Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-27

ponds upon its size and the intensity of its fire
| ana combination of colors. The colorz dis
played by an opal embrace all the tints in the
SOAR spectrum. The shades of green. blue,
yellow and red are vivid and clear
One of the prettiest combinations in the low
eler . art is the opal surrounded with diamonds
ihe foolish prejudice and dark superstitions
are rapidly diving OF: and the value of the
gem. which had reached low water mark during
us punishment, has increased lately over 30
per cent During the last two years the trade
ana demand IN the gem has increased at a rapid
pace ana ten times many opals are i'm
ported now As during the preceding decade
1oung ladies' in Washington are firm be-
Levers IN the efficiency and potency of the
gem. They are providing themselves with the
long neglected stone and the following circum-
stance accounts for it all:
The Spanish minister sometime ago pre-
sented Mexican opal 20 each of the following
Young ladies' Miss Bancroft. Miss Melbourne
and Miss Flora West. The first named is now
Mr.. charles Carroll. Miss Melbourne has be-
come Mrs. Berry Wall and Miss West is Mrs
Salanson.
sCPERsTTTIoUs CIRCUMSTANCES.
There are sensible women who are not SUPER
stitious, but who frankly admit they have n
prejudice against opals. There is a lady in
New York who has full set of opals and dia-
mond earrings. pins. bracelets rings and hat
pins. She was once prosperous aud lived in
wealth. but in the last five wears has had more
misfortune than usually befalls one woman
Divorce, loss Of fortune and parents followed
quickly. and she never wears her spals; l., fact.
she disposed of them. but. az her friends stated
too late. Another lady ascribes misfortune to a
beautiful opal ring which she keeps because it
Is an heirloom, but will not wear il nor allow
her children to wear il. Ii was given to her by
her brother when on his deathbed and after his
death she wore it. The very first night the
water pipes burst and caused a damage Of sew
erai thousand dollars. She had had q PRESENT.
ment when she put on the ring that something
was gong to happen, and after that night she
ceased TO wear it, Several wears later her
daughter put it on and gentleman friend was
SO taken with its appearance that he asked to
wear IT. What followed is considered remark
able. He had been very prosperous and had
lately mounted the ladder of prosperity rapidly.
shortly afterward he fell as suddenly. lie re-
turned the ring. having become a convert TO the
popular superstition.
strange story il told Of an opal belonging 10
an old Nlrginian family. Ii was n magnificent
line opal and had been beQueathed to the eldest
son In the American branch by an old uncle in
England He was handsome. sturdy boy,
fond of athletic sports, and soon after receiving
the opal be was thrown from his horse and
received injuries that affected his spine and de-
formed him. He fell in love. but was sent
away with an attendant to travel as the best
and only remedy for him. and IN three wears
returned to find the Girl he loved married. one
day early IN their acquaintance he had shown
her the opal and because she had given a little
cry of pleasure he had il set in a ring and pre-
sented her with it.
1t was not long after his return from abroad
that he BEARD in quick succession of the death
OF her father. mother and brother, and then one
day he received a letter from her with casket
containing the opal ring. The letter begged
him TO take back the gem lest Il should bring
more calamities to her and her house. Barely
had this reached him when a telegram came
from her husband announcing his wife's sud-
den death Soon after the Young mans father
died and heart broken he left his native state
for California II may not have been the opal.
but the owner no longer carries il among his
possessions.
INSTANCE OF GOOD LUCK.
But the opal is not without its defenders and
champions. Maiden Lane jeweler asserts
that the opal is anything but an unluckv stone
Good fortune. he asserts, goes with the opal
and all who desire 10 win the smiles of the blind
goddess should provide themselves with the
stone in some shape. "A customer of mine" ,
he said. told me little story regarding .he \
power OF the opal. Last Christmas his vie I
made him a present OF n scalfpin Get with an 4
opal At the time he had NOR gage ON hi,
house, his business-he il a coffee broker--and I
bad been dabbling with the money side of the 4
market, was in desperate condition: be was /
threatened with paresis. and his affnirs ccners !
ally wers In desperate condition. Pretty sooa 1
coase began 70 rise and kept going NJ. and car !
r1ed the man along with the tide. He cleared /
handsome sum, paid Oh The mortgage aud had /
Substantial balance left upon which 10 draw.
Nov here's the most remarkable part l
g IL story. some one clipped the pin out Of |
his scarf one day In a crowd The very mart
Day he fell down Stain and broke two ribs. his