The Handy Cyclopedia of Things Worth Knowing Part 35

Strange--is it not?--that of the myriads who Before us pa.s.sed the door of darkness through, Not one returns to tell us of the road, Which to discover, we must travel too?

--Omar.

Away with the flimsy idea that life with a past is attended.

There's now--only now--and no past. There's never a past; it has ended.

Away with the obsolete story and all of its yesterday sorrow!

There's only Today, almost gone, and in front of Today stands Tomorrow.

--Eugene Ware.

G.o.d made man Frail as a bubble; G.o.d made Love, Love made trouble; G.o.d made the vine; Was it a sin That man made wine To drown trouble in?

"My character may be my own, but my reputation belongs to any old body that enjoys gossiping more than telling the truth."

May your joy be as deep as the ocean, Your trouble as light as its foam.

The man that has no music in himself, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils; The motions of his spirit are dull as night, And his affections dark as Erebus.

Let no such man be trusted.

Mark the music.

--Shakespeare.

See the mountains kiss high heaven, And the waves clasp one another; No sister flower would be forgiven If it disdained its brother; And the sunlight clasps the earth, And the moonbeams kiss the sea; What are all these kissings worth, If thou kiss not me?

--Percy Bysshe Sh.e.l.ley.

Jest a-wearyin' for you, All the time a-feelin' blue; Wis.h.i.+n' for you, wonderin' when You'll be comin' home again; Restless--don't know what to do-- Jest a-wearyin' for you.

--Frank Stanton.

Here's to Love, the worker of miracles. He strengthens the weak and weakens the strong; he turns wise men into fools and fools into wise men; he feeds the pa.s.sions and destroys reason, and plays havoc among young and old!

--Marguerite de Valois.

"Good Bye, G.o.d Bless You."

I like the Anglo--Saxon speech With its direct revealings; It takes a hold, and seems to reach Way down into our feelings That Some folks deem it rude, I know, And therefore they abuse it; But I have never found it so-- Before all else I choose it.

I don't object that men should air The Gallic they have paid for, With "Au revoir," "Adieu, ma chere,"

For that's what French was made for.

But when a crony takes your hand At parting to address you, He drops all foreign lingo and He says, "Good--bye, G.o.d bless you."

--Eugene Field.

LANGUAGE OF PRECIOUS STONES.

The ancients attributed marvelous properties to many of the precious stones. We give in tabular form the different months and the stones sacred to them, as generally accepted, with their respective meanings.

It has been customary among lovers and friends to notice the significance attached to the various stones in making birthday, engagement and wedding presents.

January, Garnet.--Constancy and fidelity in every engagement.

February, Amethyst--Preventive against violent pa.s.sions.

March, Bloodstone--Courage, wisdom and firmness in affection.

April, Sapphire--Free from enchantment; denotes repentance.

May, Emerald--Discovers false friends, and insures true love.

June, Agate--Insures long life, health and prosperity.

July, Ruby--Discovers poison; corrects evils resulting from mistaken friends.h.i.+p.

August, Sardonyx--Insures conjugal felicity.

September, Chrysolite--Free from all evil pa.s.sions and sadness of the mind.

October, Opal--Denotes hope, and sharpens the sight and faith of the possessor.

November, Topaz--Fidelity and friends.h.i.+p. Prevents bad dreams.

December, Turquoise--Prosperity in love.

Tiffany's list of birth stones is somewhat different from the above and is given below:

Birth Stones. (As given by Tiffany & Co.)

January--Garnet.

February--Amethyst, hyacinth, pearl.

March--Jasper, bloodstone.

April--Diamond, sapphire.

May--Emerald, agate.

June--Cat's-eye, turquoise, agate.

July--Turquoise, onyx.

August--Sardonyx, carnelian, moonstone, topaz.

September--Chrysolite.