MY LADY'S JEWELS

Shannon News, 17 September 1926, Page 3

MY LADY'S JEWELS

Jewellery has come to the forefront of fashion again, and the question' of the moment is: Shall we wear the stones which are particularly suitable to our own type, or shall we stand by the old customs of our ancestors and remain faithful to \ the jewels sacred to our birthday months? I In olden times the, January maiden favoured her birthday stone, the Harriet, as -the- emblem of faith fill - \ nes-s. The amethyst was dedicated to thos.> born in February, its soft, purplish colour signifying peace to. those , born in that month. Courage and wisdom were the joint qualities symbolised by the bloodstone, the birth-stone of March. The blue, sapphire was the symbol of repentance for April. The diamond, too, was associated with that', "month ns a token of innocence.. These born in May had also the choice of two stones —the bright ■mven emerald, the symbol of true love, or the cornelian, the omen of contentment. . The agate eromised health and longevity to June maidens, and the :-uhy rivalled the onyx as tho'sumbol of affection for those of July. The sardonyx of August signified .married happiness. The chrysolite, ihe birth-stone of September, was a safeguard from evil, and the opal of October deiied all accusations of illluck and held hope for those born in its month.

The lopasi was the chosen stone for November, those born in that month were assured of true friendship. The torquoise was the stone of happiness for December. Those old beliefs are in all probability on their death-bed. Modern Eve isn't the one to cling to sentiment where her .ornamentation is concerned. After all, a jewel i.;. first and foremost a decoration, and now that Dame Fashion has decreed, a prominent display of precious gems on our frocks, surely it won't be sacrilege to adopt the jewel most becoming to our type, and leave the custom of wearing our birthday stone among "the sweet old-fashion-ed things."