Evening star., 1901-12-19
LUCKY PIECES IN FAVOR
THE HOBBY OF COLLECTING CHARMS
AND AMULETS.
Antique and Weird Little Carvings OF
Rare Material Most Sought
After.
From the New York Sun,

From the New York Sun.
In this day of trolley cars and automo-
hiles it is small wonder that the public
has once more gone over to charms and
amulets. The four-1eaved clover and the
left hind foot Of a graveyard rabbit tried
to stem the tide of accident that surges
through modern life, but the task was too
great. Spell workers of greater antiquity,
OF broader experience were needed. Isis
and Horus, Krishna the Preserver the
seven household gods Of China and Japan,
were all called into counsel and their en-
blems now dangie from my lady's chain
or lie snugiy in her purse or in my lord S
pocket.
For time the tiny beasts and birds and
other charms against evil influence were
made only in gold and silver; and, even
now, the fashionable woman is usually owner
OF a collection of the small mascots. ANY,
thing from a yak to guinea pig may be
bought In minute gold or silver present.
ment; but the real lucky charm is more
esoteric and suggestive than the shining
little golden animals that are bought in
accordance with ones natural history pref
udices rather than with ones knowledge Of
things occult.
Animals in stone.
The woman of means is now collecting
her lucky animals in jade, ehalcedony, lapis
a
host Of semi-precious stones whose names
sound like paragraph from the Book Of
Revelations. One or two of the New York
jewelry houses which cater to the very
latest fads have bewildering collections of
these new luck pieces" which are really
old luck pieces. Many of the little charms
are carved In China, Japan, india, Egypt.
More are carved here at home, after orien-
tai models and In accordance with oriental
symbolism.
Jade in all its shades. from the dark green
Of the Russian jade to the apple green and
milky white Of Chinese Jade, Is q prime
favorite among luck stones It has sacred
and powerful preservative qualities in It
self, and when carved In the form of the
sacred animals, fruit or symbols Is war
within the year. There are marvelously
wrought half-inch figures Of Buddha II,
jade, miniature lotos blooms, elephants,
cocks, cats, mokneys.
The Brahmin Cow.
The sacred cow of the Brahmins appears
gayly decked in stones Of many celors and
with 1t come long procession of Hindoe
animals and idols. The Egyptian scarab is
as plentiful as the locust of Pharaoh's time,
and the sacred crocodile the bull, Apis,
the hawk, are represented, carved from
Egyptian stones There are wee mummies,
too. in their stone cases, fitted for a me-
mento mort. and other Safeguards for a
frivolous owner.
Quails. lizards. frogs. rabbits, dogs pigs,
birds of all kinds. animals sacred and aIlis
mails profane are among the luck pieces
Tile eorals are according to Italian tra-
ditien, an infallible charm against the evil
eye. SO coral charms vie in popularity with
those more oriental In character. Madame
Rejane, the famous French actress, is never
without her bunch OF coral charms; but,
with Inconsistency deliciously feminine,
she has them attached to the opal chains
which. in spite of the protests Of supersti-
tious friends, she wears constantly.