Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-08-10
THE SAPPHIRE.
Peculiar Significance Attached to tn

Peculiar Significance Attached to the Pos session of the Gem.
 What color can compare with the ex. quis1te blue of perfect sapphire. either seen in the gem or illuminating with twin-like effulgence some bewttch. ing face of maiden fair, or in the sunny skies of Italy, whose sapphire hue has
 been so enthusiastically described by poets and romancers? The name of
 sapphire was not. however, originally confined to one gem, but was given to all gems of beautiful blue color; and, strange to relate, 1t has an almost identical sound in various languages Thus, ln Greek we have Zapphirus, in Latin Sapphirus and in Hebrew Sapphlr It has always been fsvorite with the church, a cardinal being pre- sented with this gem, set iD his state ring, at the time of taking the purple The ancients attributed magical pow
 CT to the sapphire over evil thoughts and over sickness and considered that It was great preservative of chastity, for which reason 1t was much used by the priests. Edward the Confessor had
 a fine one, which he wore as 8 ring, and which Is now to be seen in the crown ot Queen Victoria, and forms not the least valuable of the many historical gems of which the crown is composed. But the most curious sapphire in exist ence is the one in St Petersburg muse um, whose color varies from whitish to clear blue, and on it is engraved a draped head, so that the face is white and the folds blue, which produces a beautiful effect. There is also another stone engraved with the head of Nero, and said to have origin ally belonged to this monster of wicked ness. Like most other precious stones,
 the finest sapphires are found in India, and can be distinguished from other
 kinds by the fact that the Oriental
 sapphire retains it's exquisite color by
 gaslight, whereas the less valuable Sinds show black, or like an amethyst In color. The finest are obtained from
 Burmah, and a few from Ceylon- In
 the latter place the unsophisticated
 traveller on the lookout for bargains is apt to be taken in by the innocent
 looking natives, who are slzillful work
 CTS in metals, and adopts in deceit, and will set lovely-looking sapphire of
 the richest blue in brass setting, and
 ask some ridiculously low price, which
 appears to you to be totally inadequate
 You hurriedly purchase the stone,
 chuckling to yourself on your good for
 tune in securing such prize, eagerly
 seek out an expert to declare the value of your, gem, only to learn that it is valueless ''dou btlet," composed of two pieces of crystal with color between
 them. These are so marvelously united
 that it is almost impossible, without
 the aid of file, to detect the imposture.
 The writer was the possessor of one of
 these bogus rings, and can speak feel
 ingly as to the awakening"
 The ring of Cardinal Wolsey was
 magnificent stone, engraved with his crest and coat of arms, and is now, I
 believe, in the possession of MT. King.
 This gentleman (Mr. King) tells us of an unexpected treasure of lovers of art
 being found, forming the orna ament of
 the pommel of the handle of Turkish dagger. It was pale rounded sapphire,
 nearly an inch in diameter; but upon removing 1t from its setting a magnifi- cent head of Jupiter was found en- graved upon it. evidently of great an- tiquity, arguing either that the owner
 was an admirer of art, or that, having stolen it, he hoped to conceal its identity by setting its face downwards.
 The sappnlre der1Ved It's enc1ent name, of Hyacinthus from the resem bl ance of it's color to the blue feur-de-lys, fabled
 to have sprung from the blood of Apol- los favorite, Hyacinthus, and was con- sidered sacred to Apollo, and invariably
 worn when consulting his oracles.
 We read in ancient legends that every month of the year has stone sacred to itself, which should be worn as an amulet by those born in that month.
 So, my gentle readers born in the
 month of sunshine and showers, be sure to have sapphire for your talis-
 man.-Once a Week.