Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-01-05
THE TURQUOISE.

green Of the grass, deserves a better
name. II ought to have some sort of
generic label rather than one Dor
rowed from a nation which, not so
long ago, was aligned with an enemy
and which has for years upon years
borne a reputation Of cruelty and blood
thirst Mined on the shores of the
Mediterranean, sent eastward to Turkey
and sold by dealers in ConstantiRop c,
it acquired the name of "Turkeystone
1t was only short step from that to
the modern form.
"The stone so-called,", wrote a thir-
teenth century Latin scholar who had
evidently accepted the statements of
the crafty merchants, "from the regions
of Turkey whence it originates. II has
the quality of preserving the eyesight
from external injuries when superim-
posed on the eyes, and it induces hi
larity."
The natives Of Turkey often attach
ed the gem to the brides Of their
horses as amulets, but the custom had
been started in Persia, where the great
mines were located. The people be-
lieved that the stone possessed the
property of making the animal more
sure-footed and bestowed greater en-
durance. This seems to have come
about through the fact that in mythol-
ogy the horse is often used as a SYM
Dol OF the sun in its rapid course in
the sky; by fastening no the harness
the blue gem as a symbol of the sky,
the whole drama was thus transferred
to the land, and made to live on earth.
Many persons even today will testi-
fy not only to the high regard they
have for the wondrous gem as a
thing of beauty and Coy forever" but
as protector against harm. A certain
practical business man had been given
turquoise; subsequently he assured
the donor that on two occasions when
ne had been in personal danger the
jewel had paled but afterward regain
ed its natural color.
In the Middle Ages it was thought
that the turquoise would appease ha-
tired, relieve and prevent headaches,
also change its color when the owner
became imperiled or sick, and recov-
er its former hue when the illness or
danger had passed. The people OF
that era believed it would warn OF the
presence Of poison by growing moist
and appreciably fading or blanching
King John, it is said, thus detected the
poison which caused his death.
The turquoise changes its color
with the condition of the waarcr," an
Arabian mineralogist of the thirteenth
century averred. at brightens and
refreshes the vision when looked a,
hxedly and is beneficial to the ewes
when used with eye salve. According
to Aristotle, it is a stone with which
the kings Of Damascus never omitted
TO adorn their necks and hands. and
TO employ for many other purposes. be.
cause, among the great, the stone pos
sesses the property Of removing from
Its wearer the danger OF being killed
and is, therefore, never to be seen on
the hands OF a person killed. Fur
thermore, when reduced to powder il
is OF assistance in case of stines of
scorpions and of dangerous or veno-
nous reptiles"
Another Arabian Of the same period
ADVISED the use Of the gem to strength
en- the eyesight. He averred that Il
one gazed on a turquoise early in the
morning, the day would he fortunate.
and particularly fortunate IL at the
time OF the new moon. He credited it
with power to help its owner CLEAN
victory and to make him nnrrIor
Camllus Leonardus, the Italian. writ
ing 1902, ridculed the opinion that
the stone won preserve horseman
from injury. He admitted, however.
that Il could strengthen the sight "w;th
It's aspect" and defend him that car
ried it from outward casualties.
As late as 1879 the turquoise was
reputed to have most marvellous row.
ers A treatise published at that time
IN Calcutta declared that whoever
wore turquoise so that it or its gold
setting touched the skin "mav fail
from any height and the stone attracts
TO itself the whole force of the Blow
so that it cracks and the person is
safe"
Ancient jewellers in parts of Mexico