Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-27
RETURN OF AN OLD FAvoRIrE.
Amcthysts Have Once More Becomc
pnnnInr In E~nshiOnnhIc society.

A~mcthysts Have Once More Becornc
Popular in Fashionable society.
One of the newest OF fashionable c%aprices
DEGREES that the amethyst shall be restored
to the favor from which 1t mas fallen dur
ing the past three decades.
Good taste ~rejoices that the wearing of
the stone is sanctioned by fashion, says the
st. Louis Republic, for few more beautiful
jewels exist.
From the most ancient times, save for the
period OF neglect above mentioned, the anne
thyst has been a favorite Nor
has it's value been based upon its ornamental
properties alone. Pliny Is authority for
the statement that the name of the stone
is derived from the Greek "amestheistos'-
power to prevent drunkenness. In this con-
nection it may be stated that the divinity
of the amethyst Is Neptune. The question
whether the selection is merely coincidence
or based on the gods association with the
waters and kindred affairs is one OF the
enigmas whose answer is lost In the gloom
of antiquity. The mere coincidence, II such
it be, certainly Is felicitous.
Sincerity is the attribute which sentiment
attaches to the amethyst, the thought doubt
less being inspired by the stones pure and
delicate hue.
The month to which the stone is dedicated
Is February.
THE bishop stone" is one of the terms by
which the amethyst is fancifully known: II
is said that the official ring of ecclesiastic
authorities has an amethyst setting.
So much for superstition and sentiment
Regardless of questions as to whe her the
gift of an amethyst will have the desired
effect upon your inebriate friend, certain
it Is that the recent wilm of fashion has
revived the popularity of an article of true
beauty. The deep, liquid purple, the mystic
rious, velvety appearance of a coed speci.
men, aud the stones effectiveness in com
bination with other jewels commend 1t &c
all jewelry lovers. Indications are that the
reintroduction of the stone is not a com.
pliance with a mere fad, but a demand fol
a genuine revival of the gems use. An
amethyst is not an expensive luxury as
jewels go; it Is one of the small class OF
things of beauty found in quantities sufll-
GENTLY plentiful to hold their price down
to moderation. Siberia supplies the speci-
mems whose clearness and richness and
color give them the position as the best OF
their kind, vast quantities of an inferior
grade of the crystal are found in the Lake
Superior region. Ceylon, India, Brazil, the
mines in the Rocky mountains and a score
of other localities have been found to be
storohouses from which the stone has beer
taken in varying quantity and quality. A
great many of the finds are useless for or
namental purposes, on account of opaque
ness or deficiency or u~nevenness in color,
Brazilian amethySts are not infrequently
white. In composition the stone is almost
Identical with the topaz; the similarity
therefore. existing between the latter and
the white amethyst is said oftentimes to be
turned to good account.
1t is difficult to account for the decree OF
social Punishment from which the amethyst
is just now emerging. We've the stone less
beautiful or extravagantly costly the ex-
PLANTATION would be less hidden. However
1t appears to have returned to the boudoir OF
beauty for a long stay.