Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-03-29

Necklaces That Avert tho Evil Eye
and Beads That Are Potent Charms
For Fcitcfty-LSEcnd OF the Kaaba
stone-rhe Sacred sfEset Rsag.
The orientars love Of luxury, splen-
dor Of attire and personal adornment
acts as a strong incentive TO the eastern
ieweler in the production OF those ex-
duisitely carved and multicolorcd crea-
tons over which the modern world
raves and marvels. Nor are such deco
rations mere ornaments without other
use or meaning.
The oriental jeweler, seated upon the
door OF his little shop. inhaling the fra
grant odors of his pipe and coffee. con
ceives his design and jealousy envel-
ops IL with mysticism. adding To IL the
quaint charm OF symbol and supersti-
ton. The bracelet. the earrings, the
necklace, the clasp, the buckle and the
button 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.
Bracelets are by orientals worn IN
pairs. Each hand is provided with one.
as otherwise jealousy VIII spring up
between the manual members and evil
deeds will follow. Earrings are popu-
lar among both sexes I'm certain parts
of the orient The ears are pierced NJ
birth. The perforatiOns are made un-
necessarily large SO as not 20 permit a
residue of gossip. Then ornaments are
offered the ears as consolation. Neck
laces are worn most conspicuously 10
avert the evil eye and to denote dig
nifty and distinction. FestoOn neck
laces seem to have been I'm vogue from
time immemorial. and not infreQuently
do they adorn the whole chest OF the
wearer. In India the men often Dor
row their wives necklaces to decorate
themselves with. Masculine vanity OF
certain sccts OF the Persians far ex-
cecds 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.
Beads are among the earliest forms
Of ornaments and are considered pO-
tent charms FOR felicity. as these are
often cut and sold by priests or sheiks
/ who maintain themselves solely by this
means. The pear shaped drop SO much
+ in vogue in Europe and America Is OF
I decidedly oriental origin and has at
f tached TO ii quaint myth. The Kaa-
ba stone i'm Mecca has this peculiar
shape and, according 10 the theory OF
the MOhammedans. this stone was the
actual guardian angel who was sent to
watch over Adam in Eden and was
present 1T his fall. As 4 punishment
for not having more vlgilantly exc
cuted his trust the angel was changed
into stone and hurled from paradise
/ Most Mohammcdans wear pearl shaped
pendants made OF wood or some pre-
cious 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 rs caste marks
and are worn only 10y women. AnkletS
have a healing power and 50 are worn
not rs ornaments only. Little tlnkling
bells are often attached 10 these. which
/ lend a pleasing sound To an approach.
ing step and serve 10 denote the SUI
/ periority and rank OF the wearer and
thus in passing render due homage
An Arabian poet describes these rs
the awakeners OF dormant senses"
Rings are worn in great PROPULSION
and are made of all sorts OF metals
However. they invariably have ex
| Quisitely carved or openwork shanks
Even the stones have their symbols
and are worn accordingly. In the
orient no prejudice exists against
/ opals
Signet rings were Of great Importance
among the earlier oriontals, and even
10 the present day letters are rarely
otherwise signed 10y those who send
them. Thus the authenticity Of all
orders and communications, even
merchants bills, depends wholly upon
an impression OF n signet ring. The
/ occupation Of the seal cutter is regard
ed rs one OF great trust and danger
Such person is Obliged 10 keep a reg
lister Of every ring seal he makes. and
II one be lost or stolen from the party
| for whom IL was cut his life would
answer for making another Just like IL.
The loss OF a signet ring Is regarded as
a disastrous calamity, and the alarm
which an oriental exhibits at the loss
OF the signet can only be understood
10y reference TO these circumstance
as the seal cutter is always obliged t5
alter the real date at which the seal
was cut The only resource OF per-
son who has lost his seal is to have
another made with new date and to
write to his correspondents to inform
them that all accounts. contracts and
communications TO which his former
signet is affixed are null from the day
on which It was lOst.-Jewelers' Circu-
lar-Weekly.
ObviatfnE the Rules.
Mrs. Flat-I always insist that my