AMBER AND THE ANCIENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1932, Page 15 (Supplement)

AMBER AND THE ANCIENTS.

TALISMAN AND MEDICINE.

(By

Mabel L. Tyrrell.)

Amber appears to have been used as a talisman, jewel, and medicine by the ancients, and was, perhaps, familiar to them before they discovered precious stones. No doubt its colour caused it to be associated with the sun, and it was supposed to hold the virtue of the sun, and give health and life. The ancients did not know the origin of this strange substance found in swamps, sometimes washed up by the sea, and traded all over the world as a precious thing. It came most specially from the Baltic Sea, and the regions round it, for millions of years ago this part of th® earth was warmer than it is now, and covered with dense forests of giant coniferous trees which evidently produced a vast quantity of resin. During some upheaval of the earth these forests were submerged by the sea, and in time the water fossilized the resin, and changed it into the so-called miraculous stone named electrum by the Greeks. When rubbing amber in order to polish it, the Greeks discovered that it possessed strong magnetic forces, and the word electricity, is derived frpm th’e Greek, meaning amber.

It was once supposed to be the transformed tears of eea birds who wept over the sad waves. "And in Greek legend it was said to be the tears which the sisters of IPhaeton wept into the river which drowned their brother, when Jupiter struck him with lightning for his audacity in trying to drive the chariot of the sun across the sky. • Amber necklaces were given to children to protect them from the evil spir- , its liable to attack them When teething, and it was also a ‘'cure” for rheumatism. As it was supposed to be a charm against infection, the Turks used it for the mouthpieces of their pipes, and to prevent smokers from breathing in evil which might be in the ajr. This custom still prevails, though its significance is forgotten. Amber was also used in love potions, and in a medicine called an electuary, which was a thick paste made of honey incorporated with certain ingredients according to the disease it was to cure.

After chocolate ha I been discovered the French introduced a little amber into it to induce the person who ate it to fall in love with the giver. And amber caudles, to induce love, beauty, youth, and all the transitory qualities desired by men and women through the ages, were very fashionable in England. These caudles appear to have been .a mixture of warm wine, beaten eggs, sugar and powdered amber. Amber as a remedy and charm endured for so many thousands of years that it must have proved itself adequate in some ways till the mind rejected it in favour of some new fashion or drug, and resorted to other forms of beauty treatment. THE “STURDY” WOMAN. HOW TO BE ATTRACTIVE; (By E.R.C.) • The modern woman -is apt to be displeased with herself if her figure is not exactly slim. But she should know that, in spite of being a little overweight, she may give herself a, most attractive appearance if she is careful in her choice of clothes as regards line, material and colour. These hints come from a woman who has studied dress design and who devotes much time to the question of suitable clothes for every type of figure:— (1) The woman who is sturdily , built must pay attention to detail in line. She should choose whenever possible a. shoulder-to-hem line, without any tooobvious waist interruption, such as a wide belt, a sash with a bow at the back, and so on. In this way she will produce an impression of height, and so help to conceal any suggestion of- overweight. Belts, if worn at all,, should be very narrow. A small belt over each hip will be much better than the allround variety, which spoils the figure by “cutting in” upon the waist and taking away the straight front effect. (2) Necklines should be carefully considered. Round, ovaj and square lines must be avoided in favour of the long V-shape. A long string of beads will also assist in suggesting length and .(3) Materials should be soft and graceful. Tweeds should be avoided — even the light dress tweeds are ..often a little too heavy-looking for the fuller figure. Velvets ' are not good either. Plain materials arc most satisfactory; checks and large patterns must be passed over, however smart and enticing they may be. • (4) As regards colours, the following may be worn with safety* Navy blue, black, brown, rich wine red, dark green. And they need not be dull-looking, for the artistic touch can always be introduced by suitable trimmings. The colours to be avoided are light 'blues, "vivid reds, yellow, pale green, white. The sturdy woman should, if possible, have her corsets specially made for her. A corsetiere, having studied anatomy and having special knowledge of individual needs, can be relied upon to make the best even of a “difficult” figure. It is wise, too, to seek out a really good dressmaker, and, having found her, to take full advantage of her knowledge and skill. A USEFUL WARDROBE. FOUR-FOLD SCREEN 'SERVES. A useful wardrobe for the small spare bedroom may easily be made from an old four-fold screen. Arrange the screen where the wardrobe is to stand, with the two middle leaves opened out flat against the wall to form the back of the cupboard, and -the side leaves at right angles to form the sides. For the top, get a carpenter to cut a piece of plain deal, the length to equal the combined width of the two middle leaves, and the width to equal that of a side leaf. Round the top, inside, have a wooden rim, about three inches deep, so that the “roof” when in position looks rather like a butler’s tray turned upside-down. The rim must fit closely round the top of the screen like a lid round a box.

Inside the wardrobe fix a stout brass rod from side to side. This rod is very important, for it is the '''backbone” of

the whole thing, keeping the ends rigid and giving the necessary strength. Also it provides the hanging capacity of the wardrobe when coat-hangers are suspended from it. Fix a lighter rod across the front, inside the pirn, to take a cretonne or casement-cloth curtain. I