The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-04
orALs STILL UNDER rnE BAN.
a Big JcNcIry House that Never
Inudlcs Them.


or all popular superstitions, few are
mora widespread than those connected
with precious stones. AN other fads and
fanclos live their short lives and give place
to others, but the surerstitious surround ling
gems remain and are hantled down from
generation to generation with persistence
worthy of better cause. What bride. re-
meutbering the omen. does not give shud-.
der when loving hapds clasp pearls drounl
her throat? Or what bridesmaid will wear
opals?
Judging from the number of opals worn
by both men and women nowadays, one
might almost believe that the belief 10
their i'll luck had passed. There are yet,
however, many persons. sensible in Other
respects, who will not venture to wear
one OF these beautiful stones. II is u well
known fact that jewelers. never keep so
large stock of opals on hand as other
stores
At large establishment in. one of the
two largest cities in the country opals are
not handled az all. The founder OF the
house-now deal-was strongly prejudicei
against them, ana attributed the wonder
ful success OF his business to the abssace
of opals from his stock. His son declares
that personally ho does not dislike them,
but cut of respect to his fathers wishes
he also declines to carry them. At another
place, 1t is such usual thing for pur-
chaseIs TO return opals In order to dlspel
the III luck which has pursued them since
wearing the stones. that the clerks have
orders 10 say: "Tlis viii be exchanged at
any time you desire" Al the same cs-
taollstnleIl lady recently returned an
opal pm she hnd given her husband At
wor.u persuade hun to wear 1t. 20 she
was forced to exchange It for another
stOue II some Young fellow who prides
himself on being above such nonsense"
happens 10 buy an opal for Detrothal
ring. he always returns It with shame
faced expression, declaring that the girl
refused TO even try it on for fear her en-
gagemelt viii end disastrously. Even
Chicago girls, WHO are credited with beilg
me d. practical, are somet.nes afraid OF
opals. One was presented with valuable
stone procured in Australia. She accepted
it in fear and trembling, and promptly
carried 1t to u jeweller 10 be set. Three
muAihs have passed and she has not yet
raised sufficient courage 10 call for 1t.
we all Alow char tn0se persons bern In
the month OF October can wear opais with
impunMy.
Cctober's child is born FOR wor.
And life's vicissltudes must know;
But l.y an opal on her breast
Aud hope will hull those woes 10 rest.
In such cases the stones are considered a
mascot, and a society woman who has won
lairels In the literary world is seldom seen
wluaotIt a curious pin in the form OF
beetle whose body is formed from large
Hungarian rpal. She attributes all her
SUCCESS to It's magic power.
Actors and actresses are known to be
very superstitious, and nearly all wear
soma part GUAR stone. which. II mslai5,
causes them as muca discomfort as the loss
Of their lines 10 s new play. For instance.
Camille dArville loves the modest tur-
uuo!se, whloa she calls synSathetic
sltSne. The large one always seen on her
she 5 III or unhappy Little Jane Stuart,
whose promising stagetcareer was abruptly
ended by her marriage wssh q wealthy Mil
waulSfe man, would neither wear opals nor
s,,arls and used to tell story OF friend
who los. his pockeibCok containing a large
sum OF money and Other valuables on the
main read leading 10 Newport. Miss Stuart
told him he would not fni his lost treas
ures until he discarded a favnvAe opal
scarfpin He immediately did SO. and, re-
tracing his steps few aours later, found
the pockelbsok With contens Intact.
Some time ago when Nat Goodwin was
playing "a Gold Nine in Boston y was
ihoughts best TO place Steele Ntackayes
-csplonel Tom on IRE boards for a few
nights. The first presentation was sreat