St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-18
SWEETHEARTS AND GEMS.
s1gn1ficance of Precious stones and
Ancient Superstittons.
What Jewels Are Preferred--The En-
gagement Ring.

The jewelers. patience was ebbing rap
idly. He did his very best to appear urbane
and Suave, but his customers seemed de-
termined to tax his powers of endurance
| to their utmost limit. The lady had no
| idea of what she wanted. The gentlman
| was merely there in the role of paymaster
whatever she bought he would indOrse
with dollars and cents. He had no ideas of
his own Oh the subject and offered no
advice.
"Whatever shall get?" said the fair Gus
toner presently, in accents of despair. II
declare if had thought that it would be so
hard TO choose an engagement ring | would
never have been engaged. No. John, you
needn't look at me in that manner. L re-
peat that would never have been en-
gagged"
The gentleman appeared veXed at this
display of feminine vexation; the jeweler
smiled and rose to the occasion. Rays of
amusement struggled through the misty an
noyance which had been clOuding his coun-
tenance.
Il don't mind devoting half an hour to
the explanation of the significance of rings"
he said presently. ''Of course | don't want
to lose my time, you know"-
1T shall not be lost" interposed John,
hastily. Il promise that will buy ring
from you in any case. So kindly advise
| my wife-that-is-to-be upon the selection of
a lifting one."
with pleasure" said the jeweler as he
mOtiOned his customers to seats, took on
himself, opened case which sclntllated
with variety of richly-studded rings and
oIn y x.rit, Of +In
would-be orator. says the London Times.
'Rubies are more suited for young low
ers," commenced the jeweler, placidly. He
omitted to state that they were also more
expensive. 1.-The people of the Burmese
Empire believe that ruby is a human soul
just about to enter the sacred precincts of
Buddha, and consequently in the last stage
of transmigration. A ruby is the emblem
of the most passionate and absorbing love.
(The lady placed her hand upon large
ring set with the rosy stones. The gentle
man more practically examined the figures
on the ticket attached to it). A ruby in
the old days of chiyalry was supposed to
lead knight to conquest, to cause ObSta-
Giles to melt away and to inspire him with
bravery and zeal. It.alsO kept his honor
| unstained and his character without a
blemish."
''You want one of these, John, DEAR"
| cooed the lady.
Pearls are greatly in request among
ladies about to be married." resumed the
jeweler. not noticing the interruption.
Pearls have always been the particular
emblems OF purity, l suppose on account of
| their color. They are also credited with
representing modesty. virtue which, l
believe. is generally admired In Persia to
| this day people suppose them to be drops OF
water which have by some means entered
the oyster and become crystalized there.
Pearls and diamonds are the most popular
stones to-day among all classes. They are
also" -
1.-THE most expensive" said the gentle
man promptly.
''Oh, no, sir" continued the jeweler
becoming business-like involuntarily.
Here are some splendid stones. white and
without flaw. which l can sell you for-I
beg your pardon, forgot that | was in
the midst of discourse. An emerald that
has no flaw in it," he resumed in his calm
est manner, 'is typical of the purest love.
Some people say that as few such emer
aids can be found, true love is necessarily
rare"
oh John!" said the lady, bashfully.
"You are not obliged to believe that I'M
less you like. An emerald is always
thought to possess the power of discover
ing treachery in the shape of alleged
friends. The Greeks and Romans used to
believe that agates insured good health and
long and prosperous life. Agates were
also supposed to be q able to render their
wearers Invisible. The stones are not very
popular to-day. Garnets. which are cheap
this; the lady closed her eyes and wouldn't
look at a garnet. are invariably thought to
bring cheerfulness and affability to hold
ones own in the world. Coral has always
been supposed to act as health-giver."
us that why children who are cutting
their teeth are always given coral to bite?"
asked the feminine customer, sagaciOusly.
Precisely The custom still. as you
say. survives and it is remnant of the old
belief People to-day say they don't be-
lieve any such thing, and they give coral
to their children merely because it is hard.
But there are scores of substances equally
hard and not nearly as expensive. In the
middle ages nearly every stone that was
blessed by the sovereign had some healing
power. Imagine to-day how strange it
would be to see Queen Victoria blessing
gems and handing them to the people,"
The lady customer had by this time be-
come tired of ring lore as eXpounded by the
monotonous accents of the jeweler. 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, alphabetically. That is not the
reason why chose it, / assure you. take
it simply because it Xpresses-ahem!-
passionate love. That's all, DEAR" The
gentleman coughed and seemed to feel
very acutely the fact that passionate 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 jew
eler'S shop.
THE reason is, said the smiling jew
eler. THAT in olden times nerve was pop
ularly supposed to run from the fourth fin
ger directly to the heart 1t used to be
called the healing finger, and physicians
invariably used it when they mixed their
medicines"