1t was
customary for the "fayre maidens" TO
wear "posy rings"-so called from the
motfb or posy inscribed within the ring.
In one having two united hearts Is this'
"God saw thee
Most TT for me-
A charming little French ono OF inc
fourteenth century:
"Je suis ici
En- lieu dami."
q am here in place or thy frlend)
Valentine rings were very generously
exchanged by lovers and friends on 81
Valentines Day, these bearing symDohc
hearts and doves like the tender mlSsiVes
of our times.
There ~ something inexpressibly tender
and beautiful in the thin. worn-old we'd
ding-rlng seen upon the third niger or
n lovely old lady of generation passing
away Worn almost TO a thread thls
little circlet Is an emblem OF faithfulness
and a love outlasting tho joyousness and
freshness of early youth.
It'll death us do part" 1t Is token
of devotion which becomes deeper anu
truer as the years go by
Ringlore contains no more beautiful
sentiment than this: the symboizng OF
eternity In this perfect circle when
spans the third finger there is no begin
ming nor end. so with perfect loVe-it
IL endless, II Is age-abiding, it defes time
and circumstance, it is eternal.
The catering at Miss Brooks we'd
ding fell 10 the lot of Miss Mary Louise
Pegram the maid OF honor the sixpence
10 Miss Adele Tyler and the thimble
20 Miss Bessie Martin.
The Norfolk party on private yacht,
which was TO have attended the wedding
Of Miss Brock and Mr.. Hughes, met with
an accident. and did not reach Richmond
until the morning after the wedding.
Among the number were Mr.. and Mrs
Willie Dickson. Mr.. and Mrs. George
Mcintosh Mrs. Hobson. and Misses Bland.
Nina, Pattie, and Bessie Taylor. The par
" was delightfully."- entertained 'on Friday
afternoon at tea by Mrs. c. E. Buck.
Miss Annie Leathers of Louisville Ky,
who ia the guest of Mrs. w. j. Walker,
Of mn al "a
tions In Richmond. The dinner given her
by Miss Carrie Talbot a few days ago
was the handsomest of the season. The
centre decoration of the table was
beautiful Dresden banquet-lamp. under
rose-colored shade, resting upon pink
satin mat. The floral decorations were
bouquets and boutonnieres of violets ana
llly-of- the-valley for each guest The
plates were designated by dainty souvenir
cards, hand painted with violets. and
the name of Miss feathers and each
guest inscribed upon them in gold letters.
4 menu of ten courses, with wines,
was beautifully served.
The guests were Misses Annie Leath-
ers Sallie Talbot. Bessie Hayes, Bes-
ole Fauntleroy. Gertrude Camm, Mary
HAYES. Carrie Talbot, and Messrs. II.
Iandon Cabell, Allan Talbot, Arthur
Willy, George Gibson. Preston holland,
Robert Blankenship. and Fred Pleas
ants.
The Richmond German Club will give
its first entertainment on Monday eve
ming. The officers beg that the attend
ancc shall be promptly at o'clock,
and they also call attention 10 tne iast
that no one is expected to attend with
out the formal invitation Of the club
Tho Woman's Exchange will furnish
seated suppers, therefore the invitations
must be limited. The management re-
gret that there are more applications for
membership than there are vacancies.
There will be reception on Thanks
giving evening at the Governors Man
sion, which has been kindly loaned by
Mrs Mckinney to the lady managers
OF the Virginia Hospital TO raise a fund
10 furnish the children's ward. Governor
and Mrs Mckinney vii; receive. and
Il Is expected that Colonel and Mrs.
O'Ferrall will be present on the occa-
sion. A number of young ladies will
assist in receiving, and there will be
vocal and instrumental music by the best
amateurs.
Mss Bertha Peasants entertained her
bridal party on the evening before her
wedding.
The charity ball on the 18th of De-
cemher will be especially attractive. A
COtnmlltce OI ldGltS mas "
furnish some novel and interesting fea-
lures, and II promises to be the most
brilliant one yet given. Among the pat
ronesses are Mrs. James Branch, Mrs.
w. l.. Royal, Mrs. James Dooley, Mrs.
c. p. Lathrop, Mrs. John Enders. Mrs.
John Kerr Branch, Mrs. c. ID. Lang
horne. Mrs. c. =. Stokes. Mrs. Il. +.
Nash. Mrs. George Mayo. Mrs. Thomas
Boiling. Mrs. A. b. Camm, Mrs. o. A.
Crenshaw, Mrs. Harry Frazier. Mrs.
Levin Joynes. Mrs. Adair Peasants,
Mrs. George b. McAdams, Mrs. Mon
cure Perkins. Mrs. Charles T. Smith,
Mrs. r. G. Cabell. Mrs. w. w. Archer,
Mrs. Edward Mayo. Mrs. Alexander
Archer. Mrs. B. i. Purcell, Mrs. Caskie
Cabell Mrs. NJ. +. Peasants, Mrs.
James T.. Tyler, Mrs. James Patteson,
and Mrs. Grace Skipwith.
Miss Emma Barksdale Is visiting Miss
Mary Morton, In Baltimore, and will
visit Louisville before her return.
Miss Mamie Lay IL the guest OF Miss