Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-05-23
Coral.

From our earliest infancy the coral and
bells has. been associated with the cut
ting of teeth-not always "wisdom -
and so among gems it always has the
charm of early association TO endear it to
us. This peculiar form of ornament
originated in the superstition of our an
cestors, who looked upon coral as pre-
sentative against witchoraft, and the
bells were used to scare awsy evil spirits.
The Gauls used coral profusely in the
decoration OF their armor, the color most
priced being of DARK red. To day the
highest pink shade, resem bling an open
rose, is the only color valued, and in
Europe is considered worthy of being
set in the company of diamonds. The
natural pink coral is extremely rare, but
it can be artihcially obtained by baking
the red variety, although the product
thus produced lacks the luster of the
other. In 1865, at the Dublin Exhibi-
ton, a parure of pink coral was valued
at five thousand dollars. In China and
Japan the caps of the Mandarins are dec
grated with coral ball; and when over
an ounce in weight and spherical, com
mands very large price. The ancients
held coral in high regard for its sup
posed talismanic properties as well as de-
voutly believing in its efficacy as
remedy against collie. The mixture com
pounded was not appctizing, as it con
sisted of calcined and pulverized coral,
together with the remains of cried
toad. This delicate mixture was also
considered as q certain antidote against
poison. In the sixteenth century Ferdi-
maud l. of Span wore small branch of
coral suspended round his neck, which
he pointed at any person whose malig-
nant influence he suspected, coral being
potent against the influence Of the "evll
eye" The physicians used it as an in
sredient for their salves, as its astriDgent
properties were useful in cases of obsti-
nate ulcers. The Hindoos have from the
earliest times highly valued coral, and
among the Brahmans, necklaces of coral
beads were generally worn, the Romans
exchanging coral for pearls; and to-day
they use it extensively to decorate their
pipes, arms, etc. Coral is equally becoin-
ing to the blonde aud brunette, and the
Empress Eugenic had q superb necklace
of coral aud diamonds which showed off
the beauty of her perfect neck. Coral
abounds in the Mediterranean and in the
Pacific, and the ceaseless labors OF these
little zoophites have added many Gu
island, now clothed with luxuriant vege-
tation, to the earth's surface, which re-
lieves the eye of the weary mariner from
the everlasting monotony of water every
where. An early writer tells US that coral
worn by healthy man retains its color;
but if he should be sick or in danger of
death, the coral loses color aud becomes
pale and livid. The Romans consecrated
it to Jupiter and Phebus, as it preserved
the wearer from thunderbolts and light
ming. In the sixteenth century coral was
much employed in the adjournment of the
sacred vessels; and some very beautiful
statuettes of the Renaissance period are
in the Vatican collection, the artist hav-
ing skillfullY availed himself of the nat
ural disposition of the stem and its
branches to form the body and limbs in
the attitudes required by the design
Once-a- Week.