The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-27

Federation. The owner OF the opal and
Sir James Dickson had been old friends
in Brisbane, and in discussing the situa-
ton he said to the deceased statesman:
when the first Parliament of United
Australia assemblies from all the states I
shall present my opal TO the Queen in the
name of the Commonw ealth, as there is
as yet no Australian gem of value in the
regalia OF the empire"
Sir James Dickson, who was devotedly
attached to the Crown and to the main
tenance in the fullest respect Of its pre-
rogative in Australia, was greatly pleas
ed with the idea. which also received the
warm support of well-known gentlemen
holding official positions in connection
with colonial affairs. In fact. on being
shown the gem from his old colony Of
Queensland, of which he was the first
Premier forty years ago. Sir Robert w.
G.. h,rbert, who is an intimate friend OF
the owner, named 1t THE Imperial
Opal"
Description of the stone.
The stone Mas deposited with bankers
in Lopdon some years ago. where il mas
lain since. until the owner, who is now
in England on visit, reclaimed 1t a few
days ago, when II was courteously shown
to Daily Chronicle representative at the
offices of the bank The Imperial Opal
has as yet been seen by very few people
as II was the owners wish that Queen
Victoria herself should have the first in
spection of It,
Though many people regard the posses
sion of opals as unlucky-this has GER
tainly not been the case with the owne :
of the Imperial Opal"-it Is well known
that the late Queen Victoria had a predi-
lection for these stones, a knowledge OF
which fact originally prompted the idea
of making the proposed presentation. So
far as can be ascertained, Queen Alexan-
dra has no declared preference for opals,
and as a consequence no action has yet
been taken since the late Queens death.
Are OpaIs Unlucky.
1t is only OF comparatively late date, as
told by Sir Walter Scott. that opals came
came to be regarded as unlucky on the
continent of Europe. Anne Of Geierstein
lad an opal heirloom, which she greatly
priced. She knew that dampness affected
the brllliancy of her opal, which must
have been of inferior quality When she
wore 1t at church she refused to take the
holy water. Sinister rumors in conse-
quence soon spread among the ignorant
peasantry, which received apparent con-
hrmation, which her child was baptised.
AT the baptismal font the opal got wet
anu dHut ttltu Oul, nave lOSI my
opal" Two hours afterward she died of
heart disease, probably accelerated by ner
perturbation about the opal which there
after came to be looked upon as an un-
lucky stone.
In the ancient days OF Rome, however.
the opal was considered lucky. Pliny
relates how the rich Roman Senator No
MUS had noble" opal. and priced Il for
the luck It brought him. II was coveted
by Mark Antony, who wished TO present
il to Cleopatra, and offered 10 purchase 1t
from the Senator for sum equivalent to
eco coo OF present day currency. Nonius,
however. refused TO sell. and to gain pos
session OF the gem Mark Antony had him
prescribed and sentence Of. Punishment
pronounced against him. Nonius, Il II re-
corded, went into exile, taking his lucky
opal with him as his only possession
What became Of that opal Is not known.
but Il In certainly not the one shown to
the Daily Chronicle representative, as the
opal OF Nonius was described as being "of
the size Of a hazel nut" while that In
tended as a gift from the Commonwealth
OF Australia to Queen Victoria Is $50 kar-
ats in weight, and two inches Ia length,
and of corresponding thickness.
Opals, unless exceptionally fine, have no
recognized standard Of value. although
there II one in the possession OF the En-
peror OF Austria for which his Imperial
Majesty is said 10 have refused the sum
OF 10000 IL is claimed. however. that
the Imperial Opal" Of Australia IL OF
greater value Desultory mining for opais
has gone on for many years past In sew
eral parts Of the Interior Of Queensland.
hut the returns have not been large, ana
no other stone in any way approaching
the Imperial opar' has yet been found
IN the state.
A gentleman connected with the court
Informs the Daily Chronicle that the pre-
sentation OF an opal 10 the Crown regalIa
Is a matter IN which acceptance rests
with the King alone and that the pre-
Objections OF the Queen as 10 the duck or
unluck lness OF the stone have effect only
In 30 far a. her opinions may influence
her royal HUSBAND.
An opal merchant In abe city n respon-
slb.e for the statement that Queen We
toria bought privately, after recent Co
laolal exhibition. about 1900 worth ~
Queensland opais and that she had them
made 80 into ARTICLES o. jsweiry snd ais
trlDuted ~ presents
70 relieve the strain upon Australian
bspk Dsnagers ana others, The Daily
rbfonleis csn state fhst TThs Imperial
Opsl e iu fhs FafekeeDing ~ yfly
WI knoNn kngiish bsnk,