The Washington herald., 1910-05-08
THE PATRON GEM OF MAY
SupersOnS and Legends of the Various Stones and Origin
of Their Names.

sent to his son the Three Brethren"
Could these have been the rubles Of the
Duke OF Burgundy?
The now humble garnet and the oblong
carbuncle share the favors OF their par
emit the ruby. the latter Of the two being
famous for its light-giving properties in
the dark. Garnet preserves health and
JOY. II is an emblem Of constancy and
Is dedicated to January This was the
carbuncle OF the ancients.
Topaz, the goldstone of the ancients.
was much valued by them for medicinal
purposes. In the zodiac it stands for
Taurus and In Christian art is given to
st. James the Less The topaz was re-
puted to lose its color in the presence Of
poisons. II worn on the left hand. II re-
pressed sensuality; II on the right or hung
around the neck it baffied the spells OF
magicians, II also dispelled the terrors
of night, strengthened the intellect.
quickened the fancy, banished melan-
chOly. and inspired valor.
The peerless opal that child OF love. as
IT has been called, far from being an UNI
lucky stone as IT is now supposed to be,
was once believed by Albertus Magnus.
Margodeus, and others to rejoice the
seart OF its owner by rendering him low
able and bestowing upon him the gift OF
invisibility. which made II the patron
stone Of robbers. To be on the right side
Of this stones influence some say that
one ought never to accept It as a present.
II has, however, been asserted that the
opal was not considered unluckv in Eng
land until Sir Walter Scott published his
Anne OF Geierstein."
Opal is fatal to love and sows discord
between the giver and receiver. Given as
an engagement token II is sure to bring
III luck. The opal is an emblem OF hope
and Is dedicated TO the month Of October
Fliny speaks Of the opal as being made
up OF the glories Of the most precious
gems. as counting the gentler fire Of the
ruby. the brilliant purple of the AMETHYST
and the sea-green Of the emerald all
blended IN startling and magnificent
combination. Il should not surprise that
TO a stone OF so much beauty the most
extraordinary properties were attributed
Il was supposed 10 be a protection and an
assistance 20 the sight. and some writer's
asserted that II conferred the gift OF in
visibility, like the ring Of Gyges. II fig
ures In some Of the old Arabian legends
BY the ancients IL was sometimes called
pederos. because, like a fair and innocent
child, II was worthy Of all love: and as
II united in itself the colors Of every
other precious stone. so also was It SUD-
posed to be endowed with all their moral
and native qualities. In truth, few OF
the treasures OF the earth" whether
precious stone or metal. have been assoc
ciated with more poetical superstitlons.
Il was an opal which led 10 the Danish
ment of the Roman senator Nonnius. For
the sake Of this gem. which was as large
as a hazelnut and valued az ean.OOO Mari,
Antony prescribed Nonnius but ne sue
ceeded in effecting his escape and carry
ing his treasure with him.
Turquoise, according 20 Boethius. es-
pecially protects against falls and heals
between man and wife. Tur-
1uoise given by loving hands carries with
1t happiness and good fortune It's color
always pales when the well being OF the
giver is in peril II Is an emblem of
prosperity and is dedicated 10 December.
In the zodiac II stands for Saturn and in
metallurgy for lead bouquet composed
Of diamonds. loadstones, and sapphires
combined renders person almost irwin
chile and wholly irresistible.
Amber wards of crysipelas and all
soreness Of the throat and all glanduIar
swellings. 1t is said TO be a concretion OF
birds tears. The birds which wept am
Der were the sisters Of MeIeaeor. called
Meleagrides, who never ceased weeping
FOR their brothers death
Agate quenches thirst, and II held in the
mouth allsys fever. 1t is supposed. at
least in fable. 10 render the wearer invis- |
Iole and to turn the sword Of foes against
themselves. 1t is the emblem OF health
and long life, and is dedicated to June
In the zodiac il stands for Scorpio. Cats
eye is considered by the CinEalese as a /
charm against witchcraft and TO be the |
abode Of some genii. Jacinth is also
dedicated 10 January. Loadstone pro- /
1uces somnambulism, and is dedicated 10 /
Mercury, and in metallurgy stands for
quicksilver.
Moonstone has the virtue Of making |
trees fruitful and OF curing epilepsy. It |
contains in 1t an image OF the moon, rep
-esenting its increase and decrease every
month. Onyx contains in It an impris-
oned devil, which wakes at sunset and /