exhibited
a considerable degree of skill in this direction. Much new information
on this subject will be found in the present work.
How
rings are made by our jewellers of to-day, more especially by the
accurate and varied mechanical methods now employed for their
production, is concisely treated in a supplementary chapter. While
machine-made rings can scarcely be expected to equal those executed by
the hand of the true artist-goldsmith, those now produced are
nevertheless objects of beauty and adornment.
A
ring is a symbol to which great interest is attached from the cradle to
the grave. Frequently, a natal stone, or a ring set with a natal stone,
is given to a child at its birth. When the child is baptized it
receives the talis-manic gem of the guardian angel. At confirmation the
gem of the week is given. At graduation from school or college, a class
ring is bestowed. Finally, on the announcement of an engagement, a ring
set with any one of the choicer precious stones is selected for the
fiancée. Thus each important epoch in early life has its appropriate
memento, which will recall the memory of it in after years.
As
very full indications as to the literature have been given in the
footnotes, it has not seemed necessary to append the numerous titles in
the form of a bibliography.
The author's thanks are due to the following persons, who have courteously imparted much valuable information:
Hon.
Peter T. Barlow; Miss Ada M. Barr; W. Ged-ney Beatty ; Theodoor de
Boog, Museum of the American Indian; Dr. Stewart Culin, Brooklyn
Institute; Robert W. De Forrest; Mrs. Alexander W. Drake; Dr. Gustavus
A. Eisen ; Prof. Richard Gottheil, Colum-
