The round of the year begins with the springtime. Our starting the calendar with January is a new-fangled notion, as can still be seen in the names of the last three months. The names October, November and December mean, respectively, the eighth, the ninth, and the tenth month. The year used to begin with March, the opening of spring. Jewels and talismans have long been wrought with the signs of the zodiac. It is better, of course, to wear a ring with only the particular sign under which you were born. But the signs have been divided into cycles, and for each of the three cycles within a sign there is a special stone. Wearing this stone, especially with the sign carved upon it, increases the charm tenfold. In this fashion the special powers of the animal that rules the period, instead of opposing, will enter into and re-enforce the virtues of the wearer. Unfortunately, different astrologers have suggested different stones; but one who has never failed me believes in the list that I present, for its own values, each under its cycle and sign. _Aries, the Ram_ The signs of the year begin with the ruttish male of springtime, the season of fertility. March 22 through March 30. Bloodstone. March 31 through April 9. Amethyst. April 10 through April 20. Green jasper. _Taurus, the Bull_ More deliberately, but with tremendous power, the year surges on. April 21 through April 30. Lapis lazuli. May 1 through May 9. Moonstone. May 10 through May 21. Carnelian. _Gemini, the Twins_ Castor and Pollux take the sky, twin sons of Leda and Jupiter as the swan. May 22 through May 31. Topaz. June 1 through June 9. Emerald. June 10 through June 21. Beryl. _Cancer, the Crab_ And now the year moves backward toward the dark. June 22 through July 1. Opal. July 2 through July 11. Agate. July 12 through July 23. Crystal. _Leo, the Lion_ Patience lashes its tail before the harvest. July 24 through August 2. Ruby. August 3 through August 13. Sapphire. August 14 through August 23. Diamond. _Virgo, the Virgin_ As this sign approaches, poets gather their powers. Shakespeare and his rollicking fellows sat in the Mermaid Tavern, Pledging with content smack The Mermaid in the Zodiac. The slow ripening draws toward the ever wondrous birth. August 24 through September 2. Chrysolite. September 3 through September 12. Beryl. September 13 through September 23. Marcasite. _Libra, the Scales_ Balance the harvest of the moving year. September 24 through October 3. Coral. October 4 through October 13. Opal. October 14 through October 23. Pearl. _Scorpio, the Scorpion_