The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-30
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC }. HAsKIN. Director.
Washington. ID. @.
A. NEW BIRTHSTONE FOR April

/ often prefer to give the birthstone be-
cause Of the personal touch. The dia-
mond, however, is beyond the purse of
many people. and, some jewellers hold,
the need for an alternative stone for
April is apparent.
The quick way out of the difficulty
would seem to be simply to add jade
/ to the gem calendar But the thing
/ cannot be done so easily, and jewelers.
are celebrating carefully the benefits
and dangers of the change before tax
ing action.
| 1t seems that birthstones are not a
| modern device of the jeWelry trade to
/ stimulate business Birthstones have
/ been worn for several centuries and
| the choice and arrangement of the
! stones selected for the 2 months is
| traced directly back thru history to
priest of Israel, and to the 3 founda-
ton stones of the New Jerusalem
named in the Book of Revelation
The list of the 2 stones of Aaron's
breastplate is usually given as follows:
sardius, topaz, carbunele, emerald
sapphire, diamond, figure, agate, anne
thyst, beryL onyx, and jasper. This
| takes in five of the modern birth
| stones, and several more birthstones
are included in other TRANSACTIONS of
the Hebrew
Because not all translators read the
same meaning in the Hebrew charac-
controversies
exact stones which were in the orig
inal breastplate.
The right of jade to be included in
the birthstone list is upheld on the
ground that possibly jade was repre-
scented on the breastp1ate. The He
brew word for the sixth stone was
translated to mean "the smiter" and
scholars, thinking of the cutting pow
er of the diamond. drew the reason
able conclusion that this stone was
meant. In other versions of the He
brew. however a, different word was
used, and this was translated as jas
per OF jade; so that If jade does win
g place in the gem calendar it will be
associated with the proper historic
background. even tho its right to be-
long there is controversial.
Ancient Birthstone Tradition.
1t was hundreds of years before the
stones which were so important to
the Isra elites became the lucky stones
for birth months. The cleaning
jewels of the sacred breastplate were
always fascinating and awe inspiring
to the Israelites. and they regarded
them as especially significant. On
each of the twelve gems of the breast
plate was engraved the name of one
OF the twelve tribes Of Israel. Tradi-
ton says that each tribe naturally
came to regard the color of its stone
as its own color for banners and
standards. Whether this is true or
not. the precedent of linking stone
and it's characteristics wi@ group
of people was established.
DR.. George f. KunZ. authority on
Jewels, says in one of his books that
the idea of associating a stone with
each month was suggested centuries
ago.
lief that to each month of the year
special stone was dedicated, and
that the stone of the month was en-
dowed with a peculiar virtue for those
f1nir
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 dis
tinctly proclaim the connection be-
tween the II stones of the high
priests breastplate and the 2 months
of the year, as wen as the IL zodiacal
signs"
The long interval before the. popular
acceptance of the birthstone idea. DR..
Kunz attributes to the superstitions
regarding the healing power of jewels
Precious stones were from very
early times used as agents of healing
and of warding off trouble and dis
ease. In the Middle Ages philos-
ophers had much mysterious informa-
ton regarding the power of gems.
The ruby would prevent attacks of
eases of the eye A wine-colored
amethyst would prevent the wearer
from becoming intoxicated regardless
of the amount of liquor consumed
Powdered Gems for Sickness.
The dust of diamonds, jade, and
other stones was regarded as medi- |
cine for various diseases Emerald |
powder mixed with water would cure
leprosy, it was believed. So great was
the peoples faith in the potency of
jewels and in the wisdom of the phi |
losophers that valuable jewels were |
ground to powder and consumed with /
the idea that the virtue of the gem
its strength, purity, fire, or other
disease part of the system and eff |
feet a cure.
To the people of medieval Europe. |
a beautiful stone was as mysteriously |
powerful as radium seems to US.
Their wisest men told them that a /
turquoise would prevent the wearer |
from injury if he should fall. If the l
wearer of a turquoise tumb1ed down /
stairs and arrived at the foot with a /
broken arm. that was easily explained. |
Perhaps the turquoise was not prop /
erly worn. 1t should touch the skin 1
in order to divert the shock of a fall /
from the wearer to itself. If-it was /
the skin. then the wearer /
should appreciate that if he had not /
worn il. undoubtedly his. neck as we'll /
as his arm would have been broken.
The turquoise took the worst of the i
fall to itself. II either OF these argu- /
ments failed to convince, the man of
could significantly observe /
that II a jewel failed TO function as
advertised. obviously it was an inita-
ton and not a true living gem. Il
The people, princes and poorer folk
alike. listened to the scholars and
when they could afford to do so. wore
the proper assortment of Jewels to
Keep healthy. or to get rich or to at
tract love and friendship When this
gem cult flourished. the individual
needed stone for each emergency.
One lucky stone was not so good as
half a dozen. each with its special
powers. But, eventually. the people
lost faith in connections of powdered
levels, and lamentations said over