The times., 1897-09-12
MOST INTERESTING
OF ALL JEWELS.

wonderful Collection of Rings at
the south Kensington Museum.
London. Sept 1-The South Kensngton
Museupi contains what is probably the most
remarkable collection OF historic rings III the
world. In this most exquisite and per
fectIy arranged of all treasure houses the
troth Of kings the romance and tragedy Of
faiaous lives, give a keen, personal interest
to the eases filled with gems that are both
royal in themselves and have been made
royal by the touch OF royalty.
Amid the claSped hands and true lovers
knots we find one lined with the Scottish
arms, having on the seal the letters NJ. H
Mary and Henry the we ddng rim gof Mary,
Queen Of Scots, and Henry Darnley. The
name Jf Mary Stuart always thrills, but her
loYelineSs we canot gather from any of her
authentic portraits in the national CALLER
les. We must conclude that some grace
of expression that could not be caught OIL
canvas was her charm.
In hlacE aud white enamels on gold, with
neNAgonal beZel, we find the mournfu
token given by Charles | Oh the day OF
his execution to Bishop JuXon. A hideous
moukey-like skull grins in the center, sur
rounded BY the inscription, BEHOLD the
Ende - and around the outside, Rather
beth Than Falls Fayth.'
The SILVER wedding ring Of RienZi brings
to mind a strange and glorious conjrmc
ton / once saw at a loan exhibition for
some charity in Rome, when Vatican and
QuirinaI and many . noble house had for
| the NOR ent Yielded their treasures. Around
a Small space III the center, where the King
and queen received their guests, were
grouped the coronation rooes of Napoleon
the torn blanket of Garibaldi, and the
wonderful. dalmatic of Charlemagne which
proud RienZi wore when he entered
Rome.
Rut TO return to our gems; One ring says,
Never TO be forgotten. I'd Of January,
1777." Does anyone still remember?
With yearly effaced legends. widows
meet beneath willows, holding urns or
cleansing descriptions on tombs with
their tears, but some exquisite examples
Of miniature painting in the style OF
| Romnry and George Moreland make eyel
| these eommonplaceS beautiful.
With us the hair-ring period Of mourn
ing has given way to the still more
! dangerous jetted mercury winged widow
and we have no use for the rings followed
! which were a co1nc:ry OF ancient times
| Certainly filling these was not as difficult
a task US that pres crihed in the savage
coun,ry Mr. Grant a Hen tells Us Of, where
the hercGved sre obliged TO Weep nntilthey
| fill a bottle of certain size, and If they
cannot are >, aten tn they do
| Thcinscription. God Help Mariai" makes
Us wonder who the donor coult nave been
Among the wedding rings is type that
| should become fashionable in America, fol
| il birds heart and a coronet.
Simpler folks say;
"As God decreed,
So We agreed
God hattie wrought this choice In thee,
So frame thyself to cOmfourth me"
Chasle and simple is this: a Faithful
Wife Pre>eryeth Life more abrupt anc
brutal was the admonitlon, observe We'd
! lock.
| \ Jewis'i wedding ring with great bezeli
! lifts from the hand ia full relief the mode
OF the holy tabernacle of the ark. of the cove
nant.
Bonnie Prince Charlie" Sniiles from
d beautiful miniature, and near by is
tie ideal Of lovers ring, an enamelet
figGre OF Cupid with spread wings car
rymg off rnby heart, and the legend
stop Thief "