The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-11-29
superstitions About Stones.

From the earliest times il would
seem that all precious stones have been
given superstitious value entirely
apart from that of personal adornment;
30 that while with US of the west the
opal and the pearl appear to be the
only gems to which supernatural pow
ers are ascribed, both the people of the
Orient aud the ancients have regarded
with veneration every jewel, from the
precious diamond TO the common agate.
Ofthe former stone, its special value
in the eyes of the Hindoos is its sup
posed influence upon travellers, protect
ing them from thugs and other dangers
during their journeys and bringing
them safely home to their friends and
relatives.
Among the ancients, according to
Boetius, an authority, the diamond
was regarded as symbolieal of justice,
hence the judges Of hades were deserib-
ed as having hearts and bosOms Of ada
mant; while 1t was in this substance
that the clouds of destiny were shroud-
ed to show their lrrevoeable and i'm
mutable nature.
It was further believed that il one Of
these stones were placed under the pill
low of suspected wife she would in
her sleep disclose either her infidelity
or the reverse; and its antipathy to the
lOde-stOne was supposed to be so great
and powerful as to prevent the latter
from attracting iron when in the same
vicinity.
With the Hindoos Of to-day the ruby
is esteemed as q talisman which il
never shown willingly to friends, and
is considered ominous of the worst pos
sibIe fortune if it should happen to
contain black spots. The ancients ae-
credited it with the power Of restrain
ing passion, and regarded it as a safe
guard against lightning.
Among the Hebrews the sapphire
seems to have been regarded with the
highest veneration, tradition asserting
that the vision which appeared to
Moses on the mount was in a sapphire,
while it was said that the first tables
of the law were engraved upon that
precious substance. A Hindoo author
ity thus describes the influence Of
sapphire over its wearer:
"Of the sapphire, it purifies the
blood, strengthens the system, quenches
thirst, dispels melancholy reflections,
and "a talisman averts danger and
insures honors and competence. In
addition to these properties, the sap
phire was supposed TO have the power
Of reproducing its species, hence the
expression, ''malep or "female" sap
phire, used in the East to-day, denpt-
ing stones Of deep or light color.
To the emerald, according to Pliny,
the ancients attributed the power Of
healing weak sight by gazing into its
soft green depths, and Of its disclosing
false witnesses by changing color in
the presence Of such persons. The
same authority relates with all apparent
seriousness the following curious en-
erald story: "In the Island Of Cyprus
there is placed on the tomb of King
Hermas lion sculptured in marble,
and for eyes emeralds were let in,
which shone 50 brightly on the sur
rounding sea that the fish were fright
ened away, and the fishermen, observ-
ing this with dismay, removed the
emeralds from the lion, replacing them
by some stones not having so much
brillianey." By the Peruvians the
emerald WAS considered the choicest
gift TO make to their idols. Pizarro
mentioning one as large rs an ostrich
egg, which they worshiped under the
title of the Goddess Of Emeralds, and
which was displayed by the high priest
on great festivals only.
Speaking Of other stones Boetius says
the jacinth, if worn on the finger, pro-
cures sleep; the amethyst dispels
drunkenness. and sharpens the wit;
the turquoise preserves from contagion,
drawing upon itself the threatened
sickness, though only if the stone be a
present; the heliotrope renders its
wearer invisible at will; the ehrysolite
loses its brilliancy il placed in the vi
einity Of poison, and also cools boiling
water, while the opal, as IL unites in
itself the colors Of every other gem, 30
also does its possess ali their qualities,
both moral and healing.
By the aneients gems were supposed
TO be generated in the workings OF
lapidific spirits, the pearl being form
ed Of the morning dew drunk in by
shellfish, its unlueky quality being,
lik. the opal, entirely modern and due
to its resemblance to tear.
Certain precious stones were supposed
to symbolic the Twelve Apostles, as
well as the twelve months in the year,
while of the twelve stones set in the
breastplate Of the High Priest Of Israel,
tradition says that when on the day of
atonement the High Priest asked the
Almighty forgiveness for the sins of the
whole nation, If they were forgiven
the stones in the Ufim and Tnum MIN
shone most brightly; if the contrary,
they became black.
Il