12 THE CURIOUS LORE OF PRECIOUS STONES
stones
are frequently used as adjectives, and when so employed convey
something more to the mind than do the corresponding adjectives of
color. "We may instance the following expressions: the "Emerald Isle"
and "emerald meadows " ; "sapphire seas" and "sapphire eyes" ; "ruby
wine," "ruby lips," and, in Shakespeare, "the natural ruby of your
cheeks"; "coral lips" and "coral ears"; "pearly teeth" and "pearly
skin"; "turquoise skies"; "amethystine locks" and, in Roman times,
"amber hair." In all these cases the name of the precious mineral is
really used as a superlative of the adjective, suggesting the choicest
variety of the color or shade. The phrases "hard as adamant" and "clear
as crystal" show a similar use of the name of a precious or ornamental
stone to express the highest grade of a given quality.
Before
the introduction of the "point" system in typography three of the
grades of type bore the names of precious stones,—namely, "diamond
type," "agate type," and "emerald type"; this latter designation is
employed only in England, where "agate type" is called "ruby type."
Another size was denominated "pearl type."
A
fanciful tale written not long ago treats of the practical
inconveniences which would result, could such metaphorical expressions
find à realization in fact.7 At the birth-feast of a certain
princess, one of the fairies was not invited ; she, nevertheless, made
her appearance. After the other fairies had endowed the child with many
good qualities, the neglected fairy said, "I will give her vanity, and
her vanity shall change her beauty to the things it is said to
resemble." However, a friendly fairy
TVirna Sheard, "The Jewelled Princess," in Canadian Magazine.
