man
a whole history of poetic visions. In it he sees reflected nine of the
highest attainments of humanity. In its glossy smoothness he recognizes
the emblem of Benevolence ; in its bright polish he sees Knowledge
emblematized ; in its unbending firmness, RighteousÂness ; in its
modest harmlessness, Virtuous action ; in its rarity, and spotlessness,
Purity ; in its imperishable-ness, Endurance ; in the way in which it
exposes its every flaw, Ingenuousness ; in the fact that, though of
surpassing beauty, it passes from hand to hand without becoming
sullied, Moral conduct; and in the circumÂstance that when struck it
gives forth a note which floats sharply and distinctly to a distance,
Music.
"
It is this," adds the Philosopher, " which makes men esteem the Jade as
most precious, and leads them to regard it as a diviner of judgments,
and as a charm of happy omen." Other philosophers have pronounced this
mysterious mineral the very essence of heaven, and earth.
So
much for Jade, which has become known especially because of the
supposition that a piece of it when suspended to the neck will dissolve
calculous stones in the kidneys, or bladder. It is a crypto-crystalline
variety of hornblende ; having been originally termed the "
Spleen-stone."
As
a deliberate conclusion, therefore, from this series of facts (in some
measure theoretical; in other respects confirmed by practical
experience), we commend to persons whose health, and comfort are
interfered with by either of the infirmities, or liabilities which have
been now enumerated, to favour the Opal, the Amethyst, and Agates
(comprising the Carnelian, the Chalcedony, the
