St. Paul daily globe., 1889-07-30
PRECIOUS STONES.
The Strange Superstitions Con-
nected With Many Of Them


nected With Many Of Them.
Detroit Free Press.
Agate quenches thirst, and if held in
the mouth allays fever. 1t is supposed.
at least in fable, to render the wearer
Invisible, and to turn the swords of foes
against themselves. 1t is the emblem
of health and long life, and is dedicated
: to Juno. In the zodiac it stands for
Scorpio.
Amber is cure for sore throat and
all glandular sWellings. 1t is said to be
concretlOn of BIRDS tears. The birds
which wept amber were the sisters of
Meleager, called Meleagrides, " no never
ceased weeping for their brothers.
death.
{ Amethyst banishes the desire for
drink and promotes chastity. The
Greeks thought it cOunteracted the eff
fects of wine. The amethyst is an EN-
blem OF humility and sObriety. 1t is
dedicated to February and Venus. In
! the zodiac it. represents Sagittarius, in
metallurgy copper, in Christian art it is
/ given to St. Matthew. and in the Roman
/ Catholic church it is set in the pastoral
/ "prelate's gem.''
/ Cats eye is considered by the Gin
galese as a charm against witchcraft,
and to be the abode of some genii.
Coral is talisman against enchant-
ments, thunder, witchcraft and other
perils of flood and field. 1t was conse-
Grated to Jupiter and Ph9bus. Red
coral worn about the person is consid-
cred cure for indigestion.
Crystal induces visions, promotes
sleep, and insures good dreams. 1t is
dedicated to the moon and in metallurgy
stands for silver.
Diamond produces sonamubulism
and promotes spiritual ecstasy. The
diamond is an emblem of innocence, and
is dedicated to April and the sun. In
the zodiac it stands for Virgo, in metal
lurgy for gold, in Christian art invul-
nerable faith.
Emerald promotes friendship and con-
stancy of mind. If serpent fixes it's
eye OH an emerald it becomes blind. 1t
is an emblem of success i'm love, and is
dedicated to May; in the zodiac it
stands for Cancer, in metallurgy for
iron. and in Christian art is given to
st. John. 1t is dedicated to Mars.
Garnet preserves health and joy. 1t
is all emblem of cOnStancy, and is dedi-
Gated to January. This was the car
buncle of the ancientS.
.Jacinth is also dedicated to January.
LOadStOne produces SOmnambulisn,
is dedicated to Mercury and in metural-
lurgy stands for quicksilver.
MOOnstOne has the virtue of making
trees fruitful and of curing epilepsy.
1t contains in it an image of the moon,
representing its increase and decrease
every month.
Onyx contains in it an imprisoned
dAtyIl inl OF nd
causes terror to the wearer, disturbing
sleep with ugly dreams. Cupid, with
the sharp point of his arrows, cut the
nails OF Venus during sleep, and the
parings, falling into the Indus. sank to
the bottom and turned into onyXeS. In
the zodiac it stands for Aquarius: some
say it is the emblem of August and con-
jugal love: in Christian art it symbol
ICES sincerity.
Opal is fatal to love and sows discord
between the giver and the receiver.
Given as an engagement token it is sure
to bring ill luck. The opal is the en-
blem of hope, and is dedicated to Oc-
tOber.
Ruby. The Burmese believe that the
ruby ripens like fruit. They say that
ruby in its crude state is cOlorless.
and, as it natures, changes first to yell
lOW, tuCI W SICCu, UiltH w UluS, dllQ
lastly to brilliant red, its highest
state of perfection and ripeness. In
the zodiac it stands for Aries. Some
give it to December, and make it the
emblem of brilliant success.
Sapphire produces somnambulism and
impels the Wearer to all good works. in
the zodiac it signifies Leo. and in Chris
tian art is dedicated to st. Andrew, en-
iblematic of his heavenly faith and good
hope. Some give this gem to April.
1, Topaz is favorable to hemorrhages,
imparts strength and promotes diges-
ton. 1t is an emblem of fidelity and is
dedicated to november. In the zodiac
it stands for Taurus, and in Christian
art is given to st. James the Less.
Turquoise, given by loving hands,
carries with it happiness and good fort
une. 1t color always pales when the
well-being of the giver is in peril. 1t is
an emblem of prosperity and is dedi-
Gated to December. In the zodiac it
stands for Saturn, and in metallurgy
for lead.
A bouqut, composed of diamonds,
loa dstones and sapphires combined. rem
ders a person almost lnvincible and
wholly irresistible.
All precious stones are purified by
honey.