New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-09

bnd hone viii iull those woes 10 rest
TIL. onal is composed Of silica and water and the
flashing OF its colors Il due 10 the retracuon oi
light on the tiny scales and assures WITHIN the
stone. which act like a prism. dividing the hsn'
and throwing out all the varying hues OF the ram
bow.
The opal possesses peculiar susceptibility 70 OUT
side influences DuIness and brilliancy succeed each
other with regularity OF atmospheric variations
Too much heat will rob the stone OF its beauty
and some species are spoiled by too much moisture
scence has discovered that the human body. IN GER
tain diseased conditions. emits vapors that are
canahle Of rendering the stone dull and opaque
II Is this curious fact that has given rise 70 super
sti,ious IDEAS among the ignorant or the present
age
The ancients venerated the opal as stone OF
GOOD omen and invested It with power 10 panish
evil spir,ts TO inspire pure thoughts and to induce
sweet dreams" They called It the 'love-stone'
plnv gives an account OF Roman Senator VINO
nossessed a beautiful opal. which was coveted by
Marcus Antonius who wished TO present II 10
C,.opatra. The Senator refused TO part with the
iewel and was finally exied on that account
s,r Walter Scott Is largely responsible for the
belief in the i-lucls OF the opal. In MS Anne OF
Ge,erstein" he exaggerated and distorted Its prop
critics TO heighten the uncanny element or the
story The Jewellers and precious-stone dealers or
the eighteenth century. who had invested largely
In opa,s were nearly made bankrupt by the real
istic effects OF this story.
Queen Victoria who has strong liking FOR the
opal has done much 10 allay superstitlous IDEAS,
bes.ovtnx opals as jewel gifts upon her friends
Most ~ the precious opals come from czenowitsa
IN Hungary The Mexican opals or hydrophanes
are a. transparent variety which occasionally ex-
hibit brilliant play OF color but as water destroys
their beauty they are not considered desirable for
ring stones
There Is an opal which comes from Australia that
e .,ro.. black Tongues OF fame shoot out from
urcrnected parts OF these stones and give them
IN. effect Of being In a state Of combustion.
Not few supersti,ious Spanards believe thar
TIA ro,srortlnes 81 the present dynasty have been
caused BY an ill-omened opal. given by neglected
hsautv and adventures 10 Alfonso XII. less than
q ouartes of a century ago. The King first gave
u n oueen Mercedes who admired its great beauty.
and she died in few months. The King not WISH
nI1een f'hrfstiana who only lived short time after
receiving II. II was next bestowed upon tne IN
Sster,om, illness. The King then presented the
fatal ring his sister-in- law me younsesi aausn
Ter OF the Due and Duchess de Montpensier. who
awe, Alter these fatalities the King decided 20
keep the ring himself. but, evidently not beiievlng
in any evil influence put the eng within On ms
fonr hours The Queen Regent. who is not at all
superstitious took possession Of the ring. but IN
asr II she hung IL about the neck OF her patron
saint at Madrid where II Is to-day That IL mas
Influenced the saint TO e ss IS ana ao the ecu Queen
has been implored BY the superstitious 10 destroy
the ring or send it out OF the country
tober he will possess handsome face, but will be
poor in this worlds goods. woman who claims
os'Sesr and he prens and is likely unhappy
unless she wears an opal