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Show THE 0UDJA. Description of the Latest IVovclty in the Jewelry Line. The latest novelty in jewelry consists of a curious and effective porte-bonheur that has been known in Egypt for the past eighteen centuries, and is made of gold or silver and worn as a charm or bracelet by ladies, and as a cravat-pin by men. The name of this prosperity-bringing talisman is "oudja," signifying luck and happiness, and it shows the eye of Horus, from which a teardrop flows, intended in-tended to represent the river Nile. The peculiar property of the "oudja". is to bring good luck, but the Pharaohs looked upon it not only as an emblem capable of warding off adversity, but also of having a large influence over the goodly yielding of the earth, containing as it doesjthe main principles and fertility i. e., fire, represented by the sun, Hordus, and water, as the tear flowing as the Nile. The charming little, amulet is being adopted by many members of the aristocracy, aris-tocracy, and is presented by friends one to the" other with the graceful wishes usual on such occasions, to such an extent ex-tent that, by Christmas, not a Parisian with a particle of superstition will exist without his or her "oudja." .The bangle pendants are made of gold and precious stones, of pure gold and silver, to accommodate ac-commodate all sorts of conditions and purses. In London they are creating a furore, from the simple fact of their hailing from Egypt, and the curious history attached to the first one worn in England, owned by the fair young wife of a handsome guardsman, Captain A. D., who sent it from Cairo with these words : " This is a charm which protected the cultivators of ancient Egypt against inclement weather; may it act likewise in your favor, fa-vor, and insure brilliant days for your garden parties.". Alas, the bright days did not last, for in the Soudan Captain A. D. fell a victim to his country and duty. , But h& widow refused to believe, be-lieve, excepting in her "oudja," and wept and prayed to it to bring her loved one back again, despite the official news of his death. Every one in London remembers re-members the extraordinary escape and return of the gallant officer, the Egyptian talisman, with fanatic gratitude, being considered the real and only agent that produced the miracle of bringing the dead to life. , It is a charming legend attached to the "oudja," and every member of the fair sex will wear on her wrist the eye of Horus to bring good luck, prosperity and happiness happi-ness to herself and to those around her. American Register. |