The suburban citizen., 1902-04-12
MOURNING RINGS.
quite the Thing For Recently Bcreaved
widows or Others ts, Wear.

unite the Thing For Recently Bereaved
widows or Others tO Wear.
Mourning rings have found their way
back into fashion again, but only the
widows so far have taken to wearing
them of somber hue and elegant work
manship This revival, as is the case
with nearly all revivals that bear even
remotely upon matters Of personal or
nament, originated in Paris, and the
rarely white and beautiful hand of an
aristocratfc duchess bereaved Of her
duke first displayed a large mourning
ring. Hers had been designed by that
artistic genius, Lalique, and since she
created a sensation by thoughtlessly
displaying the white hand with its
gloomily beautiful decoration Lalique
and all the other designers and jew
elcrs have had widows orders without
number.
Widows rings are just coming into
use in America, and while some of
them are made in France, a goodly
number of uniquely beautiful ones
have been turned out by our own geld
smiths. A single large and perfect
black pearl is considered very chic, if
we may use so frivolous an expression,
rs a Widows ring. 1t is sunk in a
rim of what is called tarnished silver,
and next after this ranks the cameo
ring showing the dear departed ones
likeness in white against a background
of black shell. The golden circlet Of
such q ring is covered with black en-
amel, and inside the finger band con-
solatory or purely sentimental senti-
ment is engraved. A superb ring or
dered in Paris for the widow of an
American millionaire, takes the form
of a wondrously cut seal. The stone
is dead black, and the cutting on it
shows a wounded dove with a Latin
inscription beneath, to the effect that
though mortally wounded, the devoted
relict patiently wings her way through
life.
All the mourning rings are large and
heavy and are worn above the gold
wedding band, though some highly
sensitive women have followed the
fashion Of having their wedding rings
enameled in dead black, and the date
Of their loss engraved inside opposite
the date Of their weddings
The jewelers. who cater to a large
custom have noticed an increase of In
terest in rings that are not always 50
costly as unique, and it is curious
enough that women who will readily
wear imitation stones in brooches,
necklets, stickpins and even earrings,
draw the line against mock gems in the
matter Of rings. BarOque pearls and
the secondary or semi-precious stones
are all right for finger ornamentation,
and one dealer in fine jewels has grown
quite accustomed to having a woman
come in, lay sample Of silk, satin or
wooden ON the showcase, and calmly ask
TO have her sample matched in ring
or brooch. 1t is usually u ring she
wants, and then visit is made to a
case full Of exquisite pinE topaz, ma
trix opals, white sapphires, etc., where
her demand can be easily fulfilled.
Debutantes and graduating school.
girls whose acute attacks Of friendship
are slangingly described as rushing, y
now cultivate the habit Of exchanging
rings with their own particular girlish
intimates. AS rule the choice falls on
really charming posey rings of Marcas-
site. These come in all manner OF
quaint bouquet basket, cOrnucopia
1ove-knot designs elaborated In tiny
but Inexpensive true stones set in q
framework of silver. - Washington
Star.