The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1905-04-28
ORIENTAL JEWELRY.
PERSONAL ORNAMENTS MIXED WITH
ODD sUPERSTITioNS.

For FeIicity-Legend of the Kaabr
StOne-The Sacred Signet Ring.
The oriental's love of luxury, splen-
dor of attire and personal adornment
acts as a strong incentive to the eastern
jeweler In the production of those e
quisitely carved and multicolored 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
floor of his little shop, inhaling the fra
grant odors Of his pipe and coffee, con-
ceives his design and jealousy envel-
ops 1t with mysticism, adding to it the
quaint charm of symbol and supersti-
ton. The bracelet, the earrings, 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,
dS OIlS loC Jealousy Viii oDilHS ny
between the manual members and evil
deeds will follow. Earrings are popu-
lar among both Y in certain parts
Of the orient. The ears are pierced at
birth. The perforatiOns are made un-
necessarily large sc as not to permit a
residue of gossip. Then ornaments are
offered the ears as consolation. Neck
laces are worn most conSpicuouSly to
avert the evil eye and to denote dig
nifty and distinction. Festoon neck
laces seem to have been in vogue from
time immemorial, and not i~nfrequently
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 sects Of the Persians far eX-
ceeds 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 a 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
decidedly oriental origin and has at
tached to it a quaint myth. The kaa-
ba stone in Mecca has this peculiar
shape, and, according to the theory Of
the Mohammedans, this stone was the
actual guardian angel who was sent to
watch over Adam In Eden and was
present at his fall. AS 4 punishment
for not having O v~igilantly- exc
cuted his trust the angel was changed
into a stone and hurled from paradise.
Most Mohammedans wear pearl shaped
pendants made of wood or some pre-
cious stone as a reminder Of Allah's
wrath, and these are held among them
in the same esteem as is the cross
the Christians.
Armlets are regarded as caste marks
and are worn only by women. Anklets
have q healing power and so are worn
not as ornaments only. Little tinkling
bells are often attached to these, which
lend a pleasing sound to an approach
ing step and serve to denote the SUI
periority and rank of the wearer and
thus in passing render due homage.
An Arabian poet describes these as
awakeners of dormant senses"
Rings are worn in great profusion
and are made of all sorts of metals.
they invariably have ex-
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 orientals, and ever
the present day letters are rarely
signed by those who send
hem. Thus the authenticity of all
and communications, even
bills, depends wholly upon
IN impression Of a signet ring. The
of the seal cutter is regard
ID as one of great trust and danger.
Such q person is obliged to keep a reg
Ster or every ring seal ne makes, ana
f one be lost or stolen from the party
'or whom it was cut his life would
answer for making another just like it.
The. loss Of a signet ring is regarded as
disastrous calamity, and the alarm
which an oriental exhibits at the loss
# the signet can only be understood
" a reference to these circumstances,
the seal cutter is always obliged to
liter the real date at which the seal
vas cut. The only resource of a per-
who has lost his seal is to have
made with new date and to
write to his correspondents to inform
hem that all accounts, contracts and
communications to which his former
ignet is affixed are null from the day