MILTON. Perhaps against no other gem has the bigotry of superstitious ignorance so prevailed as against the wonderful opal. The reason for it dates no further back apparently than the 14th century. It was at this time that the dreaded “Black Death” was carrying off thousands of people in Europe. The year 1348, an astrological Martial sub-cycle, saw Venice assailed by destructive earthquakes, tidal waves and the Plague. The epidemic in a few months carried off two-fifths of the population of the city, sparing neither rich nor poor, young nor old. It is said that at this time the opal was a favourite gem with Italian jewellers, being much used in their work. It is further said that opals worn by those stricken became suddenly brilliant and that the lustre entirely departed with the death of the wearer. Story further tells that the opal then became an object of dread and was associated with the death of the victim. On the astrological side it might be considered that the city of Venice comes under the watery Cancer, and can not, therefore, claim the opal as its jewel. But, admitting that under special and rare conditions certain diseases can influence the opal if worn on the body, the truth of the Venice story can be reasonably doubted. Another theory of the origin of the superstition is traced to the rigorous order of Jerome Savonarola for the destruction of the vanities in the year 1497. This remarkable ascetic caused great bonfires to be lighted in various parts of the city of Florence, the largest in the Piazza Signoria. Into these bonfires were thrown works of art and beauty, pictures, statues, jewels and beautiful raiment. The fanatical spirit so gained ground owing to the impassioned preaching of Savonarola that women threw into the flames their costliest jewels, authors their books, students their manuscripts and poets their love songs. It is assumed that the opal, the gem and symbol of the beauties of Venus came under the ban and history relates that the most direct onslaughts were made on the pictures and statues of the goddess. Astrologers show that the year 1497 was dominated by the planet of war and destruction, Mars, and it is deplorable that so many wonderful works were sacrificed during that unhappy period. The artist F. W. W. Topham, R. I., has illustrated this event in his well-known painting “Renouncing the Vanities by Order of Savonarola,” which picture now hangs in the Art Gallery of New South Wales. There is also a story which tells that during the Crimean War the gem was popular with the English army and navy and that it was found in quantities on the bodies of the slain. Sir Walter Scott’s romantic story “Anne of Geierstein,” was a powerful influence in advancing the superstition against the opal, although Sir Walter alluded to the Mexican Opal known as Girasol and not to the better known precious opal. Even whilst these superstitions were