Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-10-18
Superstitions About Gems.
THE QUALITIES SUPPOSED TO Re POssEssE
BY THE SPARKLING JEWELS.

British jewelers. RevieW.]
Each gem is supposed to possess certain
qualities which are its special dOWry. Thu
origin of the practice can generally bt
traced in the etymology of the word, OF il
the myth or legend attached to each gen
in the country where it was first found
Many OF them are doubtless OF Persian o.
Semitic origin, but the Greek mythology
contains them nearly all. Thus, Adama:
OF diamond was a Cretan youth transform
ed by Zeus into a brilliant and PLACED
among the stars. Amethyst was another
godIy favorite, whom Diana turned into {
purple-tinted stone, to which Pacchus ad
ded the color of the wine. TO some sucl
origin, and chiefly from the color of the
gems, their various qualities owe theil
prestige in ancient and modern lore. The
kingly diamond, which has become the ap-
panage OF aristocracy, is the symbol OF
justice, innocence, constancy and mpas
sivity of fate. Cataille Leonardus assures
us that it battles the deadliest poison and
the most subtle witchcraft. IL moreover
protects ladies against those horrible noe
tuInal visitors, incubeS. The Koh-inool
was for centuries the talisman of India
and when, years ago. the Governor OF
Borneo offered S500,0O0, two equipped wal
briggs and numbers of cannon for the
famous stone of Matan the Ra jah refused
on the plea that the fortunes OF his family
were connected with it, and The water il
which it was dipped cured all diseases.
Not less powerful was the sapphire, SC
useful once to the necromancer, OF the holy
stone, as it was called, being the emblem
of chastity, and securing the granting OF
all prayers. The pagans dedicated it tc
Apollo. 1t became the Episcopal stone by
decree of Innocent Ill, in the twelfth cen
fury, but in modern days it has met with a
sad reversion of fate, and is no longer a
lucky stone. The ruby, the live coal of
the Greek, is not less mathematical and
potent, and the Brahmin traditions speak
wonders of the abodes of gods, lighted by
enormous rubies and emeraldS. 1t was be-
Heyed to dispel evil thoughts, and warned
its Wearer Of danger by becoming black
and obscure. Tie East Indian merchants
still prize it so highly that they will not
willingly show line specimen without a
bride; and the Chinese present it, to the
present day, as a most sacred token OF
friendship. The now humble garnet and
their parent, the ruby, the latter OF the two
being famous for its ight-giving proper
ties i'll the dark.
Topaz, the gold-stone of the ancients, was
much valued by them for medicinal pur-
poses, for dispelling enchantment and fol
calming frenzy II superstition had still Sc
firm hold as once it had upon the minds
amethyst would be, since such stone,
especially when set i'll cup, rendered the
posseSs0r Of it incapable of intOXication
According to modern etiquette, the anne
thyst 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 supposed to be, was once be
lieved by LibertuS Magnus, Marbodeus ard
others to rejoice the heart Of its owner by
rendering him loVable and hestowing upon
him the gift of inYisihility, which made il
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 pres
emit 1t has, however, been asserted that
the opal was not considered unlucky in
England until Sir Walter Scott published
his Anne of Geierstein.''
The generations OF the PeruyianS for the
green emerald, dedicated to Mercury by the
ancients, is we'll known, and the Worship
erS of Nlantu still believe that the mines
whence are extracted all the daughters OF
the mother-gem are guarded by terrible
genii, dragons and other one-eyed people
The beryl was once supposed to increase
leprosyi an agate 20 quench thirst and turn
away storm and lightning, even as coral
OF Whichth Neapolitans still wear anu.
lets to avert the evil eye. TurIuois, ac-
cording to Boethius, especially protects
against falls, aud heals differences between
man and wife. Amber wards off erysipelas
and all soreness Of the throat. Sard, car
nelian and the stone bezoar, mentioned by
l ord Lytton, especially staneh az fl9S
otrope confers the gift of prophecy. and
long life. Many more precious stones
might be quoted, and these curSOry re-
marks should not be closed without a word