The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-04-16
NO. 33.

SuuCdIlOn TO GeIl you bnstb al OpaA1 II hks-
shadows misfortune, that coming
events can be fOreseen by the bright
ness or dullness of the stone, and that
the constant thought of this fatal at
tribute brings sorrow and anxiety to
the owner"
81 don't think I'll have an opal,
john" said the lady customer, cling
ing slightly to the gentleman's arm
"Pshawin said John, ''what have
old Roman and English superstitiOns
got to do with brand new American
But as you choose"
'Rubies are more suited for young
lovers" continued the ieweler, placid
ly. He omitted to state that they
were also more expensive. 1.-The peO-
pie of the Burmese Empire believe
that a ruby is human soul just about
to enter the sacred precincts of Bud
dha, and consequently in the last stage
of transmigration. A ruby is the en-
blem of the most passionate and alb
sorbing love. The lady placed her
hand gently upon large ring set with
the rosy stones. The gentleman moro
practically examined the figures on the
ticket attached to it. A ruby in the
old days of chivalry was supposed to
lead knight to conquest, to cause OBJ
stacles to melt away, and to inspire
him with bravery and zeal. 1t also
kept his honor sustained and his char
acter without a blemish."
''You want one of those, John dear, "
cooed the lady.
pearls are greatly in request among
ladies about to be married, resumed
the ieweler, not noticing the Interrupt
tion. pearls have always been the
particular emblems of purity, l suppose
on account of their color. They are
also credited with representing mod
esty, virtue which, believe, is gen.
orally admired. In Persia to this day
people suppose them to be spots of
water which have by some means en-
tered the oyster and become crystal
lied there. Pearls and diamonds are
the most popular stones to-day among
all classes. They are also"
"The most expensive" said the gem
tleman promptly.
"Oh, no, SIR" continued the jeweler,
becoming business-like involuntarily.
Here are some splendid stones, white
and without flaw, which can sell you
for-I beg your pardon. / forgot that
/ was in the midst of a discourse.
''An emerald that has no flaw in it,
he resumed in his calmest manner, lis
typical of the purest love. Some peO-
pie say that, as few such emera1ds can
be found, purest love is necessarily
rare.'
''Oh, Johnr' said the lady bashfully.
"You are not obliged to believe that
unless you like. An emerald was
always thought to possess the power of
discovering treachery in the shape of
alleged friends. The Romans believed
that serpents would become blind if
they merely looked upon an emerald,
and that every other object of contempt
and detestation would fall, over
whelmed, in its presence. The emerald
is popular in cOurtship and in marriage.
After marriage it is supposed to bring
harmony into the household, and to
further domestic joys in every possible
way. The amethyst, in the days of
chivalry, was believed to have great
power for good in battles. The wearer
was rendered brave, far-seeing and
honorable. The amethyst was also said
to destroy the craving for Intoxicating
liquors, which, you see, was as prev
alent in those days as in these-or
nearly so. have often wondered why
some of the modern temperance So
cieties have never patronized this
wholesome stone-even if only for the
sake of old traditions. The Greeks
and Romans used to believe that agates
insured good health and a long and
prosperous life. Agates were also
their wearers invisible The stones
are not very popular to-day. Garnets,
which are cheap and pretty rthe gen
tleman smiled affably at this; the lady
closed her eyes and wouldn't look at
garnetl are invariably thought to bring
cheerfulness and ability to hold ones
own in the world. Coral has always
been supposed to act as a health
giver."
''Is that why children who are cut
ting their teeth are always given coral
to bite?" asked the feminine customer
sagaciously.
@Precisely. The custom still, as you
say, survives, and it is a remnant of the
old belief. People to-day say they
don't believe any such thing, and that
they give coral to their children mere
lv because it is hard. But there are
scores of substances equally hard and
not nearly as expensive. In the Mid
die Ages nearly every one that was
blessed by the sovereign had some
healing power. Imagine to-day how
strange it would be to see Queen Vic
toria blessing gems and handing them
to the people"
II suppose if that were done in Eng
land, said the male customer, 'ssome
Anglomaniac would bring il to this
country, and our Legislature would be
forced to vest healing power in the
President of the United States"
The lady customer had by this time
become tired of ring lore as eXpounded
by the monotonous accents of the Jew
eier. She selected the ruby ring, which
happened to be the most expensive
trinket in the case. Il am sorry is
costs so much, john she said apollo
getically. THAT is not the reason
why / chose it, / assure you. ! take
it simply because it expresses -ahem!
passionate love. That's all, dear
The gentleman coughed and seemed
to feel very acutely the fact that pas
siOnate love cost so much to express,
but he said nothing.
"Why do we always wear wedding
and engagement rings on the fourth
fnger?" she asked as they were about
to leave the jewelers. shopP
''The reason is" said the smiling
jeweler, THAT in olden times nerv0
was popularly supposed TO run from
the fourth finger directly to the heart.
1t used to be called the healing finger,
and physicians invariably used it when
they mixed their medicines. "
Every thing is old about rings ex-
cept their prices" grumbled John as
he left the shop, "and they always keep
pace with the times. ~ r. Times.
This train," said the music
teacher, ''is like a pipe organ; il has so
many stops" "Or a song" said the
sad passenger, because it's SO low y
"Or a waltz, there's 50 many slura on
it, - said the dude. "And it's marked
with accidentals." suggested the man