Evening star., 1902-08-29
ENGAGEMENT RINGS.
Some Hints for Those Who Expect to
Buy Them.
From the Philadelphia Record.

From the Philadelphia Record.
Poetic though the idea be, engagement
rings with stones arranged to spell out
initials, pet names and the like do not as
yet rival that old standby, the diamond
This favored solitaire is as large, fine, clear
and brilliant mans purse permits, the
scheme seeming to be to haYe something
to loan to ones uncle if the proverbial rainy
day can't be dodged-though old authorities
did insist that the diamond, the champion
of precious stones" was endued with di-
vine virtues. and if worn in ring or next
the heart would assuage the fury of enc
mics. expel vain fears, preserve from
sWooning, drive away the terrors of the
night and Illustrate all the malign con-
tagious powers of poisons.
But we're getting our cart before our
horse! The people in question are only at
the engagement-ring period and we are
supposing they desire something more novel
than the ubiquitous solitaire. One pretty
fashion is to have this ring, which stands
for fidelity and eternity, set with two gems
criSs-cross fashion.
Birthmonth stones are Of course chosen
II the girl first saw light in July and the
man in April the combination of ruby and
diamond would be admirable Or the ar
rangement might be cluster. the ruby
herself) surrounded by diamonds, emblem
OF his engirding devotion. For those who
don't happen to remember the stones be-
ginning with January, run thus: Garnet
amethyst bloodstone, diamond, emerald
agate, ruby, sardonyx, sapphire, opal, to-
paz and turquoise Any jeweler will set
one straight, however. and some even show
printed lists.
In some instances the fond youth yearns
t. express his devotion by means of name
ring, or a sentiment ring, or one that shall
name the month in which they first met or
the one in which they are to wed These
are formed by spelling out the word from
Il the initial letters of the different gems, and
If perchance the gem don't suit just find
out its equivalent in French or German
There's way Of getting around everything.
For three-letter words fine gems NAV be
used, out Tor hve or more the gypsy hoop
Is convenient
For the name Bertha, as an example. we
would choose B Brilliant a diamond), e
(merald). R (uby), T turquoise or opaz), II
lyacinth), A methyst. Or for Cora, c
(hrysophase). o (paD, r Cuby), A (methyst).
Or if the two or three initials group better.
choose them. A pearl with a diamond each
side of 1t would stand for Diana Perdita
Dennison, while ruby. diamond and a
sapphire would set Miss Rosamonde Dian
tina Sinnickson properly before the world.
AS for word of sentiment, dearest often
figures: D damond). (merald), A tme-
thysD. r (uby). 8 (apphire). T (opaz).
In some instances one has a choice. as in
pearl and peridot, sapphire and sardonyx,
turquoise and topaz.
1t was the Egyptians. good embalmsers,
out poor anatomiStS, who connected the
fourth finger of the left hand with the
heart by an artery direct. Besides the
thumb and first two fingers were sacred to
the Trinity, which left the fourth one the
first choice for whoever introduced be-
trothal rings in the misty past ProsaIc
persons claim. though that the fourth fin
ger OF the left hand was chosen because
that hand Is the least useful and that fin
ger is of no at all.
In number Of countries betrothal rings
are exchanged. the trau ring of Germany
being exchanged by the loving couple on
the occasion of the family festival in honor
OF their betrothal. The criminal, or double
hoop ring, is of French origin.
Ye summer maiden who desires to indulge
in this sort of reciprocity with her new
found love will have a more difficult task
than will her affianced. Choosing a ring
for a man. which will stand for much, Is a
ticklish thing, as it must be plain, hand
some and dignifed. An initial may be rep
resented by a gem, or some inscription Gt's
safest in Latin, though French will do) may
be engraved on the stone OF his birthmon H.