The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-26
SUPERSTrTyU2ge.
The Strange Things People Believe.
 Symbolism of Precious Stones.

The Strange Things People Believe.
 aymholasm of Precious Gtenes.
 Axaethyst.-Peace of mind. The ans cfsnts thought it had power to dispel drunkennes&
 Baoodstone-"I mourn your ab- eence." Worn by the apcients as An asnulet CT charm, on account of the medicinal and magical virtues 1t was supapsed to possess.
 Diamond.-Pride. Awarded super nAenral qualities from the 1uest re- sneta period down to the Middle Ages. Hns the power of making men eour- aSpsua and mAsnaminous. Protects ffotn evil spirits and roisons- xnflu. &ncss the gods to take pity upon nor %als. v6sintains concord between hus- HHazsda ana wife. aEd for itIisis xueson was head aS 4he most appropriate stone for the espousal ring.
 NAerald.-succesB In ieve and busi- nsgs. Mentioned in the Bible as worn in the breast plate of the high priest as an emblem of charity.
 GArnet.-Fiaality in every engage mstt.
 Annber snd Jet.-0ood for throat oompiaintl. If placed on the left brsAst 0f ozs's wife they will force her to oenkess any naughty thing she has done.
 Cnyx-Beeeiprocal love.
 Pearl.-Pnrity and innocence.
 Coral.-Gocd to wear on journeys.
 Ruby.-A cheerful mind. An anu- let against poison, sadness, evil thoughts. A preserva<ivo of health. Admonishes the wearer of impending danger by changing color.
 apphire.-Chastity. Frees from en- chmfftTuNnt,
 Topax-Fidelity and peace sf mind
 Turquoise,-6ucce6s ana happiness. Preserves trom contagion and aTerts accidents.
 Opal.-Pure thoughts. There are nu- merous superstftionD attaching to this gem. By the ancients 1t was supposed to bestow avery possible good In the Middle Ages the game belief vas held, and in the esriy part of ths seven teenth century the 1iAal was much more valued than in the present day. But hv a strange freak of fashion the opal has lost It's former glory, and IS now accused of bringing Ill luck. Sir Walter Scott Is in a great measure am swerable for this. In his Anne or Geierstein." he mentions that the Mex ican opal loses it's beauty whep ex- posed to water, and ascribes this to supernatural agency Hence notion arose that to wear an opal is unlucky. and that as love token 1t shows a continuance or decline of the giver's affections in proportion as the colors are bright or cloudy. Again, wheneV- CT it suddenly changed it's colors, Il was believed that misfortune was a hand Some. however, think that thu superstition is of Russian origin. If 6 Russian of either sex or of any rani should happen to see an opal among goods submitted for purchase, he oi she will buy nothing that day, for the opal Is, fin the judgment of the subjects of the Czar. the embodiment of tho evil eye" A prosaic. but practical explanation of the opars evil repute is that it is so often lost when the hand becomes -W,--N without the owner be- Ing aws<s. .l his misfortune. The stone grows slightly bigger under the influence of heat, and forces open Hs gold setting. When ie becomes cold again, the gem shrnks to It's original size. These processes continue until the setting becomes so enlarged that the stone drops out. It Is also said that opals are disIiked because they are easily broken, and are therefore not a remunerative investment.