Show FACTS ABOUT RUBIES Gems of Great Value antI Beauty Collection of Barmalis King The story of tba theft and possible recovery of Tvincr Thpfihaws rrrram jewels which has been so thoroughly I discussed of late is likely to bring rubies into more common appreciation suggests an English paper The real value of the lost rubies is not known because Orientals prize their jewels for their weight rather than great perfection perfec-tion and another consideration is the fact that red spinels often pass in the east for the genuine ruby with which they have nothing in common except I the color although they are found in I the same bed with rubles and sapphires sap-phires The famous Black Prince ruby in the royal crown of England is only a spinel Rubies and sapphires are identical in their component parts The form of crystallization is the same Their hardness and specific gravity are equal and they are found in the same bed of clay so closely together that one side of a stone will be right blue and the other as red as blood In both aluminum is the principal ingredient but the mystery of their real difference has never been > solved by science Among the finest of historical rubies were three of the French crown jewels and one of these formed part of the dowry of Catherine de Medicis on her marriage to Henry I and i weighed 241 karats The other two were reset for Marie Stuart when she reigned as I queen of France I is said that the I kings of Burmah possessed at one time the finest collection of rubies in the world and they took great precautions to prevent strangers from reaching their mines Before the annexation or the country by England all rubies valued valu-ed at 1000 rupees were claimed by the king and the finder received no reward except the kings favor Ordinary travel was forbidden and merchants had great difficulty in dealing with the chiefs of the mining districts In order to purchase pur-chase jewels a man had to first obtain a license then report himself at Ruby Hall in Mandalay staling the exact amount of money and merchandise he wished to take with him This information informa-tion was sent to the officials at the mines and at every stopping place on the way both going and coming taO merchant and his baggage were rare fully examined If he returned with rubies beyond the value he declared ih starting he was dealt with as being a smuggler Added to the value and beauty of the ruby were its magical properties whidh the ancients considered powerful enough to guard them from poison plasrue sadness evil thoughts and wicked spirits and to keep them in health and cheered in mind Although sunerstition is not such a powerful influence in-fluence in these modern days the cheering qualities of the ruby are fully appreciated by the women who ire fortunate for-tunate enough to possess a gem |