, 1872-12-26


character, he took from his pocket wrapped in a
bit of common brown paper.
A famone ruby which once belonged to Ed
ward, the Black Prince, is now prominent in the
through the centre-after the Eastern manner.
Il Was worn in the battle Of Agincourt, 1+15, BY
Henry Y.
The King Of the Island Of Ceylon--famous fo1
its wealth in jewel miues-was said to have pos
sessed the largest ruby ever seen, being span
in length and as thick as mans arm
ut has" Bays Marco Polo, "the appearance
OF glowing hre and ia 30 valuable that no esti-
mate can be made OF it's worth IN money. The
Grand Kahn Hublai sent ambassadors to this
monarch With request that he would yield to
him possession Of this gem, in return for which
he should receive the value OF city. The an
swer given WAS to this effect: That he could
not sell it for all the treasure Of the universe,
Of his donlnions, as it had been handed down to
him by his predecessors on tha throne.'"
The early Chinese travellers relate that in the
seventh century ruby was elevated on a spire
in Ceylon, the light OF which illuminated the
skies. A Chinese Emperor wore in his cap
carbuncle OF such unusual brilliancy that at the
great levees at night, its red luBtre SO filed the
palace that it was called the " Red Palace Ill.,
minator,"
An old Chinese work says that the origin OF
trade in the Island Of Ceylon was coeva1 with
sprinkled the land with sweet dew, which caused
it to produce red gemB-and thus gave the peo-
pie an article Of merchandise.
Among the superstitious connected with the
ruby is that it confers the power OF seeing in the
dark, If it be worn upon the neck. 1t also warned
Its WeaEer BY change Of color Of coming misfor
tune, and cured diseases Of the eye if tied over
the forahead in q linen cloth. Plutarch says !:
'fIt is discovered when the moon is waning to
exalted rank
Next to the diamond and ruby, The opal is the
most valuable gem,
The Empress Josephine possessed the finest
opal Of modern times, which was called The
Burning OF Troy" On account of it's bri1liancy,
which resembled the ftful light Of flames. An
ancient writer mentions al opal OF the size OF
hazel nut which WAS wrought with marvellous
skill and clasped in the CLAWS OF golden eagle.
It contained all the various tints OF the sky, and
shone with such splendor that it struck terror
into the hearts Of beholders.
The opal was highly esteemed BY the encients,
but modern romance has flung around it bale
full influence, and it is said to bring luck to it's
Nearer.
The beautiful sapphire, with It's soft, velyety
blue color, was esteemed as being great enemy
to "bleck cho}er, and to free the mind and
mend the manners" It Was sometimes powder
ed and mixed with milk as E ouro for boils,
which WAS surely rather expensive medicine.
It WAS believed that If the name OF the sun or
the moon was engraved upon the amethyst and
the jewel hung around the neck upon the hair
OF baboon, OF the feather OF swallow, 1t Rag an
lnfa1ible protection against witohcraft, end also
protected ITS wearer from the flight Of locusts
and Of hailstones.
The amethyst is called the "Bishop's stone"
because rings set with these gems are worn BY
the Roman Catholic Bishops.
The turquoise not only strengthens the eyes
and enivenB the heart of itB po5Eeaaor, but is
said also to take upon itself the consequences Of
Serious fall, and breaking itself to saVe its
wearer from fIacturing bone. It mas also sup
posed to lose it's color Il the person grew il. and
to be entirely blanched If he died
"As compassionate turquoise that doth tell,
By looking pale, the wearer Ia not we'll"
One OF the most beautiful sud popular of
gems is the emerald. This jewel is said to have
been found in olden times SO large that the Ro-
mans used emera1ds for their mirrors, and Nero
is said to have worr an emerald eye-gfnss when
viewing the combat Of the gladiators.
The early Inhabitants OF Peru worshipped as
their goddess an emerald as 1arge as An ostirch's
egg. Tho priests, who had charge Of this diyin-
ity, gave out that no gifts we're 40 precious to
the goddess as ''her daughters" the emeralds,
and therefore great guantlties Of these jewels
war1 brought to her shrine.
Emeralds we're preferred to all other precious
atono for sparkling round the brim OF 8 iewelled
goblet.
Those who engraved upon gems were accus- |
toned to gaze for q time upon emerald to re-
fresh their wearied eyes. This etone was also |
considered q preventive OF epilepsy and other
diseases. It was held in such esteem by the |
nous Iucullns landed at Alexandra, |
Ptolemy, who wish to attach him forever to his |
interests could think OF no moro precious gift |
with which to win his regard than precious |
amerald set in gold and with his portrait en-
3raved upon it.