The herald., 1896-01-28
AIRY FITTINGS.

Where do the old years go when they die?
The Southern trip seems in favor about this
time.
spindle-legged furniture is artistic, but
treacherous.
A Jack Horner pie is great institution al
children's parties.
Why does the tall girl insist upon wearing
the postage stamp bonnet?
Narrow gold braid belts have now been
reduced to seventy-ive cents.
The umbrella that does not fold up as small
, as cane is not deemed desirable.
Despite all the fuss made over plaids, we'll
dressed women have not adopted them.
Extravagant mothers should follow the ex-
ample set by the Duchess of York. who had
the first baby's wardrobe made over to fit
In both Egypt and Assyria porcelain rings
were in common use. They were often painted
with great delicacy, the painting being burned
| Queen Elizabeth was extravagantly fond Of
rings In her jewel case after her, death
there were found 752 rings of various descrip-
tions and value.
The mummes of the royal princesses OF
Egypt often had rings on their fingers. In
one case twenty-three were found on the
hands of one mummy
In the time Of Augustus portrait rings came
| in fashion. probably for betrothals or engage
| ments. The portraits of the happy pair were
In the seventh and eighth centuries, at every
\ wedding among wealthy Saxons, numbers of
| gold rings we're given away 10 lrlenCS as nlS-
mentos OF the occasion.
| Dial rings were common in France and Ger
many during the last century; by holding one
up to the sun the time of day could be ap-
| proximatey ascertained.
Among Solon's laws there Is one forbidding
| jewelers. to retain copies. models or impress
sions of sgnet rings which they had made.
! This was to prevent forgery.
| Casket rings were much used in France and
| Italy in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
The ring bore small gold Golfer, which often
contained relic Of some saint.
In Nero's time there was a fashion prevalent
of wearing large rings, the setting OF which
was carved with the bust of the special divin-
ity who was the wearers patron.
In the Etruscan tombs of Northern Italy gold
rings have been found made in the shape of a
cord a large knot of intricate patterns forming
the principal part of the ornament.
Roman dandies in the first, second and third
centuries Of our era wore heavy rings in
winter which they exchanged for others OF
lighter weight during the summer.
When the tomb of the great Emperor Fred
erick, who died in 1850. was opened in 1880,
his coronation ring. set with beautiful emer-
aid, was still found upon his finger.
Paradise rings were greatly worn in Italy
three centuries ago. They were very wide and
bore on the circumference Representations Of
Adam and Eve in the Garden OF Eden
Pliny tells Of Arellius Fuscus, who, being ex-
PEELED from tho equestrian order and there
fore not permitted to wear gold rings, re-
placed them with those made Of silver.
The riag composed Of several loops which
quently used in the fifteenth century as a be-
trothai, and sometimes as a wedding ring.
The ring Of Edward the CoAfessor Is pre-
served among the royal regalia Of Great Br-
tain. For several centuries 1t was used in the
coronation ceremonies Of the English Kings.