Part 10

_Opal._—The malefic influence which is sometimes attributed to this jewel, by which it has almost come to be regarded as unfortunate in the world of gems, has little authority in past traditions. It acted rather like a cordial to the heart of the wearer, was a safeguard against poison and contagion transmitted in the atmosphere; it served to raise the spirits and was valuable in affections of the eye.

_Pearl._—If worn on the neck, it preserved chastity; if ground to powder and taken in milk, it sweetened irritable tempers; if ground with sugar, it cured pestilential fevers.

_Perithe._—Whether precious or not, this stone seems unfamiliar to lapidaries, and as regards its appearance we can only report that it was of yellow color. Its virtue was to cure gout, and it had the power to burn the hand when it was held firmly. There are other fabulous stones, as, for example, Lapis Aguila or Eagle Stone, said to be found in the nest of that bird. It assisted childbirth, and according to Dioscorides, served to discover thieves.

_Ruby._—The range of auspicious influences possessed by precious stones is exceedingly restricted, and the same virtues recur continually. The ruby resists poison, preserves from the plague, banishes melancholy and diverts evil thoughts. If it should change its color, this is a sign of approaching misfortunes, but it reverts to the original hue when the evil has passed away.

_Sapphire._—This stone was good for inflammation of the eyes, and it also attracted good fortune.

_Topaz._—This has the faculty of cooling boiling water, and it has been said that those who desire to regain lost positions should not fail to carry it about their person. It procures the sympathy of the whole world.

_Turquoise._—We find only that this gem is liable to change its color when worn by certain people, not otherwise described.

The Language of Precious Stones

The ancients attributed marvelous properties to many of the precious stones. We give in tabular form the different months and the stones sacred to them, with their respective meanings. It has been customary among lovers and friends to notice the significance attached to the various stones in making birthday, engagement and wedding presents.

_January, Garnet_—Constancy and fidelity in every engagement. _February, Amethyst_—Preventive against violent passions. _March, Bloodstone_—Courage, wisdom and firmness in affection. _April, Sapphire_—Free from enchantment; denotes repentance. _May, Emerald_—Discovers false friends, and insures true love. _June, Agate_—Insures long life, health and prosperity. _July, Ruby_—Corrects evils resulting from mistaken friendship. _August, Sardonyx_—Insures original felicity. _September, Chrysolite_—Free from all evil passions and sadness of mind. _October, Opal_—Denotes hope, and sharpens the sight and faith of the possessor. _November, Topaz_—Fidelity and friendship. Prevents bad dreams. _December, Turquoise_—Denotes prosperity in love.

THE LANGUAGE OF POSTAGE STAMPS

The government desires the postage stamp to be placed on a letter in the extreme upper right-hand corner. This is requested in order to facilitate the canceling of a stamp by a special machine made for that purpose.

Lovers, however, often oppose this regulation and use the stamp as a means of conveying a message to their beloved. The following are the usual meanings attached to the position of the stamp:

Placing the stamp in the upper right-hand corner at a slight angle means: “I expect an immediate reply.”

At an angle of 45 degrees: “I am provoked at your long silence.”

Placing the stamp upside down: “You are very cruel.”

Placing the stamp half an inch from the upper and right-hand edges means: “Expect me tonight.” Placing the stamp at the upper left-hand corner: “Be careful how you reply to this.”

Placing the stamp at the lower right-hand corner: “Beware! Father has caught on.”

Tearing a stamp in half and placing each half with a slight space between; in the upper right-hand corner: “Our friendship is at an end.”

Tearing the stamp and placing the halves in the upper left-hand corner: “You have broken my heart.”

Using two one-cent stamps; in place of a two-cent stamp, if placed alongside of each other in the upper right-hand corner, means: “My love for you has doubled.”

Two penny stamps in the upper left-hand corner means: “You have a rival.”

Two penny stamps one above the other means: “I will call to see you tonight.”

Two two-cent stamps where only one is necessary means: “My love for you stops at nothing.”

Two penny stamps reversed means: “I am thinking of you with joy.”

Lovers frequently place a message of love under the stamp, which must be taken off in order that the message can be read.

THE MEANING OF MOLES

Moles, which appear on the bodies of most persons in various locations, have always been mysteriously connected with the fate of the individual concerned. Just how this belief originated it is hard to tell, but the fundamental idea is that moles are placed upon the body to foretell an event or decide the characteristics of a person.

In some countries moles are regarded with reverence, and the hair which grows in tufts from the moles is never pulled out or shaved. In Latin countries it is a common sight to see men with clean-shaven faces but with a mole on cheek or chin from which the hair is allowed to grow quite long.

Authorities differ as to the significance of moles and give different interpretations to them. The following may be taken as the most accepted view:

A mole on the right cheek indicates beauty, modesty, charity.

A mole on the left cheek indicates vanity and frivolity.

A mole on the chin denotes long life to the bearer.

A mole over either eye indicates sagacity and farsightedness.

A mole on the forehead signifies mental activity and ambition.

A mole on the neck near the front indicates artistic temperament.

A mole on the right shoulder indicates beauty and capriciousness.

A mole on the left shoulder indicates domestic accomplishments and tastes.

A mole on the right bosom indicates tendency to weakness and ill health.

A mole on the left bosom indicates a tendency to hereditary illness.

A mole on the back indicates characteristics inherited from the father.

A mole on the abdomen indicates robust health and vigor.

A mole on the right thigh indicates virile strength.

A mole on the left thigh indicates ambition and success.

Many small moles on arms or legs indicate robust health and long life.

WEATHER PROPHECIES FROM AN OLD ALMANAC

1. _Chances of the Coming Year._—If the night of January 1 should be fine and calm, without rain or wind, it signifies a good year and abundance of everything. If the wind is in the east, there will be mortality of cattle; if in the west, there will be grave trouble, wars and dissensions among nations; if in the south, there will be some mortality among human beings; if in the north, there is the likelihood of barrenness in all harvests.

2. _The Year’s Chances._—When Christmas Day falls during the moon’s increase, the year will be very good, and the nearer that it is to the new moon the better it will be. But if it falls during the waning moon, there will be a hard year, and the nearer that it is to the decrescence the worse it will be.

3. _Signs of the Sun._—If it be red in the morning, there will be rain in the evening; if it be red in the evening, a fine morning will follow. Fine weather must not be expected when the sun rises with long beams of light shooting over devolving clouds. Should the luminary look small and round like a ball this denotes rain or tempest. Rain and thunder are signified when the sun grows dark and obscure in the daytime. A bad day will follow when it sets enveloped in black cloud.

4. _Signs of Fine Weather._—This is denoted by a slight fog in the east before sunrise; by a white or aureated border about the horizon, and moisture on windows at dawn; by a heavy dew and a serene sun in the early morning; and by clearness, brightness and small, scattered red clouds at sunset.

5. _Lunar Signs._—A blue tinge on the moon portends rain, a red tinge means wind to come, but white coloring signifies fine weather. Fine days are likely to follow a fine Tuesday. If the horns are obscured on the third or fourth day, this indicates rain. If the circle of the moon is red, a bad time may follow; if it does not appear at all on the fourth day of its renewal, the whole period of the moon will be dull and rainy. If it rains on the first Tuesday after the full moon, it will so continue during the rest of the moon’s period, and the reverse in the contrary case. If the moon is clear on rising, there will be fine weather in summer and severe cold in winter; clearness at the full promises a fair time; so also when the halo melts quickly, but a double halo means storm.

6. _Star Signs._—When the stars seem longer than usual, rain is likely; when they are nebulous or obscure, though no clouds are visible, this means rain or snow—according to season. When they are encircled by fog, a cold wind is betokened; when they are clear and sparkling, it means cold in winter and fair weather in summer.

7. _Vintage Prospects._—If the sun is clear and bright on the Feast of Vincent, an old adage says that there will be more wind than water, which means that there will be a rich harvest of grapes.

HOW TO TELL ONE’S AGE

Girls of a marriageable age do not like to tell how old they are, but you can find out by following these instructions, the young lady doing the figuring. Tell her to put down the number of the month in which she was born; then to multiply it by 2; then to add 5; then to multiply it by 50; then to add her age; then to subtract 365; then to add 115; then tell her to tell you the amount she has left. The two figures to the right will denote her age, and the remainder the month of her birth. For example, the amount is 822. She is twenty-two years old, and was born in the eighth month, (August.) Try it.

There is a good deal of amusement in the following magical table of figures. It will enable you to tell how old the ladies are. Just hand this table to a young lady, and request her to tell you in which column or columns her age is contained, and add together the figures at the top of the columns in which her age is found, and you have the great secret. Thus suppose her age to be 17, you will find that number in the first and fifth columns; add the first figures of these two columns. Here is the magic table:

1 2 4 8 16 32 3 3 5 9 17 33 5 6 6 10 18 34 7 7 7 11 19 35 9 10 12 12 20 36 11 11 13 13 21 37 13 14 14 14 22 38 15 15 15 15 23 39 17 18 20 24 24 40 19 19 21 25 25 41 21 22 22 26 26 42 23 23 23 27 27 43 25 26 28 28 28 44 27 27 29 29 29 45 29 30 30 30 30 46 31 31 31 31 31 47 33 34 36 40 48 48 35 35 37 41 49 49 37 38 38 42 50 50 39 39 39 43 51 51 41 42 44 44 52 52 43 43 45 45 53 53 45 46 46 46 54 54 47 47 47 47 55 55 49 50 52 56 56 56 51 51 53 57 57 57 53 54 54 58 58 58 55 55 55 59 59 59 57 58 60 60 60 60 59 59 61 61 61 61 61 62 62 62 62 62 63 63 63 63 63 63

HOW TO BE BEAUTIFUL

Moore, the poet, has given expression to his ideal of beauty in the following lines:

“_This was not the beauty, oh, nothing like this, That to young Nourmahal gave such magic bliss; But that loveliness, ever in motion, which plays Like the light upon autumn’s shadowy days._”

“_Now here and now there, giving warmth as it flies From the lips to the cheek, from the cheek to the eyes; Now melting in mist, and now breaking in gleams, Like the glimpses a saint has of heavenly dreams._”

Wordsworth also expressed himself in the following lines:

“_He was among the prime in worth, An object beauteous to behold: Well born, well bred; I sent him forth Ingenuous, innocent, and bold._”

Perhaps you ask how you can attain beauty if you do not possess it? Or, if you have some of its qualities, how you may get those you are lacking. If you will practice the following rules you will grow more and more beautiful in the eyes of others, even if age does bring gray hair and a wrinkled skin.

_First_—Cleanliness is next to godliness. Practice it in every feature of your daily life.

_Second_—Have some purpose to achieve and steadfastly work to attain it.

_Third_—Cultivate self-discipline; be master of your passions, under all circumstances.

_Fourth_—Study to know the laws of life that yield harmony and good health and obey them. Look on the bright side of life always.

_Fifth_—Avoid intemperance in all things.

_Sixth_—Cultivate every mental and bodily quality that will make you firm in goodness, strong and physically able to be useful to your kind, generous and broad-minded, self-sacrificing, and you will daily and hourly be lovely and grow into the beautiful.

MEMORY RHYMES

The Months

Thirty days hath September, April, June and November; All the rest have thirty-one, But February, which has twenty-eight alone. Except in leap-year; then’s the time When February’s days are twenty-nine.

Birthdays

Monday for health, Tuesday for wealth, Wednesday best day of all, Thursday for crosses, Friday for losses, Saturday no luck at all. He who’s born on the day of rest In health and fortunes has the best.

The lines refer to the days of the week as birthdays. They are, in idea, the same as the more familiar lines:

Monday’s child is fair of face, Tuesday’s child is full of grace; Wednesday’s child is merry and glad, Thursday’s child is sorry and sad; Friday’s child is loving and giving, Saturday’s child must work for its living; While the child that is born on the Sabbath Day Is blithe and bonny, and good and gay.

Short Grammar

Three little words you often see Are Articles, a, an and the. A Noun’s the name of anything, As school or garden, hoop or swing. Adjectives tell the kind of noun, As great, small, pretty, white or brown. Instead of nouns, the Pronouns stand— His head, her face, your arm, my hand. Verbs tell something to be done— To read, count, laugh, sing, jump or run. How things are done, the adverbs tell— As slowly, quickly, ill or well. Conjunctions join the words together— As men or women, wind or weather. The Preposition stands before The noun, as in or through the door.

The Interjection shows surprise— As, Oh! how pretty; Ah! how wise. The whole are called nine parts of speech, Which reading, writing, speaking teach.

To Tell the Age of Horses

To tell the age of any horse, Inspect the lower jaw, of course; The six front teeth the tale will tell, And every doubt and fear dispel.

Two middle “nippers” you behold Before the colt is two weeks old, Before eight weeks will two more come; Eight months the “corners” cut the gum. The outside grooves will disappear From middle two in just one year. In two years, from the second pair; In three, the corners, too, are bare.

At two the middle “nippers” drop; At three, the second pair can’t stop. When four years old the third pair goes, At five a full new set he shows. The deep black spots will pass from view At six years from the middle two. The second pair at seven years; At eight the spot each “corner” clears. From middle “nippers” upper jaw, At nine the black spots will withdraw. The second pair at ten are white; Eleven finds the “corners” light.

As time goes on, the horsemen know, The oval teeth three-sided grow; They longer get, project before, Till twenty, when we know no more.

Bees

A swarm of bees in May Is worth a load of hay; A swarm of bees in June Is worth a silver spoon; A swarm of bees in July Is not worth a fly.

The Cuckoo

May—sings all the day; June—changes his tune; July—prepares to fly; August—go he must.

Rules for Riding

Keep up your head and your heart, Your hands and your heels keep down, Press your knees close to your horse’s side, And your elbows close to your own.