The Washington herald., 1922-05-15
oChcHeyuAd;'
Notes

MONDAY. MAY Is. Iszz.


MUSEUM DESCRIBES
IT'S GEM COLLECTION.
The collection Of gems that ranks
second In America in size. diversity
and value is located in the U. D.
National Museum and In described
In an illustrated handbook and de-
scriptive catslog Just issued
In addition 10 enumersting and de-
scribing the specimens In the coll
lection. the handbook gives the vsri-
Gus properties Of each kind Of pre-
cious and semi-precious stone. such
as It's chemical composition. manner
OF crystsilizing. color. hardness. op-
teal properties. uses and general in
formation Of interest There are sec
lions giving the history and arrange
ment OF the collection. and the names
ano properties Of preciots stones, as
Wen as appendices on the cutting
OF gem stones; gems mentioned in
the Blole; mystical properties Of
ofrtnstones; gems and mineral
names: Industrial uses of precious
stones; tables for the Identification
Of precious stones; statistics of pro-
duction; and q selected photography
OF the subjects.
The collection had its origin in
1884, when an exhibit Of American
precious stones was prepared for the
New Orleans Exposition. In 1891
the greater part OF the collection
of DR.. Joseph Leidy was purchased
by the museum and In 1884 Mrs.
Frances Lea Chamberlain beouesthed
TO the museum a collection Of pre-
cious stones assembled by her father.
! mr. 49, b.
l. T. Chamberlain. added a large
number Of specimens. and on his
death beouesthed a sum Of money.
the income OF which IL % be used
for their further Increase. Individual
gifts. and transfers teom the Geo.
logical Survey have further augment
ed the material
OF the 1000 kinds Of minerals
known 70 science only about 100
are of suficient beauty and dura-
bility to be classed as precious or
semi precious stones. OF these the
diamond is the hardest Of the gems
and surpasses all others IN the
property Of dispensing light, which
creates its fire" BY far the great
est number Of diamonds are mined
in South Africa, others coming from
India Borneo. and Brazil A few
have been found in the United
Ststes-in North Carolina. Georgia
Kentucky. Ohio. Wisconsin, Colo
RADIO, Idaho. California, and Viz
GINA
Among the sncients there were
Z many strange beliefs concerning
the mystical properties Of gems in
curing diseases and in bringing
/ good or evil to the wearer Ger
tain of these fantastic beliefs per
sist in some places to the present
day. The birthstones were believed
TO have, among others. the follow
ing properties: Garnet. preserved
health, drove away vain thoughts.
and reconciled differences between
! friends: amethyst. as an amulet,
dispelled sleep. sharpened the in
tellect. prevented intoxication. gave
victory to soldiers. and protected
Its wearer from sorcery; blood
I stone. symbolic Of wisdom, nrure.s
and courage. enabled its owner To
I foreten the future, and II rubbed
with the juice Of the heliotrone
rendered its wearer invisible: dis-
/ mond. symbolic of constancy. purity
and innocence and hence used early
a IN oetrothal rings-softened anger
and strengthened love: emerald. en-
olematic Of happiness-when hung
around the neck IL prevented emf
; leptic attacks. and applied 70 the
lips II stopped hemorrhaSe; agate.
emblematic OF love-remedy against
gives victory to it's wearer. repels
storms, sharpens the sight. in
creases strength. and renders its
wearer gracious and eloquent: ruby.
emolematic Of live-remedy against
plague. poison, evil thoughts. and
nightmare: sardonyx. symbolic OF
conjugal bliss-rendered the ms
SCISSOR virtuous, cheerful and agree
aole; sapphire, emblematic OF wis
oom-procured royal favorss. soft
ened anger. freed from enchant-
ment. and obtained release from
captivity; opal, symbolic Of hop.-
stimulated the heart, drove away
! oespondency, prevented faintinE
and malignant affections Cthe ides
8 that the opal is unlucky is corn
( paratively modern); topaz, symbolic
OF friendship cured insanity
checked the flow Of blood. ana
averted sudden death. and tur-
quoise. mathematical Of success
worn by Orientals to insure health
ana success, and was supposed 20
protect the wearer from injury
through accidents.