The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28

was thought to be a most potent talisman
against poison. pestilence. and witeheTaft
Ii was esteemed a safeguard to virtue,
and -r.-= used as a preventive and a cure
Tor tuuuCy. rs gem was supposed to
possess y sex and Boetius de Root men
tons two such diamonds which. by. their
union, produced others ana thus left a
numerous progeny.
According to Provanas. the diamond
varies in the preponderance &C one or the
other of the five primal elemehts-earth.
water. sky. energy. and air. The airy sort
give heart and gracefulness, the skyey
diamonds bring about the possession of
all kinds of wealth. The ownership and
use OF those diamonds In which energy
Predominates adds to puissance. heroism,
and hope. Those diamonds that are white
like white clouds. or the moon, and that
Shine in the dark cure snake bites and
neut.alize other poisons. Diamonds bring
about favor in the eyes of the gods fame
wisdom. and skill in the fine arts In
short, the diamond brought all kinds of
good luck.
EMBLE'laIIC OF HAPPINESS.
The emerald is emblematic of happiness.
AS an amulet 1t was preserver of chas-
tity and betrayed or punished its viola
ton by flying into pieces or losing color.
The Romans used it TO rest. strengthen,
and preserve the eyes. a practice which
persisted all through the Middle Ages.
Water in which the stone had stood was
regarded as a cure for opthalma. The
Hindoos regarded the emerald as an In
fallible cure for all poisoning. II drove
out sin from man, and cured him of many
Of the ills of the flesh. 1t was also be-
lieved the emerald would keep off cholera
If worn in gold ring. The owner of an
emerald would never become poor, and If
snake even looked upon the emerald
he would become instantly blind.
The garnet is an emblem of cOnstancy.
During the Middle Ages il was regarded
xxrffh oil rarxral
virtues of the ruby. 1t gave health and
friendship, riches. honor, and good luck
Jacinth is a good luck stone. and pro-
cures sleep. honor and wisdom. and pro-
tects against pestilence and enemies.
Jade. worn as an amulet or taken in
ternally. was regarded as a curative of
kidney troubles.
THE JASPER AND HEMORRHAGES.
Jasper stops hemorrhages, cures fevers
and dropsy. keens the vision, etc. 1t was
regarded as a stone which would drive
away sorrow and melancholy. 1t also
was considered remedy for dyspepsia,
but If it came in contact with black
hair 1t would cause pain and nausea, so
it was believed.
The moonstone was regarded as n po-
tent love charm and enabled Its possessor
to foretell the future. II Is still regarded
as a cure for epilepsy. The onyx has for
its origin the legend that one day while
Venus was sleeping Cupid came and cut
her toenails. these, falling into the Indus
principal effect is its ability to kick
up a nightmare. This belief at one
time was widespread, and is explain
ed on the assumption that there Is devil
living in an onyx which only wakes at
night, and therefore causes terror and
trouble to the sleeper.
The opal originally was symbolic of
hope, and was used as an eyestone for all
az sNff . 1eo IA fhaf 10
unluclly stone is of modern origin, based
on a German superstition. Ii is supposed
to SOW discord between the giver and~re,.
ceiver.
Pliny states that pearls were supposed
to be generated by a celestial dew falling
on the shellfish, which in the early morn
ing hours of certain seasons left the bot
tom of the sea to draw in the air contain
ing the dew from which the pearls were
derived the size of the pearl depending
upon the size of the dew drop and the puri-
ty of the air. The pearl was used as a
restorative OF strength, cure for insani-
ty. diseases of the heart. stomach. and
bowels. 1t was regarded as antidOte
for poison. 1t brought fame, good
luck, etc.
Quartz crystal applied locally today IN
the mountains of Georgia is used for
headache, faintness and nose bleed 1t
is used in certain parts of Virginia to
cure Styes. The stye is rubbed with the
crystal three times day for three days.
Ii was also used as a cure for consump-
ton, leprosy, and poisoning. Quartz was
also used as an aid in foretelling the
future.
THE RUBY AND THE SAPPHIRE.
The ruby was emblematic of love and
was a great remedy against plague,
poison, evil thoughts, and nightmare.
Misfortune to the wearer of a ruby was
believed to be forewarned by a change
of color of the gem. The wearer of a
H. n . ta
gods. The ruby brings honor to its
possessor.
The sapphire is emblematic Of wisdom. Il
is said to be capable of procuring royal ia
vors, softening anger, freeing people from
enchantment. releasing captives, and pre-
venting evil and impure thoughts. Because
Of its extreme GOODNESS it was thought to
preserve the chastity of it's wearer, hence
especially suited for eecleslastieal rings.
1t rendered its wearer chaSte, plous, de-
yout wise. amiable. and good. II cured
boils and headaches, rested and refreshed
the body, and gave color to the cheeks,
cured feyers, plague, and was an antidote
for poisons and bites Of poisonous insects
and reptiles. It was also considered OF great
service in necromancy and the magic arts.
1t brought strength, length of days, family
dignity fame. and almost anything which
its owner wanted. The modern mystic holds
il capable of attracting powerful planeta-
ry influences, and nearly equal TO the dia-
mond and quartz in inducing visions. The
potent love charm. The star sapphire
was given as a cure for vertigo in the Low
Countries as late as 1910.
The sardonyX is symbolical of conjugal
bliss. 1t rendered It's possessor virtuOus,
cheerful, and agreeable.
The topaz is symbolical of friendship.
1t restraints anger and promotes all things
which make for friendship. 1t aided d.
gestlon, stopped bleeding, insomnia, and
asthma 1t cured diseases of the eye.
Worn as an ornament it drove away sad .
ness and nightmare, strengthened the IN
tellect and bestowed courage. When
mounted in gold and strung around the
neck ii dispelled entertainments and other
evil influences. 1t gave. also, fame and
wisdom.
The turquoise was emblematic of sue
cess, and was highly valued by the Orien-
tails. Ii was supposed TO ensure the wear
err against accidents. In the presence of
poisons the stone sweated profusely,
property thought TO be characteristic of
many OF the noble gems. Its color paled
as its owner became sick and was lost en-
tirely on It's becoming the property of
healthy person.
The turquoise not only cured most dis
eases to which human flesh was heir but
prevented their occurrence. 1t brought
prosperity and happiness and when seen
after looking at the moon after the first
day of the new moon brought good luck.
In India. the land of occultism. the mys-
tics still pursue their researches after the
occult virtues of precious stones.
SLANG OF THE QUICK LUNCH.