The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-12-14

way to the windows of a first-class dealer
III this country.
of which in the orient seems to be in a fair
way Of Cawnins at last. are a!eNandrites,
white ard pink cats eyes. ~carbuncles and
ceylon ruhieS. OF these gems few really
fine specimens find their way to the Amer
lean market, and such as are seen are gem
orally in crude or inappropriate settings.
The result Is that these stones do not APP
pear 10 the best advantage, and so have
met with less public favor than they de-
Take. for instance. the alexandria. which
possesses the Remarkable" quality of chang
Ing its color from a Grcenish yellow in the
daytime 10 a glowing red at night When
ercirc!ed with diamonds it forms a hsautt-
full ornament, and can be set effectively in
gypsy rings. with emeraids or sapphires-
To the SuperSiitinuSly inclined the alex
audrite should appeal strongly. Orientals
hold that it not only protects the wearer
from fcCtpads. but that those troubled with
Insomnia can obtain a good nights rest bv
gazing intsnJly upon the stone after 1t has
phires are more highly priced in Eastern
cause they preserve better their luster and
color at night. In fact. the white sapphire
it requires an expert 10 distinguish it from
a diamond. Yet both pink and white sap
phircs ara seldom offered for sale out of
QUEENS Costly GIRDLE
The carhuncle is another gem which
Oriental jewelers. set art:sticaIiy. together
II 4AA'D.!SNtil'~ III AL ~ anu cA
gold filigree work. II does not usually re-
Gulre the pocket book OF a millionaire TO
become the pussssor of one of these or
faments. but when the stones are of the
pureSt quality they may be costly. \ girdie
of carbunClcS and moonstones in the posses
sion Of Queen Alexandra IS valued at
SI5DJo.
To many people the carbuncle has one
serious defect. The SupertsfuouS say that
this stone occasionally develops black Spots,
which are iniallible signs of impending mis-
fortune. When a black spot appears in a
carhuncle owned ny a Hindu. he loses no
time In presenting il to some one for whom
he cheriSheS a secret aversion. He thus
passes the stone with its un!ucky spot on
TO where he thinks it Will do the most good
Or evil.
As to the cats eye. so potent a charm
against sickness is this gem considered by
OrieEtalS that the loss or compulsory part
ing with one Is viewed as little short OF
personal calamity. More than this. the
cats e:e is imposed TO endow its poSseSsOr
with second sight, 90 that he can perceive
and ~checknate the evils of his enemies. Be
this as IL may. a fine cats eye. when sur
rounded by briiliantS. is a magnificent orna-
ment. and the only reason one can assign
to its meeting with less favor in the West
fused With the worthless Chinese pebble
sold under the same name.
FOR $500 you can purchase 4 fairly
large perfect diamond. and for the same.
sum even rubiaS and emeralds at their pres
ert .Ish value are within your reach. And
S!'.vc was the price paid by the Nizam OF
Hyderahad a few years ago for the cats
eye which adorns his state urban. True
1t IS a matc6less specimen ana as. large as
q pigeons cgg. but II serves to snow that
cats eyes have some right TO be CHASED as
among gems of the fist order.