The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-08
MAGIC OF THE RING OF DEATH
THE CIRCLET BELONGS IN SPAIN
AND HAS A GRUESOME STORY.
Stories In Which Various of the
Worlds Celebrities Place Theil
Dependence For Security.

The magic power of precious stones
is a belief dating back to the ancients'
The gift of eloquence is bestowed by
the sardonyx, and Disraei wore
ring set with this jewel upon all occa-
sions when he wished to electrify his
auditors and win new adherents to his
cause. That this belief in the stone
goes back into the centuries is evinced
by the fact that Pliny tells story
of an impecunious lawyer VINO hlred
a. sardonyx with which to defend Tie
cause of certain fair widow. pos
sessed of great wealth. and he sue
ceeded in winning both his cause and
the widow at one and the same time.
The Princess Louise of Lorne wears
a ring set with sparkling jet as one OF
her talismans, which is supposed 10
have singular efficacy in preserving
health. So very superStitiouS is the
royal lady that sometimes she Will nor
attend public functions as agreed upon
on the plea that she knows II Will De
one of her bad days. Quite as mucn
as she treasures her jet ring does she
also value and consult the cards winch
are regularly sent to her from Paris.
These cards are issued at the begin
ming Of each year, and give list OF the
DAYS and hours to be avoided DUR
ing the coming twelvemonth-
The ancient theory regarding Jeq
was that if powdered and mixed WIN
wine, it was a sovereign remedy
against toothache. 1t was also mar
velous discoverer of unfaithfulness.
The shah of Persia is never Withouf
his cube of amber which he wears
around his neck. 1t is reported to have
fallen from heaven in the time of MOI
manned. Among other properties. 70
has also the power of rendering ITS
wearer invulnerable. Domitious' nero
used TO wear a lock of his wife's hair
about his neck, thinking it was 3ene7
fetal because it was amber-colored.
Although many people believe that
pearls mean tears. the Rothschild fam
ily refuse to believe that their fate
may be influenced by precious stones.
Upon the birth of every girl Roths7
child baby, six pearls are purchased
each costing $500; upon each birthday
six more pearls are added so that
when the young woman makes her de-
but she possesses a casket of magnifi-
cent gems.
M. loIa is embarrassed in the trivial
details of his daily life by host Of
fears. and a belief in
good and evil oInens. His fancy takesi
the form of numbers. and seventeen
as a talisman against the perils Of
flood and field and thunder. and al
because it means courage
and wisdom.
Agate, which insures long life. health;
and prosperity, is the good omen worn
by the German emperor. The young,
car of Russia wears Il ring in which
he believes is imbedded bit of The
true cross. Once, while travelling from
st. Petersburg to Moscow, he suddenly
found that he had forgotten his ring.
The train was stopped and a meSsen-
ger sent flying back N an express en-
CINE for it.
That "the ring of death belongs III
Spain is oninous. 1t is a rare and
beautiful ring, but it is never worn
nor kept in anyone's possession, as
it is considered worse than the ) evil
eye This fatal ring hstngs about the
neck of the patron saint of Madrid. IN
one of the most beautiful parks OF tho
Spanish capital. 1t is of pearls and
diamonds, but there is no special pro
vision made for watching it, as u SUI
perstitious people like the Spanish pre- I
fer to give it a wide berth. and there
is no fear or hope Of its Being stolen.
The story of the ring is a traSit
one. 1t was made for the father Of TIL
present boy king, and he presented ! 4
to Mercedes upon the day of their be
trothal. Her married life was sloc1t
Queen Christina, the kings grant
mother, next wore the ring. but shorsI
~ after died, and the king gave il III
his sister. Infanta del Pillar. who died.
within the month following. The rlnsI
then passed to a daughter of the Du I
de Montpensier, and III less than th-ets
she, TOO, died. I he king. tear
ing its influence. DUt the jewel IN hisi
own treasure box; before the year was
out he died, and it was thought best
to put the ring away from the living
hence it was hung about the neck OF
The statue, where, its history being 50
we'll known, it is deemed to be as SAFE
IS though surrounded by Gordon Of
police. j. Z.