Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-08
Rings and Their Meanings.


custom OF wearing a ring as a symbol OF
an engagement or marriage has ever been
established beyond dispute. It Is Ger
tain, however, that the custom is an an
Client one, for in the Bible may be found
several references to rings, and the
Christians used the ring as a symbol of
marriage in 800.
Regarding the custom of wearing the
wedding ring on the most useless finger
OF the left hand-the third fnger-the
explanation has been made that the help
~lessness of that finger is a protection to
the ring, as on the weakest f1nger IT IS
preserved from rough usage. Another
reason given is that on the third finger
there is a vein leading from the heart,
hence the same excuse as that given FOR
shaking hands with the left hand, near
err the heart
In olden times, kings and others in au-
thority wore on the ring a seal or image
that indicated power, and In the time OF
Moses the priests wore rings as symbols
of office. In the British museum quaint
rings, made Of porcelain, which once
adorned the fingers of the poorer Glasses
in Egypt may be seen.
Among the Jews the ring Is an impor-
tant factor in the marriage ceremony.
and in Germany the husband and wife
CAOHOASC "OualI6 llAiSos AN -
expected to wear his marriage ring con-
tinuously. In fact, lit would be a diff
cult matter for a. man to r~e-establs
harmony in his home were he discovered
to have removed the symbol of marriage
from his finger, the inference being that
he had been trying to conceal h fact
of his marriage.
Queen Victoria possesses many rings,
but three of these have a special value,
in view of the history connected with
| them. One is her wedding ring-a mar
row gold band. The second is her be-
trothal ring, a snake made of emeralds,
and the third is "a diamond ring given
to her by Prince Albert when she was
a young girl.
Queen Elizabeth, who was noted for
her love Of jewelry, wore many rings.
The emperor of Germany ia another royal
parsonage who has displayed a liking for
rings. 1t is said that on all important
occasions the kaiser will be seen to wear
o. his left hand a massive gold ring set
with a large dark stone. The ring is
credited with being ar heirloom OF the
Hohenzollern family and came into the
Possession Of Margraf Of Ulrich way
back in the thirteenth century. After a
series of adventures n mishaps the
ring became the property of the kaiser,
who, although not a superstitious man,
is never seen on occasions of state and
importance without the ring.
Rings have been fashioned from every
material OF sufficient strength to he put
to such use, including gold, silver, steel,
brass, iron, bronze, ivory, jet, earthen-
ware and wire.
Curious instances a been cited where
make-shift substitutes for the conven-
tionaa wedding ring have been utilized
during the marriag e ceremony. One such
instance occurred some time ago in a
nearby town, when the ring was missing
Nothing better being available as a sub
stftute, a curtain ring was used. and or
still another occasion the ring handle OF
the church key was utilized. A couple
in this state used in such am emergency
a ring formed from the outer edge of =;
coin, and which had been carried b!
some one present as a curiosity.
A gallant 'best man. came. to the res
cue at a recent wedding, when the rim,
was not forthcoming at the right time
He drew from his tie the slender stick
pin that had been adjoining 1T, and, bend
|. ing the wire into ring shap pc, handed tn
fmprovised wedding ring to the distract
ed groom.
> A horseshoe nail bent to the shape o
!: luck to the owner. and the lead cram.
> ring worn six centuries ago has give
place to various rings now worn to pre-
j, vent and cure rheumatism.
. Teeth were at one time fashionable 70
, adjoining rings, but such grewsome orna
ments are nc longer sought after. Th
fashionable women of today prefer th
more costly jewels.