ROMANCE OF THE OPAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2498, 26 June 1915, Page 11

ROMANCE OF THE OPAL

One of the most curious superstitions is that wliich associates the opal with ill-luck (comments a writer in the Melbourne "Ago"). This particular tolly, which onco did so much harm to tho opal trade, has not even the pica ot hoary antiquity in its favour. Most or the traditions of unlucky numbers, occurrences. and possessions hark back to primitive times, and present a subject of interesting study to the anthropologist. But the evil reputation ot tllO opal is a tiling of modern creation, ana hence belief in it is inexcusable. In tliu East the opal has always boon a sacred stone. It strengthened' memory or the evesight, or it protected its wearer by turning palo oil the approach of poison, llie Greeks associated it with the girt of foresight and prophecy, and tho only misfortune which it could bring was due to gross misuse of these abnormal powers. The wealthy citizens ot Rome were consistent admirers of tho opal, obtained from Hungarian mines, and it the loquacious Pliny is to be believed, one Nonnius would rather undergo exile than part with his beloved opal- tn the Middle Ages, when mysticism bad its hiyday, the precious stores were assigned to "houses" of ths zodiac. Opal, coral, and lapis lazuli were placed in the house of Libra, or the Balance, the one inanimate member of the zodiacal ring. He who cares to read through the solemn gibberish which the mind devoted to mysticism and intolerant of science could beget will find there many virtues and qualities associated with the opal, but ill luck is not one ot them. . , ,■ t Whence, then, comes this foolish story, which has only lately begun to fall into deserved disrepute? J.lie answer to this question is.to be found m the "Anne of Geierstein of Sir Walter Scott. We have no writer now who ranks with us as the Wizard, of the North did witn his contemporaries some ninety years ago. Each romance that issued from the Press 'was awaited with feverish expectation, was read and reread, and was the chief topic ot polite conversation until its successor appeared. Sir Walter had no intention ol creating a superstition, and would have been the last to injure the fortunes ot Australia or any other colony, but both of these he managed to effect.. ..In tl?is, one of his least-successful romances, fair Anna has inherited anr-opal clasp from a mysterious Persian grandmother, who as a young girl had captivated the heart of the Baron of Arnheim, Annes grandfather. This clasp, or brooch, had already associated with it strange stories of magic and unchristian ritual. before it came into Anne's possession. "Alas!" the latter is made to say, or all the gauds which the females of my house have owned, this perhaps hath been the most fatal to its possessors. From this simple origin the stupid superstition arose, and the opal went out of favour in Court circles, and, needless to say, in private circles as well. Scott's romances are, happily, still lead bv the voung generation, but we are not; such perfervid admirers that we allow his lightest word to create a legend. Recently the attempt was made by [ exalter personages to break the back or this superstition, and the opal has been restored to Court favour, to that America has become aware ot tut e\u a ordinary beauty of this gem s one, which is Australia's unique gifof .je* ellerv, we may expect the export ot opals to be as brisk as these calamitous times will allow.