Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-28
Brthstones and What They Signify.

1
serted that some jewellers have neen
| changing the accepted stones aud
months so as To get rid of overstoek
Of goods o. to make more money by
selling stones in which there may be
| more profit than in others.
| John 4. Noel of New York city took
! this matter up at the national con-
| fenti9n Of jewelers. in Kansas City,
and in his speech set forth what is
! said To be the authoritative word on
! this subject.
Mr. Alel said:
The High Priest Aaron carried on
| his bod. when ledting his hosts Il
| breastplatc ;erout eight inches square
set With twelve different gems, each
gem representing one Of the twelve
tribes of Israel the name of each
| tribe inscribed on the surface of eaeh
stone. The splendbr of the shining
rays emanating from these gems gave
| the Israelites confidence and courage,
| making them fearless in their battles.
| This, no doubt. WAS the beginning OF
| the belief in the power of gems.
For january the proper gem is gar
net. named from Granatica. Its pre-
| Vailing popular color is broWnSh red.
one Of it's attributes is that it brought
sleep To these subject to insomnia
riches. honor, great wisdom, constan-
cy, fidelity in every engagement, drove
away the plague and evil spirits. 1t is
| classed as a semiprccious gem OF the
berry, family
| For February is the amethyst, tru-
Is beautiful gem some OF the liGht
| pale varieties coming from Brazil,
| while others that are liVid with red
and purple fire come from North caro-
lima and Siberia. The ancient Romans
believed that he or She who drank wine
| from a cup or goblet made of this gem
| could not become intoxicated.
| For March the blackstone is the s. m
Dol of wisdom aud courage, proiqstas
frmness in affection. Many interest
| ing legends relating to ii are written.
| It is a dark green quartz with small
red spots of jasper diftused through IL,
| is OPAQUE. usually cut on cahochon, or
rounding top with fiat back. 1t IS
largely mined in India. supersu-
| tious belief existed that the red spots
| were caused by drops of blood falling
| from a spear wound in the body OF
Christ while on the cross which fell on
| q piece Of green jasper.
| For Alril Is the king of all gems, the
| diamond mined almost entirely III Al
| RIGA. Always increasing in value
| is composed of pure carbon. 1t lasts
ana lives forever. 1t is the mos
| sought-atter gem in all the world. III"
/ Romans believed that if diamond
were worn on the left arm 50 THAI i
touched the skin ii made them fear
less.
For May the accepted gem is the en-
lerlld. of DC same general composition
| as the 4quam4rHc. The best spec /
mems are mined at Muse, Colombia.
| South America. 1t is believed to be
| strengthened Of the eye. Anclents
never tired Of looking at their emerald
rings. Nero had IN eyeslass. the lens
made of emerald, through which he
/ viewed the mortal comhats of the
i eladiators This gem discovers false
friends and insules true love.
For juno is the pearl, the queen OF
al GEMS. II is composed of lime
/ From Tie most remote times it was ac-
/ ceEted as the richest of gifts. The old
1 IN Chinese used them as medicine for
| disease u he bleed. Cleopatra, in or
l der t. show her contempt for money
/ and to cutshiue others in her lavish
| ,yastpfuIness in those days of oriental
| splendor. toe off one of her magnif-
cent large pearl earrings, dissolved
| and swallowed il. That pair of pearls
was said u be worth at that time
| $500, 600. Perhaps the present value
woula he 81 coo 00o. The Romans wore
pearls. even down to their shoes.
For July is the glowing ruby or red
sapphire. 1t denotes love or loving
dispositions An old belief was that
this gem caused one To discover pres
sence of poisons, warned the wearer OF
impending danger by darkeninS III
| color, ard when the evil presence had
PASSED Of reuming its bright red color
| Foe August is sardonyX, the eleventh
stone on the breastplate of the high
lriest. The man wearing this gem VIII
overcome all contentious 1t insures
| long life. health and prosperity. con-
/ iugal felicity, is cure FOL epilepsy
and causes strife and melancholy to
depart
] For September is the cvcr-popuiar
i sapphire. IT mas many virtues. 1t eN-
/ tinguishcs fires corrccts bad manners
OF the wearer insures freedom from
/ evil passions and sadness of tho mint
II also denotes repentance.
| For October is the woRdroHs opal
1nis beautiful gem, when extracted
from tie damp earth, is quite soft and
destitute Of life. but the air and sun
I civc ii various degrees of color and
beauty. The opal with firelike flames
of sulphur, WAS more esteemed by the
Romans than all other gems, and Non
mus. the Roman senator, was sent INTO
exile because he refused to give up To
Marcus Antonius ring containing an
opal of great size valued nj SS3O,o0o.
For November the single standard is
topaz. called in Aaron's breastplate
pitdah. and named from the Island of
Topazion. supposed to be in the Red
sea. These stones are often colored
artifically by covering with bark of