eing a sufficient barrier against them.

1978. Love's Telegraph.

If a gentleman want a wife, he wears a ring on the _first_ finger of
the left hand; if he be engaged, he wears it on the _second_ finger;
if married, on the _third_; and on the fourth if he never intends to
be married. When a lady is not engaged, she wears a hoop or diamond
on her _first_ finger; if engaged, on the _second_; if married, on the
_third_; and on the fourth if she intends to die unmarried. When a
gentleman presents a fan, flower, or trinket, to a lady with the
_left_ hand, this, on his part, is an overture of regard; should she
receive it with the _left_ hand, it is considered as an acceptance of
his esteem; but if with the _right_ hand, it is a refusal of the
offer. Thus, by a few simple tokens explained by rule, the passion of
love is expressed; and through the medium of the telegraph, the most
timid and diffident man may, without difficulty, communicate his
sentiments of regard to a lady, and, in case his offer should be
refused, avoid experiencing the mortification of an explicit refusal.

1979. Wedding Rings.

The custom of wearing wedding rings appears to have taken its rise
among the Romans. Before the celebration of their nuptials, there was
a meeting of friends at the house of the lady's father, to settle
articles of the marriage contract, when it was agreed that the dowry
should be paid down on the wedding day or soon after. On this occasion
there was commonly a feast, at the conclusion of which the man gave to
the woman, as a pledge, a ring, which she put on the fourth finger of
her left hand, _because it was believed that a nerve reached thence to
the heart_, and a day was then named for the marriage.

1980. Why the Wedding Ring is placed on the Fourth Finger.

"We have remarked on the vulgar error which supposes that an artery
runs from the fourth finger of the left hand to the heart. It is
said by Swinburn and others, that therefore it became the wedding
finger. The priesthood kept up this idea by still retaining it as
the wedding finger, but the custom is really associated with the
doctrine of the Trinity; for, in the ancient ritual of English
marriages, the ring was placed by the husband on the top of the
thumb of the left hand, with the words, 'In the name of the father;'
he then removed it to the forefinger, saying, 'In the name o