At
all times and in all periods there have been optimists and pessimists,
the former animated by the life-bringing sentiment of hope, and the
latter oppressed by the death-dealing sense of fear. Let us always
choose a happy medium between a foolish excess of hope and an
unreasonable apprehension of future troubles. The world's history and
our own experience show us that it is the optimist who has caused the
world to progress, and we should trust and believe that the sentiment
of hope and faith will always animate humanity.
We
know that for centuries it has been believed that amber necklaces
protect children from cold. May we not also now add that to pearls the
same qualities are attributed? There must be a reason for this. May
not this belief be ascribed to the circumstance that in the wearing of
either of these gems their virtue consists in the fact that the
necklaces do not cover the neck? In other words, they are worn on the
bare throat and the opinion prevails that an exposed neck means less
liability to cold. For, where the neck is never overheated and then
suddenly chilled, a normal temperature being maintained, there should
be protection from colds and from the many ills resulting from them. As
to pearls, this might serve to illustrate the poetic fancy that these
sea-gems are tears by angels shed to bring mortals joy.
Having
collected a large mass of material, ethnological, historical and
legendary, in the course of personal observations and study, it was
decided that the companion volume, the twin sister of "The Curious Lore
of Precious Stones," need not treat of gems alone.
For
courtesies, information and illustrations I am indebted to the
following to whom my sincere thanks are due : Prof. T. Wada, of Tokyo,
Japan; Dr. G. O. Clerc, President of the Société Curalienne des Amis
des Sciences Naturelles,
