The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-05
The Jewels and Superstitions of
Some Prominent
Women.
DISAPPEARANCE OF THE BLONDE
A New Idea Said to Be Afoat as to
the Survival of the
Fittest.

NEW YORK, N. Y, Dec. 31.-The
woman who is best pleased with her
Christmas gifts is the one who got what
she called "the loveliest of rings" There
is something particularly fascinating
about a ring to a woman. Sometimes |
think it is because she can look at it
sometimes, because she believes it makes
her hand look more beautiful. The girl
with short, plump, dim plea hand ought
TO make up her mind to give up every
ring except the one which is put upon her
finger during the marriage service, for
she whose hand is OF the style described
does not add to its beauty by wearing
rings, but makes it look thick and coarse
when the jeweled bands are upon 1t. 1t
IS the lady with the long, slender, taper
myers who can wear rings advantage
ously, and just now fashion permits her to
jewel the third and little fingers of each
hand up to the first knuckle. But she
must be careful in arranging these rings.
II she chooses pointed marquise with a
sapphire or ruby set about with diamonds,
that must be the one ring on the third
finger, while the little finger may have
upon it three bands, two formed of dia-
monds and one of rubies. Not to mix
ones gems is a law not only of order but
OF fashion.
Bands of sapphires and diamonds are
greatly liked, not only for the real beauty
OF the stones, but also because dark
sapphire tends to make the band look
whittier and more dainty. The round tur-
quolse framed in a band of dull gold is
counted rather better form than a tur-
quoise framed in diamonds, because one
blueness OF the stone, and not to have
this lessened by the glitter of the other
gems.
The smartest men are wearing the en-
graved gold ring-that is, a square or
round surface OF dull gold, which has en-
/ eraved upon it either crest or mono
| gram, as if it might be a seal; and it is
used very often for that purpose. Wonder
| fu! rings of aquamarine have the crest or
! initials cut into the stone, but are quite as
| often swung on watehchains as worn on
on the finger. American men, unlike the
Prince OF Wales, have not great affection
for rings; and [ confess myself to thinking
| that, unless a ring Is an heirloom, and
essentially manly ring, it is best off a
mans finger AS for jewels, they should
| be left to women.
a marvellous turquoise, oval in shape,
and quite deep. is set in gold and worn by
| Mrs. Langtry, who confesses to the pretty
superstition that the wearing of turquoises
keeps friends true. A square emer-
|
beautifully shaped hand of Olga Neither
! sole, who hopes that it is true that emer-
aids bring good health. Fanny Davenport
is seldom seen without a ruby ring, that
flashes with greater brilliancy than any
diamond, and is so deep in color that it
suggests only the Oldest and most crimson
of Burgundy wines. This is a jewel with
| a history. For hundreds of years it was
! in the forehead of an idol in India, but,
unlike the moonshine, it has brought good
| luck to its nineteenth century wearer.
Somebody asked me, what is a beautiful
| hand2
First of all, it isn't fat hand. A beau
tiful hand is slender at the wrist, broadens
proportionately, has long fingers, that
shape out like tapers, and when the hand
is laid fat the tip OF the thumb should
almost touch the very beginning of the
first knuckle of the forefnger. A short
thumb is evidence of a lack of brain.
Wasn't it Sir Isaac Newton who said,
'Show me the imprint OF mans thumb
| and [ will tell you the strength of his
mind"? The nails should be thin, oval