The Democratic advocate., 1891-05-02
Superstition About Gems.
From The British Jewellers Review.

9Clii - SuppOStu " 'to'efNo SNiNtAaH
qualities 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 found. Many
of them are doubtless of Persian or Semitic
origin, but the Greek mythology contains
them nearly ALL Thus, Adamas or dia-
mond was Cretan youth transformed by
Zeus into brilliant and placed among the
stars. Amethyst was another godly favor
ite, whom Diana turned into Il purple
tinted stone, to which Bacchus added the
color of wine To some such origin, and
chiefly from the color of the gems, their
various qualities owe their prestige in
ancient and modern lore The kingly dia-
mond, which has become the appanage of
aristocracy, is the symbol Of justice, inno-
cence, constancy and impassivity of fate.
Camille Leonardus assures us that it battles
the deadliest poison and the most subtle
witchcraft 1t moreover protects ladies
against those horrible nocturnal visitors,
incubes The KCh-i-noor was for centuries
the talisman of India, and when, years
ago, the Governor of BorneO offered $780,
900, two equi pped war brigs and numbers
of cannon for he famous stone of Mantan,
the Rajah refused, on the plea that the
fortunes of his family were connected with
it, and that the water in which it was
dipped cured al diseases Not less power
ful was the sapphire, so useful once to the
neeromancer, 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 sad reversion of fate. and
is no longer lucky stone. The ruby, the
live coal of the Greek, is not less EN-
blematical and potent, and the Brahmin
traditions speak wonders of the abodes Of
gods, lighted by enormous rubies and emer-
aids. 1t was believed to dispel evil thoughts
and warned its wearer of danger by becom-
ing black or obscuae. The Fast Indian
merchants still prize it so highly that they
will not willingly show u fine specimen
without 4 bribe; and the Chinese present
it, to the present day, as Il most sacred
token of friendship. The now humble
garnet and the oblong carbuncle shade the
favors of their parent, the ruby, the latter
of the two being famous for its light 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. If
superstition had still so firm hold as once
it had upon the minds of educated people,
what favorite the amethyst would be,
since such a stone, especially when set in
a cup, rendered the possesser Of it incapa-
bic of intoxication. 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 supposed to be-
was once believed by Albertus Magnus,
Marbodeus and others to rejoice the heart
of its owner by rendering him lQvablc 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 infu-
ence some say that one ought never to
accept it as a present 1t has, however,
been asserted that the opal was not con
sidered unlucky in England until Sir Wal
ter Scott published his "Anne of Geier-
stein" The veneration of the Peruvians
for the green emerald, dedicated to Mer-
curry by the ancients, is well known, and
the worshippers of Mantu 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 conjugal love and to cure dis
temper and leprosy; an agate to quench
thirst and turn away storm and lightning,
even as coral, which the Neapolitans still
wear as amulets to avert the evil eye.
Turquoise, according to Boethius, especially
protects against falls, and heals differences
between man and wife. Amber wards off
erysipelas and all soreness Of the throat.
Sard, eornelian, and the stone bezoar, men
toned by Lord Lytton, especially stanch
all fux blood and cure serpents bites,
while heliotrope confers the gift of proph-
ecy 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 moon
light queen where the opal is the star, viz
the pure and delicate pearl. Whether
simple. minded fishermen still believe or
not that they are the tears of angels Or of
maids, or celestial drops of dew. hardened
within the shell of the oyster the priceless
,,aYn will avpr ha considered nc the nnn-