"Asteria"

1895

Interesting Data About the Magical Star Stone of Ceylon.

Familiar to some of the ancient writers and credited with supernatural powers, the Astoria, or star gem, was highly valued for the benefits supposed to be conferred on the wearer. Its bright, six rayed star, ever changing and shifting with every play of light and especially shooting out its flames in the direct sunlight, would seem to be something more than an ordinary crystal, and to the superstitious mind it could readily be believed to embody some tutelar spirit. The particular virtue attributed to this gem was the conferring upon the wearer "health and good fortune" when worn as an amulet, and to those fortunate to be born in the month of April, with which that stone was associated or represented, the wearer was insured from all evil. The star stone is found principally in Ceylon, invariably in soil peculiar to rubies and sapphires. Indeed it is composed of the same constituent "corundum," its chatoyant, or star rays, being caused by the presence of what the natives call "silk." It is found in many different colors, from pale blue, pink and white to deep dark blue, ruby and purple. The blue are termed "sapphire stars," the red "ruby stars." It is always cut on cabuchon, the star dividing into six rays at the apex. It is next in hardness to the diamond.

The "Moorman" of Colombo, with tools as rude and simple as his forefathers used 1,000 years before, with no training or instruction except the unwritten mysteries of the craft handed down from father to son, will produce the most wonderful results in cutting and polishing gems and in many instances rival the more educated lapidary of Europe for judgment in cutting gems to the greatest advantage. — London Graphic.


Trivia

The peasants of Germany, Sweden and Russia subsist almost wholly on rye bread.

Monongahela moans "river without islands."

A Boston woman speaks of a dirt wagon as a "real estate conveyance." — Yonkers Statesman.