Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1886-04-17

education to tell YOU that an opal fore
shadows misfortune, that coming
events can be forcsecn by the bright
ness or dullncss of the stone, and that
the constant thought of this fatal at
tribute brings sorrow and anxiety TO
the owner
II don't think IN have an opal
john" said the lady customer cling
ing slightly TO the gen,lcman's arm.
"Pshaw!" said John. 'what have
old Roman and English supersiitions
got to do with brand new American
But Ms you choose
"Rubies are more suited for Young
lovers, y continued the jeweler, placid
ly. He omitted to state that they
were also more expensive. 1.-The peo-
pie of the Burmese Empire believe
that ruby is Il human soul Just about
to enter the sacred precincts of Bud
dha, and consequently in the last stage
of transmigration. A ruby is the cm-
blem of the most passionate and alb
sorbing love. Trhe lady placed her
hand gently upon a large ring set with
the rosy stones. The gentleman more
practically examined the figures on the
ticket attached to it. A ruby in the
old days of chivalry was supposed to
lead a 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 blcmish.
you want one of those, John dear,
cooed the lady.
Pearls are greatly in request among
. | La lao, To, l,a
the ieweer, not noticing the Interrupt
ton. Pearls have always been the
particular cmblems Of purity, J suppose
on account Of their color. They are
also credited with representing mod
estv, "A virtue which, | believe, is gen
orally admired, In Persia to this day
people Sapposc them to be spots OF
water &iich 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 gen
tleman promptly.
''Oh, no, sir, continued the jeweler,
becoming business-like invountarily.
Here are some splendid stones, white
and without flaw, which ! can sell YOU
forl beg your pardon. forgot that
| was in the midst OF 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 emeralds can
be found, purest love is necessarily
rare
"Oh, joint said the lady bashfully.
,Nn,, or,, ,NAt =, ,l,1 ifraI IA hnlipNa tbnt
unless YOU like. An emerald was
always thought to possess the power OF
discovering treacheIy in the shape OF
alleged friends. The Romans believed
that serpents would become blind II
they merely looked upon an emerald,
and that every other object OF contempt
and detcstation would fall, over
whclmed, 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
chvalry, was believed to have great
power for good in battles, The wearcr
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
cietics 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 long and
prosperous life. Agatcs were also
supposed to be able to render
their wearers invisible The stones
are not very popular to-day. Garnets,
which are cheap and pretty the gen
tlcman smiled affaby at this; the lady
closed her eyes and wouldn't look at
garnet1 are invariably thought to bring
chcerfulness 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 bitc?" asked the feminine customer
sagaciously.
sPrecisely. The custom still, as you
say, survives, and il is a remnant of the
old belief People to-day say they
don't believe any such thing, and that
they give coral 20 their children mere
" 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 wonld 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, "some
Anglomaniac would bring it 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
eler. She selected the ruby ring, which
! happened to be the most expensive
trinket in the case. 81 am sorry it
costs so much, John" she said apollo
getically. That is not the reason
why chose it, l assure you. | take
it simply because it expresses -aheml
passionate love. That's all. dear. "
The gentleman coughed and seemed
to feel very acutcly 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
fngerP" she asked as they were about
to leave the jewelers. shop?
"The reason is,' said the smiling
| ieweler, THAT in olden times nerve
was popularity 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 az
| L. lof, .ho sbnn ssanb thox- n l.uavc lraaYy