Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-05
SUGGESTIONS ABOUT GEMS.
Curious Gleanings From Ancient and
Modern Lore About Precious Stones.

From the British jewelers. Review.
Each gem is supposed to possess certain quail
ties which are its special dowry. The origin Of
this practice can generally be traced in the
etymology Of the word, or in the myth or
legend attached to each gem in the country
where it was first found. Many Of them are
doubtless of Persian or Semitic origin, but the
Greek mythology contains them nearly all
Thus, Adamas or diamond was Cretan youth
transformed by Zeus into brilliant and placed
among the stars. Amethyst was another godly
favorite, whom Diana turned into q purple
tinted stone, to which Bacchus added the color
of wine. To some such origin, and chilly from
the color OF the gems, their various qualities
owe their prestige in ancient and modern lore.
The kingly diamond, which has become the ap-
panage Of aristrocracy, is the symbol Of justice,
innocence, consistency and impassivity Of fate.
Camille Leonardus assures us that it battles the
deadliest poison and the most subtle witch
craft. 1t, moreover, protects ladies against
those horrible nocturnal visitors-incubes. The
koh-i-noor was for centuries the tailsman of
India. and when, years ago, the governor of
Borneo offered $500. 900, two equipped war
briggs and numbers of cannon for the famous
stone of Matan, the Rajah refused, on the plea
that the fortunes of his family were connected
with ii and that the water in which IL was Dip
ped cured all diseases.
Not powerful was the sapphire, so useful
once to the necromancer, or the holy stone as
it was called, being the emblem of chastity,
and securing the granting of all prayers. The
pagans dedicated it to Apollo. 1t became the
| episcopal stone by decree of Innocent III in
the twelfth century, but in modern days it has
met with sad reversiOn of fate and ia NO
longer lucky stone. The ruby, the live coal
OF the Greek, is not less emblematical and DO
| tent, and the Brahmin traditions speak won.
1xNff han hnd - 1,<-lA
rubies and emeralds. 1t was believed to dispel
| evil thoughts and to warn its wearer of danger
| by becoming black or obscure. The East In
dian merchants still prize il SO highly that they
will not willingly show a fine specimen without
a bride; and the Chinese present it to thin
| day as q most sacred token of friendship.
The now humble garnet and the oblong car
buncle share the favors of their parent. the
ruby, the latter Of the two being famous for its
hght-giving. properties in the dark.
Topaz, the gold stone Of the ancients, was
| much valued by them for medicinal purposes,
for dispelling enchantment, and for calming
frenzy. III superstition had still so firm hold
| as once it had upon the minds Of educated peo-
pie what favorite the amethyst would be,
since such stone, especially when set in cup,
rendered the possessor OF it incapable of intox-
| ication. According to modern etiquette the
| amethyst is the only stone which may be worn
during mourning. The peerless starry opal
that child of love, as it has been called, far
from being an unlucky stone, as it is now sup
posed to be, was once believed by Albertus
Magnus, Marbodeus, and others to rejoice the
heart of the owner by rendering him lovable
and bestowing upon him the gift of invisibility,
which made it the patron stone of robbers. To
be on the right side of this gems influence
some say that one ought never to accept it as a
present. 1t has, however, been asserted that
the opal was not considered unlucky in Eng
land until Sir Walter Scott published his "Anne
of Geierstein."
The veneration of the Peruvians for the
green emerald, dedicated to Mercury by the
ancients. is well known, and the worshipers
of Mantu still believe that the mines whence
are extracted all the daughters of the mother
gem are guarded by terrible genii, dragons,
| once supposed to increase conjugal love and to
cure distemper and leprosy; an agate to quench
thirst and turn away storm and lightning, even
as coral, of which the Neapolitans still wear
amulets to avert the evil eye. Turquoise, &C
cording to Boethius, especially protects against
wife. Amber wards off erysipelas and all soreness
of the throat. Sard, cornelian and the stone
bezoar, mentioned by Lord Lytton, especially
| staunch all fux blood and cure serpents' bites.
while heliotrope confers the gift of prophecy and
long life. Many more precious stones might
be quoted, and these cursory, remarks should
not be closed without a word about the lily
| among gems, the moonlight queen where the
opal is the star, viz. the pure and delicate
| pearl. Whether the supplemented fishermen
still believe or not that they are the tears OF
angels or Of naiads, or celestial drops of dew,
hardened within the shell Of the oyster, the
| priceless gem will ever be considered as the
emblem of purity and the representative of all
feminine virtues. If but part Of the potent
| qualities ascribed to precious stones in general
| by world-old traditions could be conferred in
reality what influence gems would have!