The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-02-12
A MYSTERIOUS GEN.
FANclEs AND POPULAR sUPsRsTl-
TONS ABOUT The Opal

Facts Concerning the Beautiful Cem-some
Of the Large and Valuable Specimens
The Question Of Luck-liore or Less In.
reliable Stories.
The supersiitious breads and fancies sur
rounding the beautiful opal date back to an
cicnt times bat the cause for piacing thi
wonderful stone. possessing such brilliant
huos. under the ban. as well as the origin Of
tho dread. is unknown. Scott, in bis ANN,
q Goirsiein. % aliudes TO the foolish fancy that
has affected the popularity Of a gem posses
ing tho glories Of the rainbow Tho Turk
believe that 10 falls from heaven in the light
ning's fash To is matter Of history that
the opal was the favorto gem among the
Romans aud so far from being feared or
loo.el upon with suspicion and aversion, il
was eagerly sought for, as it was supposed 70
posses tla power Of warning against disaster
and hcralding % is owner tidings Of good
fortune The Arabians oscribod TO IL super
natural power. their ardent imaginations
swayad and stimulated by the flashing play
OF ever changing colors omanating from the
magnificent mineral
WHERE TIE OPAL IS FOUND.
Tho records regarding old opal mines are
lost. but il is supposed that the ancients de
rived their supply from Arabia and Syria.
Tho funms Hungarian mines were not dis.
covered until late in the Fifteenth century
aal woro % course unknown 20 the Romans.
The principal mines from whence opals are
obtained today are situated in Hungary and
Honduras Tae American opal lacks the
harllass % iho Hungarian gem, but 10 is
fuliy rs brilliant, and withstandsatmosphoric
inroals upon tho colors quite rs we'll The
MAGNIFICENT characteristic of the gem, which
gives it value aud reuoHn is the brilliant
combination Of colorel reflections v'lich it
dirrays. and when the stone is held IN the
sunlight tie Ladn philosopher was correct
IN stating that 30 was made up Of tho glories
of the most precious stones
The gem IS found not only in porcelain
efrlh hut also n assures and seams Of oil
imeous rocks Quartz when fawcl in the
interior sometimes exhibits a remarkable
ir.ieoonco. and Do moie the opal, especially
when viewed az distance. Such specimens
are called irs The elegant iris ornaments
worn by The Empross Josephine were Of re-
marsab.o brIhancy and the wonder and envy
of Che imperial comt She also possessed the
iaest opal Of modern times which was only
displayed vhon afraycd 90 ell the grandeur
Of lu.l imperial pleudor, 10 was indeed q
ittmg ornament for SO beautiful woman
Is flashing raysof light were SO powerful
and vivid oa 90 give the appearance Of living
flames Of Gre. and from that IL received it,.
t-ie D incel.-i a' 4roi' - INC burning %
Troy. il' '.'.l % ''' ..'l j. u.''''g' '' ~.
VIII" ,''' '.''''' '' '.'. '-'' 0' ''-' '-' ''''
casual o''.. Us '.''.'''..''
LNil'.'' Lua.'iio '''' % su .''''u' III ''''
sif''n.'lls ~ ''''''' "' '''''' ''i '''' D''.u
i'uI ''''' 'l' ''9 s'on' was u 9''"us'I "' ''.0
'''D''n' COURT 30 ' l-'.'''' ''''' i's,'''5
'''- ""'' '.'' ,'''''' '' '''' ''''''' ''
.'i' a--" '''D' '. '.'''.. 'o'''''''' ''' '.'-
.'-I'' 'n' '.''''.''-' 10 ''' Wy ''.' .ou' "3lA
n-7o OBJ iH' Aeit mineral SONIC suDlIe' Hl'ii-H
influence thai coasnHel 1o nFins about pel
downfall But tho fact remains inscribed
upon The pages Of history that although The
opal was vigorously banisled from Versailles
ana i-' lui.efl.-. Eugene N'i from far7
uniereoteroi d'1'.n.-a. covering WIN terror
n tle dusty depths 81 q shabby vehicle az
tho roar OF a raging popnace reached her
ears
In deep contrast IS the sterling good sen@
of England queen. who admiros and values
the ssm osuch degree that she numbers
them among her choicest family gifts.
ucH PRICED GINS
The famous opal OF history was that which
was worn ina r.n. bv the Roman senator
Nonin, in the dav.of tbe trluuvirate It's
.i,o e.orool, orc,-do3 4taf 81 a hazel mt
,,t FL. l..,r+v and br.iiianev rendered if 81
.,,rysi orooov f.,a lilo+faofio Of ROM. and fl
.....i.. e, rl.oo..o Mo-. A,,..,.,-
..r,..,.. ,.....i .l..'.,o.ie.. ~ C,io,,.,,,...s
i,,.orrnarsl.i. reorl aud sin epslovod bv ths
r..,.,,.., o,..so,s irr,si.,,ll. o,or,,s modo
oy.r,,rs. fan. tho orai intending ~ nresent
IL t,tb.du.l-g bsautv. but Nonius refused 10
rsrt with his cherished oom and SOUGHT
af.ty i'm FIGHT Tho extreme beauty and
charm may be- estimated uhen it is known
that ito n Roman punishment Va, worse than
death. History makes no further mention
of this wonderful opal Il ha, DISAPPEARED
from the world. collection Of gems, ana is
clor.es have probably welded 10 the destruc.
tive effects ~ time.
The frs opai +, fonud in ifs greatest DIR.
lection in tho porphvrltle rocks A. Zimapan.
Mexico. In /, generally Of A hvaointh rel
color and CLEANS forth with flashes Of bril-.
liant carmine with yellow and green scintl-
lations Tho Mexican production surpasses
e1 other varieties ia the intensity, and gor-
geormess of its hues. but it will not bear ox-
posuro and the sensitive surface s0cn loses its
flashing beauties They bring eCorbitant
prices Ia Mexico when sold % the unwary,