The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-02-21
ORIENTAL JEWELRy.

Superstition Regarding Beads, Healing
 Power of Anklets, and Signet Rings,
 The Oriental jeweller, seated upon the floor of his little shop inhaling the fragrant odors of his pipe and coffee, conceives his design and jealously en- velopes it with mysticism, adding to it the quaint charm of symbol and superstition. The bracelet, the earrings, the necklace, the clasp, the buckle and the buttom grow step by step into a special ornament according to the rank, means, tastes and wants of the wearer an evidence of class and dignity. In- deed writes Mrs. F. M. el Khuory in the Jewelers's Circular Weekly, those same ornaments are considered to have some representative purpose, even after death, as is abundantly proved.
 Bracelets are, by 0rientals, worn in pairs; each hand is provided with one, as otherwise jelousy will spring up be- tween the manual members and evil deeds will follow. Earrings are popular among both sexes in certain parts of the Orient. The ears are pierced at birth; the perforations are made un- necessarily large, so as not to permit a residue of gossip. Then ornaments are offered the ears consolation. Necklaces are worn most conspicuously to avert the evil eye and to denote dignity and distinction. Festoon necklaces seem to have been in vogue from time imme- morial, and not infrequently do they adorn the whole chest of the wearer. In India, the men often borrow their wives necklaces to decorate them selves with, Masculine vanity of cer- tain sects of the Persians far exceeds that of women, and aside from wearing earrings, and necklaces they almost monopolize the tiny seed pearls by stringing them in their boards, each hair being literally covered with lus- trous pearl. ... f Es.
 Beads are among the earliest forms of ornaments, and are considered, potent charms for felicity, as these are often cut and sold by priests or sheiks who maintain themselves solely bythismeans The pear-shape drop so much in vogue in Europe and America Is of decidedly Oriental origin and has attached to it quaint myth. The Kaaba stone in Mecca has this peculiar shape, and, according to the theory of the Moham- medans, this stone was the actual guardian angel who was sent to watch over Adam in Eden and was present at his fall. As a punishment for not having more vigilantly exeuted his trust, the angel was changed into a stone and hurled from Paradise. Most Mohammedans wear pear-shaped pen- dants made of wood or some precious stone as reminder of ,Allah's wrath, and these are held among them in the same esteem as is the cross among the Christians.
 Armlets are regarded as caste marks, and are worn only by women. Anklets have healing power, and so are worn i not as ornaments only. Little tinkling bells are often attached to these, which lend pleasing sound to an approach ing step and serve to denote the superi- | crity and rank of the wearer, and thus in passing render due homage. An Arabian poet describes these as "the awakeners of dormant senses"
 | Rings are worn in great profusion and are made of all sorts of metals | However, they invariably have exquisite f tely carved or open work shanks. Ever the stones have their symbols and are
 worn accordingly. III the Orient no pre- | judice exists against opals.
 Signet rings were of great importance among the earlier Orientals, and ever to the present day letters are rarely otherwise signed by those who send | them, Thus the authenticity of all ord.