The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-08-22
LOVE Of JEWELRy
VERY ANCIENT.
ROMAN ENTHUSIASM FOR 1T
AMOUNTED TO ALMOST MAD
SS-FORTuNES SPENT.
CFrom the London Chronicle.D

hdpS, difficult to decide whether ii is
its ornamental side OF its symholical
character which has usually made the
more direct appeal Nowadays il is
generally frankly worn for its beauty.
except such things as medals and or
ders civic chains and Masonic and &c
clrsiastical jewels In former times
however. very large proportion o!
personal ornaments had also an elc-
ment of meaning.
sometimes they were charms to
ward of iIl-luck, or amulcts endowed
with magic powers. Often they We're
insignia of rank OF had a religious
Sisnilicancc Bur whether they were
Worn simply as ornaments or as pos
scssed of mystic powers, in almos'
every age ONE Of the best decorative
arr OF the day has been lavished upon
them Often when household furni-
ture and other things that We now
deem necessities of existence had
sunk toa very low standard, the jew
elry and meal work were still OF the
most exquisite character.
The field Is a wild one wherein W"
may search. Treasure troye may be
found ir the trinker boxes of old la
dies who, having Grown mp in the
days when solid gold" reigned su-
Weme. do not value the pretty trifies
on which capable craftsmen of for
mer times displayed their powers. and
are quite willing to part with them
10 those who do
Sometimes find is made among
IN" oddities Ut provincial jeweler
pnt aside TO be broken up for the gold
which they contain. Even of more
splendid things the collection mus;
not despair Though being over san
gulne may lead him into the tolls Of
the torser), and he should keep his
eyes open, and know all he can Of
all sides of his subject. so as TO be
ready for any chance that may come
his way.
| Was not the Tara brooch. now
, the pride of the Dublin museum, offer
| ed to a metal dealer for 36 cents
and refused?
The Roman had an enthusiasm for
I precious stones amounting almost to
madness. Many instances OF this love
! OF gorIeousness Occm in Roman his
/ tory ServiIla, the mother OF Brutus
received "A gift from Julius Caesar, a
| pearl valued at $l5p,0O0 Cleopatra J,
earrings alone We're valued at $500
600 of our money. Loll Pauina. the
wife OF the Emperor Caligula, adorn
ed herself for ali ordinary betrothal
feast with emeralds and pearls worth
nearly Sl,75O,O00. This extraordinary
extravaganza is Noted again and
again, and We find that over one mil
lion dollars was given for a single
piece Of iewelry
Very few people probably have ever
made a collection of nineteenth cen
tury jewelry from the point of voieW
of the curiO hunter. The period is
too close behind MS for one thing.
and for another it cannot honestly
be said to have much to recommend
1t artlstically. But perhaps in the
future some OF that made in the first
half of the century may be sought
alter ana priced. Some OF it is very
dainty and charming. though now the
very words nineteenth century lew
elfy seem to bring before our eve
hideOus vision OF hair bracelets.
slabs Of moss agate in coarse set
tinSs and heavy gold chains. almos.
massive enough to refrain an unruly
elephant. Such thing certainly form
very large part of the ornaments
which appealed to pre-rebellion taste.
but also we find other classes of work
which, while it never reaches "A very
high standard, yet has merits of its
own.
The ring is not only one of the
most ancient of personal ornaments.
but also at various times it has been
endowed with all kinds OF mystical
and emblematical qualities. It has
been associated with religion, with
Law, with love, with death: in one
form or another, in fact, it seems to
be bound up with most of the phases
OF life. 1t has not always been wO,l
IN the same way. Some of the ancient
nations, the Egyptians. Phoenicians
and Babvlonians, wore it on the third
finger of the right hand; it was also
sometimes carried on string worn
round the neck so that it hung down
on 70 the chest. The Greeks and Ro-
mans wore it on the left hand and