The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-23

Washington, D. c., March e.
Jade as an alternative birthstone
for the April diamond is being dis
cussed by jewe1ry trade organiza.
lions. Persons who wish to make
presents of jewelry often prefer tC
give the birthstone because of the
personal touch. The diamond, how
ever, is beyond the purse of many
people. and, some jewelers. hold
the need of an alternative stone fol
April is apparent.
The quick way out of the diff
Guilty would seem to be simply to
add jade to the gem calendar. But
the thing cannot be done so easily
and the jewellers are celebrating
carefully the benefits and dangers
Of the change before taking action.
1t seems that birthstones are not
a modern device of the jewelry
trade to stimulate business. Birth
stones have been worn for several
centuries and the choice and ar
rangement of the stones selected
for the IL months is traced direct
ly back through history to the
breastplate of Aaron, the high priest
of Israel, and to the II foundation
stones of the New Jerusalem named
in the Book of Revelation.
The list of the II stones of
Aaron's breastplate is usually given
as follows: Sardius, topaz, car
buncle, emerald, sapphire, diamond,
figure, agate, amethyst, beryl,
onyx and jasper This takes in five
of the modern birthstones and sew
eral more birthstones are included
in other translations of the Hebrew.
Because not all translators read
the same meaning in the Hebrew
characters there are controversies
as to the exact stones which were
the original breastplate.
The right of the jade to be in
cluded in the birthstone list is up
held on the ground that possibly
jade was represented on the breast
plate. The Hebrew word for the
sixth stone was translated to mean
1.-THE smiter," and scholars, think
ing of the cutting power of the dia-
mond, drew the reasonable con-
clusion that this stone was meant.
In other versions of the Hebrew,
however, a different word was used,
and this was translated as jasper or
jade; so that If jade does win
place in the gem calendar it will be
associated with the proper historic
background, even though its right
to belong there is CONTROVERSIAL
Ancient Birthstone Tradition.
1t was hundreds of years before
the stones witch were so important
to the Israelites became the lucky
stones for birth months. The
cleaning jewels of the sacred
breastplate were always fascinat-
ing and awe-ilspiring to the Israel
ties, and they regarded them as
especially significant. On each of
the IL gems of the breastplate was
engraved the name of one of the II
tribes of Israel. Tradition says
that each tribe naturally came to
regard the color of it's stone as its
own color war banners and stand
ards. Whether this is true or not,
the precedent of linking a stone and
its characteristics with a group of
people was established.
DR.. George F. Kunz, authority on
jewels, says in one of his books
Iudt tuS IOCct VI dSSONAGALA4es SSO44C
with each month was suggested
centuries ago.
He writes: THE origin of the be-
lief that to each month of the year
a special stone was dedicated, and
that the stone of the month was en-
dowed with a peculiar virtue for
those born in that month and was
their natal stone, may be traced !
back to the writings of Josephus, in !
the first century of our era, and to !
those of st. Jerome, in the early |
part of the fifth century. Both !
these authors distinctly proclaim
the connection between the u /
stones of the high priests breast !
plate and the Il months of the !
year, as well as the II zodiacal
signs"
The long interval before the pop