The record-union., 1896-11-09
MARRIAGE RINGS.
Rights Acquired by the Wife in
Egypt.


Clemens tells us that the use of the
ring in marriage began in Egypt and
signified a transfer of property. 1t gave
to the Egyptian woman the power to
issue commands in the name of her
husband and to act in every way as his
representative. The custom was adopt
ed by the ancient Romans. Before the
celebration of their nuptials, betrothals
took place very much as they do now
on many parts of the Continent at the
conclusion of the feast the bridegroom
placed, as pledge, on the fourth finger
Of the bride a ring. The fourth finger
was preferred from belief that a nerve
reached thence to the heart the day
was then fixed for the marriage. The
ring presented to the betrothed maiden
was still. In the days of Pliny, an iron
one. 1t indicated the mutual sacrifice of
liberty; lodeStone was set in place of
gem, signifying the force of attrac-
ton which was drawing the maiden out
of her own family into another. With
the bridal ring formerly were delivered
the keys of the house. Roman keys at
tached to rings SO as to be worn ON the
fingers are well known to antiquarians.
These are of brass and bronze, and of
the size used by the Roman ladies, who
were accustomed to carry their casket
keys in this manner. A little more than
a century later we find the base metal
discarded for gold.
The planet Jupiter was considered by
the Hebrews propitious for weddings,
and the newly married gave rings on
those occasions inscribed with the words
''Mazal Tob," signifying that good for
Marriage rings were first used by Chris
tians about the year $50. Among the
Anglo-Saxons the bridegroom gave a
pledge, or wed" at the betrothal GER
emony. This we'd included a ring,
which was placed on the right hand Of
the maiden, where it remained until, at
the marriage, it was transformed to the
left. English women at one time wore
the wedding ring on the thumb; many
pc rtraits of ladies in Queen Elizabeths s
days are so depicted. In the reign of
George III. brides usually removed the
ring from it's proper abiding place to
the thumb as soon as the ceremony was
over. In Spain the gift of a ring is
looked upon as a promise of marriage,
and is considered sufficient proof for
maiden to claim her husband. 1t is
CDStOIIf W pass lllllc pleCcS VI DIlut .
cake through the wedding ring, and
those to whom these pieces are given
place them under their pillows at night
to dream Of their lovers. These dream
ers," as they are called, should be
drawn nine times through the ring.
Many brides, however, are so supersti-
tious that neither for that purpose, nor
at any other time. will they take the
off bai of hoc
been placed there.
A manuscript in the Harlem Library,
quoted by Strut, states that 'by the
civil law, whatsoever is given ex spon-
salitia largitate betwixt them that are
promised in marriage, hath condition
(for the most part silent) that it may be
had again if marriage ensue not, but If
the man should have had a kiss for his
money, he should lose one-half of that
which he gave. Yet with the woman
it is otherwise, for, kissing or not kiss
ing, whatsoever she gave she may ask
and have 1T again" However, this ex-
tends only to gloves, rings, bracelets
and such like.
The fashion of the plain gold wedding
ring seems to have descended to us from
the times of the SaXons, without any
impulse from written authority or ru-
brio. Widows formerly wore the ring
on their thumb as an emblem of widow
hood. The smallest wedding ring prob
ably ever made is that which was used
for the fiancillcas of Princess Mary,
daughter of Henry VIII, to the Dau-
phin of France, son Of King Francis I.
The Dauphin was born February 20
1918, and as matter Of state policy the
bridal ceremony took place on October
9TH of the same year with great pomp
at Greenwich The two-year-old bride
was dressed in cloth of gold and blaz-
ing with jewels Cardinal Wolsey
placed the diminutive ring of gold upon
the child's finger, and Admiral Bonni-
vet, as proxy for the baby bridegroom,
passed 1t over the second joint. The
bride was blessed, and mass performed
by Wolsey, the King and the whole
court attending. In olden times rings
made of rushes were used for immoral
purposes. The abuse of the rush ring
led to the practice being strictly pro-
hibited by Richard Poore, Bishop Of
Salisbury, in 1917, but it had a long
continuance. In Greene's "Menaphon'
we find: Twas a good world when
such simplicitie was used, saye the old
women of our time, when ring of rush
would tye as much love together as a
gimmon of gold" In France the prac-
tfce prevailed much longer than in
England.-London Society.