THE HERITAGE OF DRESS 
 
 
sister will do, in order to be in the height of fashion. 
The Padaung women put metal collars round their 
necks when they are young children till these number 
between twenty and thirty, and the necks of the 
wearers are stretched out in the most grotesque and 
uncomfortable fashion. (See Plate VI.) African belles 
will wear great copper rings on their limbs, which get 
so hot in the sun that an attendant has to carry water 
with which to occasionally cool them down. The 
wearing of armlets and bracelets has never been con- 
fined to women. Men among the Greeks did not 
wear them, but among the Romans they did. Arm- 
lets were conferred on soldiers for heroic deeds, and 
even now the rank of non-commissioned officers in 
the army is indicated by stripes on their sleeves. 
  Dr. Tylor hints that ordinary finger-rings have 
originated from those used as signets in Egypt and 
Babylon. In this case the modern signet ring, which 
we have already discussed in connection with heraldic 
devices, is a survival from the earliest times. Most 
rings are now merely ornamental, though a few are 
symbolical-the episcopal ring of the bishop, the 
engagement ring of the betrothed damsel, and the 
wedding ring of the wife. 
  As early as the seventh century a ring was among 
the distinctive insignia of a bishop, and one was found 
on the finger of Bishop Agilbert of Paris (who lived 
at this time) when his coffin was opened. The ring 
was of gold and, as is usual, had a jewel set in it, on 
 
 
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