The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-30

massive ring, half an inch in it's largest
diameter, bearing an oblong plinth, on
which the devices We're engraved. On
one side was the name of the king, the
successor of Amuneph III who lived
about 400 years before Christ; on the
other a lion, with the legend Lord of
Strength, referring to the monarch; on
one side scorpion, and on the other a
crocodile. This ring passed into the
Waterton Dactyliotheca, and is now the
property Of the South Kensington mu-
scum"
Rings of inferior metal engraved
with the kings name, may probably
have been worn by officials of the court
In Rome every freedman had the
right to use the iron ring, but the use
OF a gold ring was restricted for many
years to persons of dignity, or those
whose wealth exceeded certain sums.
In the course of time it became GUS
tomary for all the senators, chief mag
istrates and the equities to wear a gold
seal ring. This practice, which was sub
sequently termed the jus annuli urei, or
the JUS annulorum, remained for sew
eral centuries at Rome their exclusive
privilege, while others continued to
wear the iron ring.
The keeping of the imperial ring (cura
annuity was confided to a state keeper,
as the great seal of England is placed.
in custody of the lord chancellor.
With the increasing love of luxury.
and show the Greeks, as we'll as the
Romans, covered their fingers with.
rings, and some wore different sizes for
summer and winter, immoderate both
in number and size. Demosthenes wore
many rings, and he was stigmatized as
unbecomingly vain for doing SO in the
troubled times of the state
In many of the Roman keys that have
been discovered the ring was actually
worn on the finger. The shank disap-
pears, and the wards were at right an
giles to the ring, or in the direction of
the length of the finger.
Rings were given in Anglo-Saxon
times to propitiate royal favors. Thus,
toward the end of the tenth century,
Beorhtric. wealthy noble in Kent, left
In his will ring worth thirty man
cuses of gold that the queen might be
his advocate that the will should
stand.
In the earlier history of Ireland we
ma instances of a wonderful deyeIop-
ment of artistic skill in goldsmith work.
queen Elizabeth had an immoderate
love for Jewelry and the description
given of her dresses covered with gems
OF the greatest rarity and beauty reads
tihS q lolllduce... fOr ungef rings she
had remarkable fondness. The same
custom of wearing many rings long
prevailed In France. Mercier, in his
"Tableau de France" mentions that at
the close of the eighteenth century
enormous rings were worm He adds
that the nuptial ring is now unno-
ticed on the fingers Of women: wide
and profane rings altogether conceal
this warrant of their faith.' So impor-
tant business was the making of
rings that 1t was separated from the
ordinary work of the goldsmith, and
became distinct trade. 4t'3
In the South Kensington museum is
massive and heavy brass ring, with
octagonal bezel armed with ave pro-
1ecting points, used as weapon BY
peasants in Upper Bavaria from the
year 100 to the present time In In
dia the preferred ring has large no.
rated face, spreading over three An
gers like shield. When made for the
wealthy, In massive gold the flower
leaves are Of cut Jewels. but the hum
bier classes, who equally love display,
are content with theirs In cast silver.
Arabian princesses wore golden rings
on their fingers, to which little bells
were suspended, as well as in the flow
ing tresses Of their hair that their su-
perior rank might be known and that