The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-05
urANING or oRIENr4LJEw
superstition Regarding BEADS. Healing
Power or Anltiets, and SlGnet Rings

Tho Oriental ieweller, seated upon the
floor of bis little shop inhalnR the fragrant
odors or hi. pipe and coffee, conceives his
design and iealously onvelors II with mys-
tirism, ADDING TO il tho quaint charm Of
symbol and superstition The bracelet the
earrings. the necklace the clasp, the buckle
aud tie button grow step 10y SEP into u
necial ornament according TO the rank
means tastes and wants Of the wearer-
am evidence Of class and dignity. Indeed
writes Mrs L. NJ. "a Khuory in the Jerelerss
Circriar-Wcekiy. those same ornaments
are considered to haeo some representative
purpose. even after death, as is abundantly
proved
bracelets arc ny Orentals. worn in pains;
each hand j. provided with one, "a other
wise jealousy viii spring up between the
manual ucuberS and evil deeds viii follow.
karriuge ra populer-among both sexes in
certain part Of the Orient. The ears are
pierced AZ lirih: TIE porforations nre made
unnegc- -ar.ly large. so az not to permit a
-o~iduo # gossip. Then ornaments are
oTerad The ears as consolation. Necklaces
ara worn most cou-picuously to avert the
evil cye and TO denote dignity and distinc-
,ion Festoor necklaces seem to have been
in vogue from time imnemoIiil, aud not in
frequently DO they adorn the whole chest
of me Nearer. IN India, the men often Dor
ro1g thcirUivcs ue klaces TO decorate them
selves sim. Masculine vanity Of certain
scots % the pe-ians far exceeds that Of
women anil aside from wearing earrings
and ua l,l.cs thcy almost mcnopolize the
tins seed pearls, by -fIinging them in their
bcarls. each hlr being literally covered
vi ha lustr5Is pearl
Beads are among the earliest forms Of
ornaments and are considered potent
charms Tor felicity. rs thcSa are often cut
and sold .y priests or sheik5 who maintain
tloui-aItp- SOLELY bv this means. The
pnur--igpl dr0D so much in vogue in Eu-
rope and America is OF decidedly Oriental
origin and h7- attached To it a quaint
myth. THE kaaia stone in Mecca has this
= ecu lar shape. and. according 20 the theory
If tle MDhauWcdaus, this stone was tho
aCfll. guardian angel who was sent to
watch over Adam % Ellen and was present
az hi- fan. A. "a punishment for not hav-
ing more ylgLarty executed his trust the
auc was changed into a stone and hurled
nom Paradise. Most Muhammcdaus wear
u.ar-- hap'd pendants made Of wood or
some precious stone az reminder Of Al
lah'- wrath. and those are held among them
Don thr -tN" esteem u- is the cross among the
Christians.
Anustsare regarded as caste marks. and
0rc worm oblr by women. Anklets have
healing poWo-. and $50 are worn not as or
uawput- only Little tiukling bells are often
attached t1 theso. which lend "a pleasing
sound 90 ana approaching step and serve TO
denote the sup riority and rank Of tho
wearer. and thus IN passing render due
homage. an Arabian poet describes these
as The awakcner- of dormant Senses
Rings are worn in great profusion and
ara made Of an sorts Of metals. However
they invariably have eNQuisitelv carved or
open work -hanks Even the stones have
their symbols and a0n Worn accordingly. In
the Orient no prejudice exists against opals
SiEnct rings wDrc- Of grat Importance
among the Darler Orientals and even 20 the
pr IS an Gay lattors are rarely otherwise
signed uv those VINO nd them. Thus the
authenticity g all orders and comnunica-
TONS Ven merchants bils-depends
wholly upon an impression Of a siRnet ring
The occupation Of the seal cutter il re-
gnrded al one Of great trust and danger.
such person l. Obliged TO keep register
Of rvCry ring al he makes and II one be- !
lost or -tofn from tn party for whom IL
was cut. h7 HE would answer for making
uloiE'r just like h. Tho loss Of a signet
ana the alarm which an Oriental exhibits /
al the loss Of the sigue Tan only b. under
stood hy q rui rpucr 20 tlWs. circumstances /
u- the al cutter D. always Obliged 10 alter
90 al sdt az winch the seal was cut The
only iourc' % q person who has lost his Z
r li I- o. base anoth tr made with now date,
u.t % Wit" 70 bis corr -rordcuts 90 in 4
isr-l o. go tlsi Jl accounts. clItrnct4
g.. o-rla1.i .ai'.4s 60 which Dis former
.r- rull from t,.l DAY on