The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-04-17

De overcome, ne SAID, emphatic
ally. ASK any jeweler in New York
City, and he will tell you that he sells
so few opals that his stock rarely con-
tains but half a dozen. l never sell
any, ] tell you frankly; and it is
great pity, for in my opinion there is
no more beautiful stone. People say
that in time the faint will be forgotten,
and that opals will be as popular as
diamonds and pearls. i don't believe
it, Strange to say, the belief in the
unluckiness of opals does not date
from ancient times. The Greeks wore
them in preference to any other stone.
They used to imagine them to be frag.
ments broken from the car of Phebus
Thus an opal was supposed to possess
the power of bestowing the gift of
foresight upon the owner; of acting as
an antidote to poison; of relieving
melancholy; of driving away melan-
choly, and of bringing lovers together.
Now that is all changed. You will
find men of the world and women of
education to tell you that an opal fore
shadows misfortune, that coming
events can be foreseen by the bright
ness or dizziness 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 arm.
"PshawW 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 jeweler placid
ly. He omitted to state that they
were also more expensive. "The peo-
pie of the Burmese Empire believe
that ruby is human soul just about
to enter the sacred precincts of Bud
dha, and consequently in the last stage
of TRANSPORTATION. A ruby is the en-
blem of the most passionate and abb
sorbing love. The lady placed her
hand gently upon 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 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 Il blemish."
"You want one of those, John DEAR"
cooed the lady.
pearls are greatly in request among
ladies about to be married. resumed
the jeweler, not noticing the Interrupt
ton. 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, l 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"
1.-The most expensive" said the gen.
tleman promptly.
"Oh, no, SIR continued the jeweler,
becoming busness-like involuntarily.
Here are some splendid stones, white
and without flaw, which | can sell you
for-I beg your pardon. forgot that
l was in the midst of a discourse. D."
can 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.
"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, tar-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 long and
J prosperous life"
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. II am sorry il
costs so much, john" she said apollo.
getically. That is not the reason
why / chose it, l assure you. l take
it simply because it expresses ahem
passionate love. That's all, dear. y
"Why do we always wear wedding
and engagement rings on the fourth
| E,o.n-0iN L. ~, u