Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-02-06
A MYSTERIOUS GEM.
FANclEs AND POPULAR sUPERsTl-
 TONS ABOUT THE OPAL

of tho Large and Valuable Specimens.
 The Question of Luclr-nIore or Less Un-
 reliable Stories.
 The superstitious dreads and fancies sur 1 rounding the beautiful opal date back to an- cient times, but the cause for placing this wonderful stone, possessing such brilliant hues, under the ban, we'll as tho origin of the dread, is unknown. Scott, in bis s'Anne of Geirstein, alludes to the foolish fancy that has affected the popularity of gem possess ing the glories of the rainbow. The Turks believe that it falls from heaven in the light ning's flash. It is a matter of history that the opal was the favorite gem among the Romans, and 90 far from being feared or looked upon with suspicion and aversion, it was eagerly sought for, as 1t was supposed to possess tho power of warning against disaster and heralding to its owner Edings of good fortune. The Arabians ascribed to it super natural powers, their ardent imaginations swayed and stimulated by the flashing play of ever changing colors emanating from the magnificent mineral
 WHERE THE OPAL IS FOUND
 The records regarding old opal mines arc lost, but it is supposed that the ancientss de- rived their supply from Arabia and Syria The famous Hungarian mines were not dis covered until late in the Fifteenth cent ury, and were of course unknown to the Romano The principal mines from whence opals arc obtained today are situated in Hungary and Honduras. The American opal lacks the hardness of the Hungarian gem, but it is fully as brilliant, and withstands atmospheric inroads upon the colors quite as we'll The magnificent characteristic of the gem, which gives it value and renown, is the brilliant combination of colored reflections which it l displays, and, when the stone is held in the sunlight, the Latin philosopher was correct 1 In stating that 1t was made up of the glories of the most precious stones.
 The gem is found not only in porcelain earth, but also in Assures and seams of old igneous rocks. Quartz, when dawed in the I interior, sometimes exhibits remarkable iradescence, and resembles the opal, especially when viewed at distance. Such specimens are called iris The elegant iris ornaments worn by the Empress Josephine were of re- markable brilliancy and the wonder and envy of tho imperial court She also possessed the finest opal of modern times, which was only displayed when arrayed in all the grandeur of full imperial. splendor. It was indeed a fitting ornament for 80 beautiful woman. Its flashing rays of light were so powerful and vivid as to give the appearance of living flames of fire, and from that it received it's title "rincendir de Troie"-the burning of Troy. The fate of the gem Is unknown, but with the history of the fair owner the most casual reader is familiar.
 Empress Eugenie had superstitious dread amounting to positive aversion for the beau tiful opal and the stone was stranger at the brilliant court It Is possible that Eugenie may have been influenced in her hatred of the gem from Josephine's fondness for the same and attributed to the mysterious work ings of the fiery mineral some subtle, malign influence that conspired to bring about her downfall. But the fact remains inscribed upon the pages of history that although the opal was vigorously banished from Versailles and the Tuieries, Eugenie fled from Paris under cover of darkness, covering with terror in the dusty depths of @ shabby vehicle, as the roar of a raging populace reached her ears.
 In deep contrast is the sterling good sense of England's queen, who admires and values the gem to such degree that she numbers them among her choicest family gifts.
 HIGH PRICED GEMS
 The famous opal of history was that which was worn in ring by the Roman senator Nonius in the days of the triumvirate. Its size scarcely exceeded that of a hazel nut, yet it's beauty and brilliancy rendered it a
 marvel among the dilettanti of Rome, and it
 was valued at nearly q, ,ooo, 900. Marc Antony,
 bearing in mind tho sacrifice of Cleopatra's
 tncomparable pearl and still enslaved by the
 Egyptian queens irresistible charms, made l overtures for the opal, intending to present
 It to the dusky beauty; but Nonius refused to
 part with his cherished gem and sough,
 safety in flight The extreme beauty and
 charm may be estimated when it is known
 that to 6 Roman banishment was worse thar
 death. History makes no further mention
 of this wonderful opal. It has disappeared
 from the worlds collection of gems, and it
 glories have probably yielded to the destruc
 tive effects of time.
 Q The fire opal is found in its greatest per 2 lection in the porphyritic rocks at Zimapan !. Mexico. It Is generally of 8 hyacinth rex
 color, and gleanas forth with flashes of bril- . . liant carmine with yellow and green scintil Il lations The Mexican production surpasse e all other varieties in the intensity and gor h geousness of Its hues, but 1t will not bear ez k posture and the sensitive surface soon loses it flashing beauties. They bring exorbitan n prices in Mexico when sold to the unwary who learn all too soon upon returning to tn v haunts of civilization that they had pai d nearly 50 per cent. too much for the gem. .s The Spanish historians, in their marvelou h stories of tho wonders seen in Mexico at th
 time of the conquest, describe the image c y the mystic idol Quetyalcoau (god of the air U on the great pyramid of Cholula, ss wearin 7 miter waving with plumes of fire, GU r' which was supposed to have been produce " by masses of the fire opal
 v The colors displayed by tho opal enbrae n all tho tints in the solar spectrum. Th as shades of green, blue, yellow and red a1 ] vivid and clear.
 10 The grandest specimen of the gem ever di V rovarod ,var ursnrthod iy, fha mines of HuI