The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-05-30
THE OPALS DEADLY SPELL.
A COMMON suPERsTITIoNs PROOF.
How Thief Restored a Family's Happiness
by PuriOining an Ante-Nuptial Ring-A
JeweIer Who VIII Not Handle
the Pretty Stones.


ranged in a graceful design oriental
rubies and diamonds, as jewellers are wont
to place gems that their customers may
judge of their effect when set, and OF the
form of the ornament, and in response to
a question which had been asked him,
said: "Yes, although l don't wear them
nor allow any of my family to do so, l
keep them in stock for those who want
them. 1 believe l can assert, without
fear of contradiction, that this is the
finest stone .oi its kind in Chicago" AS
he spoke he held up a magnificent opal,
which from its tender, translucent sur
face flashed forth the red fame of the car
buncle, the soft refulgence of the purple
amethyst, the golden glow Of the topaz,
and the rare green ray Of the emerald, all
mingling and cleaning in such change
full way as to form most fascinating COM
bination.
'It is handsome, said the merchant, in
response to an exclamation OF admiration.
''It is really a very fine gem. 1t IS one OF
the precious Opals from the CZerwenitz
mines in Hungary This particular stone
was taken from Mt. Simonka. The finest
opals in the world come from the two
mountains Simonka and Limbanka.
"Have l any superstition in regard to
them? No, Idon't know that l have" and
he turned the gem so as to catch the light
By the way, il is a curious fact in life that
no one could by his own showing be con-
victed of being superstitious, notwith-
standing that 1t would be quite impossible
to find anyone who has not a strain some
where in his composition OF this quality.
"0f course" continued the dealer in
precious metals and gems, sit would be
absurd TO attach any power over fortune
either for good or i'll to a stone. Indeed,
by the ancients, opals were believed to
bestow every possible good. Even in the
middle ages and as late as the seventeenth
century they were generally supposed to
insure good fortune. l have often won
dered what changed all this and caused
the opal to be regarded as Il harblnger OF
i'll. Possibly one reason Is that It Is
very difficult stone to cut on account of the
assures which traverse it, and which are
filled with air and moisture. For this
reason it often happens that opals are
ruined in being cut and polished, which
is, of course, decidedly unlucky. 1t Is
almost impossible to engrave an opal, and
there are very few which are engraved. /
believe the finest and most valuable en-
graved opal in the world is in the Hope
collection. This opal IS an inch in width
and an inch and three-quarters in length.
The engraving upon it is an alto relieve
representation of the head of Apollo, sur
rounded by rays Of FIRE.
"It often happens that simply wearing
an opal will ruin it, but aside from the
fact that the gem is so easily injured, l
believe that the bad repute into which it
has fallen is, at least in part, due 10 Sir
Walter SCOTS novel, Anne Of Gerstein."
However, II my time l have personally
known some strange things about Opals.
l have been in business now twenty-eight
years, and / never knew much prosperity
md happiness to be mixed up with
them"
1t needed only an air of interested at
tention and few leading questions to
elicit some OF these incidents.
''The first time" said he, 'that | ever
sold an opal was few months after 1 be-
came salesman. And the first time
sold one sold two; there is a bull for you
A young couple who had about as bright
an outlook in life as any two people could
have became engaged. They were great
admirers of opals, and they exchanged
very handsome opal rings, which they
purchased OF me. There was some dis
cussion in regard to opals being unlucky,
but these two persons were young and
strong and happy, and they did not care
rush for any myth under the sun. So
they exchanged their rings and were soon
married. and were the envy OF all who
knew them. However, no sooner were
thew married than one misfortune followed
another as swiftly, as unavoidably, as did
the reported misfortunes OF AratoniO,
the Merchant of Venice Not only did
misfortune, sickness and death seem TO
take up their abode with this couple, but
as if there could be no gleam left TO
br ghten the gloom of their lot, it was quite
& generally known that serious domestic in
felicity existed, which was of such nature
that it threatened the integrity of their
home.
CATER they had been married about five
years, among the the numerous misfOr-
tunes-a recital of which would read like
some doleful, ,over-extravaganttale tale-which
had overtaken this couple, the opal ring
belonging to the gentleman, together with
a few other valuables which he still pos
sessed, was stolen. He came TO me and
requested me to keep an eye out Tor the
opal. Now, both the opals had been pe-
culiar and could be recognized by an eX-
pert The one which had been stolen was
not only of an unusual shape but the most
reflected rays were green and yellow,
dashed in a peculiar way and mingled
with deep blue and bright red. The one
belonging to the lady had a small mark
on the under surface, the shape OF
heart.
"a short time after the gentleman's
ringand other valuables were stolen, the
affairs of the couple began to mend. The
strained domestic relations were adjusted
and happiness came to them with appar-
entity as little cause as had misfortune and
distress Let NE see-that was twenty
years ago. Now comes the strange part OF
the story. About five years ago | was
here in the store attending to the usual
round of business, when a ragged little
boy came in and handed me a bit OF
soiled paper, upon which was scrawled an
earnest request to come ut once to room
not far distant. The note closed with,
This request is made by q dying man.
and bore the signature OF a man whom
had known well, and whose name had
been coupled with the lady OF whom ]
have already told you, and whose life, to-
gether with her husbands, had been so
miserable and was then so happy.
"The man was in dying condition
wherf / reached him and gave me no
greeting, but merely said, i know you
will not refuse a favor to a man who at
most can live but few hours Handing
me small parcel he continued: L think
YOU will recognize it. l viii tell you at
once, while have strength, what l want