Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-06-07
TRe Wedding Ring.

We regret that so distinguished an au-
thority as Prof. Starr should attack the
wedding ring as a relic of barbarism
Doubtless it had its origin at an early
date in the history of the world and may
have symbolized bondage. but at the
same time there is Il beautiful sentiment
underlying the pledge of fidelity it is
supposed to typify.
With devoted people who are not sen
sitive about the question of the insepara-
bic hands that should bind them togeth-
er, the thought that a golden ring is sig
niicant of bondage never occurs to them.
On the contrary. it is to the women who
wear them an emblem OF endowment Of
ali the earthly goods possessed by the
man she has vowed to honor and obey
IN these later days, there is too much
laXity III feeling in regard to the liberty
of husbands and wives. Instead of CON
Sdering the yoke of matrmony one of
bondage, they usually consider that they
are actually Independent of each other
and that the golden circlet upon the third
finger Of the left hand is nothing more
tAan q pretty souvenir Of a romantic
episode in their lives. and women, not in
frequently, affirm that in answering to
the clauses of the marriage ceremony
they made 4 mental reservation to prom
Using obedience. Such women should not
pronounce the sacred VOWS. Where
hearts are true and loyal. no emblem is
necessary 10 eypr"s& the union. but it is
pleasant thought for Il woman to be
reminded constantly Of the endless love
Of the man to whom she has given her
heart and plightcd her faith.
We have too few outward SYM
bo!s of domestic love and happiness
ana should regret to see any Of them
perish. How saCredly the second and
even third generations nave cherished
these little tokens Of the bailowed love
of antcccdeuts that have passed to The
hlissful beyond. and though time may
have changed the bright, broad band into
q Thin thread of gold. Of little intrinsic
value. the memories that cluster about
them make them priceless jewels
What is more sacred to Il loyal woman
to the day Of her death than the wedding
ring she wears? 1t commentaries to her
the browning glory OF her maidenhOod,
and recalls episodes and the realization
of pleasures all along the journey of
life. And though the grave may have
cloyed over him who made her queen or
his heart with this priceless trinket, she
stu feels it links her to him for all eter-
nifty. The inscription inside speaks vol
UncS Of unWritten happiness, and as she
sits alone in the evening of life and
tWlrls this precious band around her
shrlvcle1 finger. rec0llectiOnS of joyous
hours Of the past fit across her mind and
awaken reyeriCs associated with him who
came in the heyday Of youth and placed
it there
We must plead for the perpetuation of
q custom so fraught with tender sentl-
meut and that can hardly he construed
into the survival Of barharism, as long
as it is so iudiSSoIubly linked with q
union Of hearts. We have brushed aside
almost every vestige Of sentiment aud
ceremony and are little given 10 the pres
eFyation Of relics Of any kind. In our
unitarian propensities we are fast be-
coming Il practical, unsentimental nation.
VINO rarely spend time upon anything that
does not promise a rich return, and are
apt to eschew everything that in re-
mote degree suggests slavery, forgetting
mat we are all slaves to the neyer-endiug
grind Of money getting. Encouraging a
perpetuation Of these, in themselves in
significant triileS. does not in any way
affect the gallantry. but cultivates a SEN
tment of loyalty in affections and emo
tons so necessary to the welfare of the
nation.
The thought to men that they are
bound by this insignia TO be true to the
woman to whom they have pledged their
i9Ye and sacred honor naturally inspires
Them to noble actions and faithfulness.
Inc signet ring Of the most potent rulers
may lose its significance. but a wedding
ring holds its power fOrever.-Mrs. John
a. Logan in Philadelphia Bulletin.