THE RING FINGER

New Zealand Mail, 29 January 1902, Page 20

THE RING FINGER

u I believe (writes a correspondent of “woman’s Life”) the common idea is that the fourth finger is chosen for the wedding ring because there is some special connection betAA-een it and the heart by moans of a nerve or vein, but I am afraid that sentiment had but ] ; t> tie to do with the matter. Even so long ago as the fifth century this particular finger was the one on which lings were usually placed, partly because the left, hand Avas not used as much as the right, and thus ornaments on it were not exposed to so much wear and tear, and partly because the fingers on either side of the fourth AA-ould protect 1 s u P°n it to a certain extent. A third reason exists for the choice of the third as the ring finger, and that is perhaps, the most important of all. All the other fingers can be extended fully alone Avliile its companions are folded m, but one cannot extend the third finger alone. This peculiarity makes' it a safer place for a ring than either cf the other digits, and as a Avoman’s iveddmg ring is a special treasure it is not surprising that it should be placed on the finger Avhicli ahvays has a little body guard of his felloAvs.

Between 1860 and 1870 British railways increased 510 miles a year. «Ihe present yearly increase is 201 miles a year.