Precious Stones as Adjectives

The names of precious stones and semi-precious 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 a realization in fact. (Virna Sheard, "The Jewelled Princess," in Canadian Magazine.) 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 came to the rescue, saying, "I will give her unselfishness, and by it she shall turn her beauty back to what she wishes it to be."

The result can easily be imagined. As the little princess grew up, those who wished to flatter her vanity spoke of her "teeth of pearl," of her "golden hair," of her "coral lips," and of her "sapphire eyes." Upon this her teeth changed to pearls, her hair to spun gold, her lips to coral, and her eyes to two magnificent sapphires. However, beautiful as these were, they did not grant the power of sight, so that the unhappy princess became blind. Not long after this a revolution deprived the king and queen of their throne and they were reduced to great poverty. In these straits the daughter sacrificed her "gold-hair" to relieve their wants, and immediately the spell was dissolved and she regained all her natural beauty.

Shelley, who saw the world illumined by the rainbow hues of poetic fancy, wrote of "diamond eyes," "an emerald sky," "the emerald heaven of trees," "the sapphire ocean," "sapphire-tinted skies," "the sapphire floods of interstellar air," and "the chrysolite of sunrise." For some reason, he does not use the ruby, a favorite stone with many poets, and psychologists might find in this a proof that red appeals less strongly to the idealist than do the other colors.