The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
THE LEGENDS ABOUT GEMS
SuperstitiOns Held as TO Alleged
Mystic Properties.
Certain stones Relieved 10 Possess
Qualities That Act ms Remedies of
Evils and IIIs-Others said to Garry
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. II, certain
| lands and among certain people there is
| almost as much faith In the efficacy of
] stone as there was in the dark ages
| when every gem conferred good or evil
| under circumstances to which 1t 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 talismanic 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 a 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 talismans
and charms, others were used as drugs.
either alone or with electuaries, and with
| or without prayers, nominations, 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
its gem the emerald. Saturns day, or
Saturday. claimed the diamond
A particular stone was potent for good
during 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-
gem was the more potent if the natal
day OF the wSarer correspondent with its
particular sign, and when worn as a
month stone was supposed to attract pro-
pittous influences and avert malign eff
fects.
These stones. their zodiacal control, and
most potent periods, Of influence, are:
Garnet, Auuarius, January q to Febru-
airy 21; amethyst Pisces, February q to
March u; bloodstone. Aries. March q to
April 20; sapphire, Taurus, April 20 to May
q. agate. Gemini, May q to June 81; emer-
aid. Cancer, June q to July y; onyx, Leo,
July % to August %; carnelian, Scorpio,
August % to September z; chrysolite, Lii
bra, september y to November q; topaz.
Sagitarius. November Il to December q;
ruby, CaprieOrnus, December q 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. nlOonstoue, 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, a ruby, the moon, Il pearl; if SAM,
a star affecting to a powerful degree the
destinies of men. according to the Hindoo
idea, a sapphire was used The HIndoo
also believed he ayerted the evil effects of
adverse astral influences by wearing GER
tain stones If the sun was averse the
cats eye was worn. If the moon, the
sapphire, and so forth.
GEMS AND THEIR CoLoRs.
The mystic ascribed a certain signif-
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 1t 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-
stanoy, and fidelity. Yellow, in one sense,
was symboleal 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 cockatrice, that Is 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 befell the man.
These, under the proper planetary in
iuences. Were preservative against the
EVIL eye" The names of Jesus, Mary,
and Joseph were engraved on stones,
chiefly amethyst, onyx, and bookstores,
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 dun, Opaque or colorless
IL was thought to be significant OF danger
and death. IN a similar manner they
lost or changed color in contact with
poisons.
Dreaming of gems was thought to be
indicative of good, while seeing or
handling them the eve of a journey
or at certain phases of the moon was
suspicious.
An onyx ring, supposed to be the
espousal ring of Joseph and Mary, eX-
hibited in the Duomo of Perugia. was
thought to be efficaciouS in the cure of
every disorder. Amber is still used a
preventative and cure for sore throat,
goitre, csotp, and diseases of the throat
generally. The opal is thought by many
to bring i'll luck to the wearer. The coral
is still believed to be charm against
diseases of childhood and is extensively
used in Italy as a protection against the
Pearls are dreaded by some and favored
by others. No French bride will wear
them on her wedding day, since they
the East the believers are dogmatlc in
their faith. and it is heresy to assert that
the of gems has no practical in
fiuence over the body or mind.
The agate is emblematiC of health and
wealth. 1t was and is regarded enemy
to all venomous 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 its wearer
gracious and eloquent. 1t is regarded as
efiicacious as amulet against scrOfula
and skin diseases. various properties are
attributed to 1t by Mohammedan authori-
ties: it cures insanity when administered
with water or with the juice of the fruit
shen, which is on the order OF the apple,
II is also regarded as a remedy for hemor-
rhage, the splitting of blood, etc. In con
junction with other medicines it is be-
lieved to be a cure for hard boils and
col Il