The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-30
NATAL STONES.

With the increasing popularity OF gems
in general for all purposes, and for quaint
and rare gems in particular, there is
inst now a decided tendency to revive the
occult lore with which the ancients used
to surround them, making each little bail
of light and color symbolic of some special
mower or meaning, either for good or for
evil. Now the buyer who wishes piece
If iewelry to possess or carry soma such
sneoisl sentiment need no longer be salts
fed with thu simple birth stone, nor trust
TO his own limited knowledge in selecting
the gems. He has only the idea which
he wishes expressed, and an expert Versed
in the knowledge of gems is ready with
designs which may be carried out in artis-
tic as we'll as symbolic form. The stones
are used for every conceivable purpose,
from the simple charm or amulet. which
is now extremely popular, to the most
elaborate chains and pc ndants, The de-
signs vary according to the purpose ZOE
which they are intended, but the most
favored tor chains, bracelets, and for all
purposes for which it can be adapted, is
light chain set at intervals with single
stone, very much after the fashion OF the
beads in a rosary.
| One Of the newest fancies in this line
| is for notices consisting of one or more
words, which are formed by using In
proper succession gems the first letters of
which will spell the word desired. For
instance, the word "hope" is expressed
by using the hyaointh, opal, pearl, and
emerald: "souveinir, by the sapphire,
opal, Uralian emerald, vermeille, emerald
nephrite. iolite, and ruby. "Good luck"
takes the golden beryl, opal, Divine Tor
opal againl diamond, lapls lazull,
| Uralian emerald, cats eye, and kyan1te
| ANY word can thus be expressed, but IL
| REQUIRES both fine assortment or gems
and skiiful arrangements OF them to IN
sure a pleasing effect. Ibis is revival
of an eighteenth century fancy, and is
| particularly suitable for BROOCHES anu
| bracelets
| With the natal stone belonging to each
month of the year, and tho peculiar
superstition attached to it, most of us are
| familiar, but in addition to this there Is
special talismanio gem supposed TO be-
long peculiarly to the guardian angel OF
| the month. For January. Gabriel Is the
angel, and his stone is the onyx; In Feb :
rl1ary, Barchiel has the jasper; March,
Malchediel, the ruby; April. Ashmodel,
topaz; May, Amriel. oarbuncle; June.
Muriel emerald; July, Verchiel, sapphire;
August, Hamatiel, diamond Septem Der,
Isuriel, jacinth; October, Bariel the
agate; November, Adnaohiel, the anne
thysu, and December, Humiel, the beryl.
| Then there IL certain flower for each
month, and this is often selected as the
design for brooches, pendants, etc., and
either the stones belonging to that month
are used or else others are made to spell
some word or to carry some sentiment in
their own symbolic language. Sometimes
by making the birth stone the cen re and
| grou ping the others about it in the form
alton of the flower, all of the different
superstitions attached to that month, and
some sentiment besides, mag be expressed
in the single design.
/ The flowers for the different months are
the snowdrop for January, then in the
| order of the months follow the primrose,
! violet, daisy, hawthorn, honeysuokle,
waterlily, poppy, morning-glory, hop,
chryasanthemum, and, lastly, Tor the
holiday month the holly. Nothing could
be prettier than these new and dainty
designs. Bazaar.