RINGS.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1983, 13 May 1875, Page 4

RINGS.

It would be impossible to describe a single ornament connected with which so much, interest attaches as to the finger ring. It is of great aptiguity, and during centuries of years has been associated with the most important concerns of life, both in matters of ceremony and affairs of the heart. It has been used as a means of recognition, as a credential, and as a form of introduction which ensured hospitality to the bearer of it. Eoyal edicts were promulgated" through its mediums, and power was trasferred by its means. When Pharoah - committed the government of Egypt to Joseph, he took his ring from his finger and gave it to the ! young Israelite as a ' token of tile authority he bestowed upon him. JSo also when Ahasuerus agreed to Haman's cruel scheme of killing tlaie s Jews in all the king's provinces, he took the ring off his hand and gave it to Haman as his warrant, and afterwards directed that all official letters should be "sealed with his ring. A. ring formerly marked the rank and authority of a man, and the king's ring was as important a part of the insignia of royalty as his sceptre or crown. The form of the ring is emblematical of eternity, and its materials of priceless* ness. Lovers are united by a ring, and departed friends are often kept in remembrance by the same token of affection. All these qualities sufficiently explain the reason why in old tales and legends the power of the ring is a fruitful source of interest. Among many different nations < rings were used as charms and talismen against the evil eye and demons, against debility, the power of the flames, and most of the ill inherent lo human nature. In these days, inscriptions upon rings are comparatively rare, but in old times they were common. It is supposed that the fashion of having mottoes, or "reasons," as they were called, was of Koman origin, for the young Romans gave rings to their lady loves with the mottoes cut on gems, such as "Eemember," "Q-ood luck to you," " Love me and I will love thee." In some cases, the stones are made to tell the motto by means of acrostics, or names are represented. The Prince of: Wales, on his marriage to the Princess Alexandra, gave her, as a keeper, one with the stones set so as to represent his familiar name of Bertie, as follows : Beryl, Emerald, E üby, Turquoise, I acinth, Emerald. Motto rings are quite popular in France, the. French having precious stones, for all the alphabet with the exception of f, k, q, y, and z. Bings, such as these -may be said to realize Shakespeare's idea, put in the month of Jacques, of finding '" sermons in stones,'' for here indeed the truth is apparent, that stones do symbolize the language of the heart.