The times., 1901-04-28
THE LEGENDS ABOUT GEMS
SuperstitiOns Held as to Alleged
Mystic Properties.
Certain stones Relieved to Possess
Qualities That Act as Remedies of
Evils and IIIs-Others Said to Garry
with Them Powers of SOrcery.

| With Them Powers of SOrcery.
| Superstitions concerning the magic prop
critics alleged to be possessed by rare
! gems have not disappeared, even in the
| light of the twentieth century. In certain
lands and among certain people there is
| almost as much faith in the efficacy of
| a stone as there was in the dark ages
when every gem conferred good or evil
| under circumstances to which il was spe-
| cially applicable. There was time when
| every ailment could, it was claimed, find
its antidote in some gem, for the reason,
| it was believed, that precious stones had
! been endowed with talsmanic curative
and supernatural powers.
| Certain gems preserved man from in
| cubi, vampires and kindred terrOrs; others
preserved him from the powers of sor-
| Gerry or conferred the powers of witch
| craft BY their aid he controlled the
| spirits of evil or was protected from their
malign influence With a certain gem he
| believed he could foretell the future, re-
view the past or conjure up pictures OF
| events taking place at a distance. Pro-
| tected by their mystical influences he
| feared peither plague nor poison; while
| his belief in the marvellous efficacy of
/ their curative powers gave them place
/
The virtues of gems were diverse; some
procured the favor of the great. others
| rendered their possessors amiable, wise,
| strong, and brave Some protected one
from fire, lightning, and tempests; others
| were protectors from danger and disease
Some gems were preferred as taIismans
and charms, others were used as drugs
| either alone or with eiectuaries, and with
| or without prayers, incantatiOns, or other
| prescribed formulas.
RELATIONS TO THE PLANETS.
| Certain gems brought good or evil
through the alleged planetary influences
of certain days All yellow gems were
appropriate for Sunday being indicative
| of the sun. Monday, the moon day, all
white stones, except the diamond, were
TO be worn. Tuesday, the day of Mars,
claimed garnets, rubies and other red
stones. Wednesday demanded blue stones.
| Thor S-day. or Thursday, required anne
| thysts and other stones of sanguine
| tint. Friday, the day of Venus, had for
! it's gem the emerald. Saturn day, or
Saturday. claimed the diamond
particular stone was potent for good
during n particular month, and under
proper astrological control, was supposed
to have a mystical influence over the
| twelve parts of the human anatomy, an
arbitrary division common among the peo-
pie of Europe in the Middle Ages. Such
a gem was tie more potent if the natal
day Of the wearer corresponded with its
particular sign, and when worn as
month stone was supposed to attract pro-
pitious influences and avert malign ef-
fects.
These stones, their zodiacal control, and
most potent periods. Of influence, are:
Garnet, Aquarius, January u to Febru-
ary 21; amethyst, Pisces, February Il to
March p; bloodstone. Aries, March q to
April 20; sapphire, Taurus, April 70 to May
fr,f AF1xr T.
aid Cancer, June y to July z; onyx, Leo,
July % ta August p; carnelian, Scorpio,
August y to September 22i chrySOlite, Lii
| bra, September y to November q; topaz.
Sagitarius November q to December q;
ruby, Capricornus, December Il to Janu-
airy Il.
Stones were believed by many to be in
sympathy with what was termed the
seven planets viz, Saturn, turquoise. sap
phire: Jupiter, carnelian, topaz, amethyst;
Mars. jasper. emerald; Venus, emerald,
amethyst, topaz; Mercury, crystal, agate,
emerald: moon. mOonstone, topaz. and all
white stones; sun. diamond and ruby
The HindOo propitiated hostile stars by
the bestowal of gems. II the sun was hos
tile, ruby, the moon Il pearl; if SAM,
A star affecting to a powerful degree the
dcstinies of men, according to the Hindoo
idea, sapphire was used. The Hindoo
also believed he aVerted the evil effects Of
adverse astral influences by wearing GER
tain stones. If the sun was ayerse the
cats eye was worn. If the moon. the
sapphire, and so forth.
GEMS AND THEIR CoLORs.
The mystic ascribed a certain signii-
canoe both to the gem and to its various
colors For example, white was the en-
blem Of light purity, faith, innocence, JOY,
and life. When worn by women it was
emblematic of chastity; by the ruler or
monarch. of humanity and integrity Red
signifed pure love and wisdom. In an
| other sense passion, love of evil, and ha-
tired Blue was indicative of truth con-
stancy, and fidelity. Yellow, in one sense,
was symbolieal Of marriage and faithful
ness; in another sense, of Inconsistency,
jealousy, and deceit. Green was the color
of hope, especially that Of immortality.
Amethystine slgnified love, truth, passion.
suffering, and hOpefulness and among the
Rosicrucians was symbolical Of the di-
vine male sacrifices.
Stones of all sorts were engraved with
the figure of a cockatrice, that is a fabu-
lous monster, a cross between cock and
a cockrOach in appearance If he saw the
man first the man died, If otherwise no
evil befeIl the man.
These, under the proper planetary in
| huences, were preserNatlVe against the
evil eye" The names of Jesus, Mary,
and Joseph were engraved on stones,
chiefly amethyst, onyx, and bookstores,
which were worn as preserVatives against
contagious diseases. The larger the
stone the greater its efficacy. Gems
were also supposed to indicate the state
of health of the donor or Wearer. II the
stone became duh, Opaque or cOlOrleSS
il was thought to be significant OF danger
and death. In similar manner they
lost or changed color in contact with
poisous
Dreaming Of gems was thought to be
indicative of good, while seeing or
handling them on the eve Of a journey
or at certain phases of the moon was
auspicious.
| lac rim af X
hibited in the Duomo of Perugla, was
thought to be efficaCiOus in the cure of
every disorder Amber is still used as a
preventative and cure for sore throat,
goitre, cioHp; and diseases oil the throat
generally. The opal is thought by many
to bring i'll luck to the wearer. The coral
is still believed to be a charm against
diseases of childhood and is extensively
used in Italy as protection against the
Pearls are dreaded by some and favored
by others No French bride viii wear
them on her wedding day since they
would bring tears to her married life. In
the East the believers are dogmatiC In
their faith, and it is heresy to assert that
the use of gems has no practical in
iiuence over the body or mind
The agate is emblematiC of health and
wealth. 1t was and is regarded enemy
to all yenOmous things, assuageS thirst
when held in the mouth, gives victory to
its wearer repels storms and lightning,
sharpens the sight, preserves and in
creases strength. and renders it's Wearer
gracious and eloquent. 1t is regarded as
efficaCious as an amulet against SCrOfula
and skin diseases. Various properties are
attributed To it by Mohammedan authori-
ties: ii cures insanity when administered
with water or with the juice of the fruit
shen, which is on the order OF the apple,
1t is also regarded as a remedy for hemOr-
rhage the splitting Of blood, etc In con
junction with other medicines 1t is be-
| lieved 10 be a cure for hard bOils and