The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-15

One great authority has even gone so far
as to tell us that the balas should not
be counted a true ruby at ell. but this
patriotic Briton would call hypercriucal.
for is not the historic stone which holds
the proud position in front of the crown
of England described in the ancient in
ventory of the regalia as "a very great
ballace?"
The story of this gem, though we'll
known, is romantic enough TO bear rope
tition here. 1t was given by Pedro of Cas-
tile to the Black Prince in gratitude for
his assistance at the battle of Naiera Ed
ward wore il at Greasy, and 1t was set in
the helmet of Henry V, who bore Il
through the field of Agincourt. After that
its fortunes varied with those of the Eng
lish sovereigns. Il was frequently pawned
and at last taken TO Holland by the Queen
of Charles for the purpose of raising the
wind" Being unTedeemed IL subsequently
fell into the hands of Peter the Great.
when that monarch was enrolled on the
iist of carpenters in the employ of the East
India Company at Amsterdam studying
the English art of shipbuifding. When he
went to England. he took the great ruby.
which was still in its rough state and val
ued at $4,000, in his pocket, wrapped in a
piece of brown paper. On arrival at Wind
sor Castle he presented il to William III
in return, say some authorities, for the
gift of the ship the Royal Transport. VIII
liam had the stone placed where It now is.
in the crown. 1t Is rounded In shape. like
a large, ripe cherry, and hole bored in
its center is flied by a smaller ruby.
The great balas is not. of course. the
largest ruby known. The Emperor Ru-
dolph ii is said TO have possessed one as
large as a hens egg, but ats color, the
criterion of value. was inferior: No one
seems to know what has become of the
three rubies known as the Three Breth-
rem" and owned by Charles the Bold the
great Duke of Burgundy. but they would
seem to have at one time formed part of
the British crown jewels, for there is in
the British museum a letter from James
l to his son, wherein he writes; 81 send
you for your wearing the Three Brethren"
The ring which weds the English sovereign
to the country, being placed on the right
hand during the coronation ceremonies, Is
composed of a large table" or square-cut
ruby, on which is craven the cross of St
George.
Much has already been written concern
ing the Superstitions connected with this
gem. The fortieth anniversary of marriage
is called the ruby wedding" but II is as
porte bonheur for those born In July
that the stone is most priced, as IL is sup
posed to preserve them from mistaken
friendships, TO prevent love troubles, or
at least to insure forgetfulness of them
and to betray the presence of poison by
turning pale. The birthstone superstition
is of Polish origin. Every nation, how
ever, has contributed something to the
folklore of the ruby The Egyptians cred
tied it with the power of dispellng melan-
choly and quenching thirst in the desert
The Hindoos say that il warns IT'S owner
of danger, and that 1t inspires the lover of
woman who wears IL to brave and noble
deeds. 1t has been hailed as a peace
making stone, for II Gains anger and re-
strains inordinate imagination.
But, perhaps, the most poetic of all the
myths associated with the king of gems"
is the Persian legend of the elixir of life.
which an angel brought to Sultan Sulle-
man. The precious draught was contained
In ruby cup, formed of the sunset rays
solidifed, and the monarch was bidden
to drink of il IL he would have everlasting
youth on earth. He took counsel with the
djins, the peris, with men and women,
with beasts and birds. All advised him
the dove, who, summoned from her nest
paused to ask if the gift of perpetual life
extended also to those whom Sulleman
loved. May" said the king, 1.-The cup Is
for me alone.' Then" said the white
dove, better were death than life bereft
of love" Sulieman seeing in a vision,
the long, dark vista of the barren years,
shuddered and dashed the fatal cup to the
ground and the dove flew back to her nest
In haste, lest her eggs should grow cold.