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microscope, that each possesses eight soft, triangular, leafy feelers
or tentacles, which are notched on each side, and situated in a circle
round the mouth, by means of which they catch their food and bring
it to this orifice, whence it goes to a hole in the stomach, well mixed
with water, and thence is conveyed in little vesicles to the whole
mass of polyps in communication with each other. If the feeler of
one is touched ever so slightly, the act is conveyed sympathetically
to all in the coral hive. Yet, though possessed of this common sensation,
which wonderfully vibrates through the whole organism, they
apparently have none of the five senses.
Coral is found off the coast of Africa and Corsica, polished and
extensively sold at Naples. An inferior quality, but of good color,
is exported by Japan. There is any amount of excellent imitation.
Coral was a greater all-round charm and specific than per-
haps any other, and strange to say, in India, Egypt, China, and Italy
it preserves much of its meaning to this day. Medicinally it used
to be taken as an astringent and, together with a preparation of
pearls, was given to infants as a cure for vomiting and colic. It
was supposed to be a heart stimulant, curing fevers, and neutralizing
poison. Hung on fruit trees, it protected them from hail, lightning,
wind, and gave fertility. The Brahmins of the East continue to
place it upon their dead, to prevent evil spirits from carrying off the
corpse ; while in Italy the living wear it as a protection from "The
Evil Eye" ;
and in Egypt, after being treated with lemon and burned,
it is taken as a tonic. No stone save jade do the Chinese value more.
Coral is still referred to, in some books, as "Gorgias," because
of the deed of Perseus.
You remember Medusa, that awful Gorgon, with her head of
snakes, whom no man could kill, because one glance of her wicked
eye turned him to stone.
But at last Perseus, acting on a hint from a friend, attacked
her rather ungallantly from the rear, and severed her head from her
body, ridding the world of one terror by a single blow.
He carried his gory burden to the sea, letting the blood run from
the hideous locks into the water. Then, being possessed of sound
nerves, and more than usually tired, he fell asleep.
While he slept, the evil charm began to work, even in death.
The blood of Medusa, running from the snaky hair into the water,
curled about certain ocean growths, turning their beautiful green
to stone. And the stone became red, like the ooze enveloping their
stems, the blood of the monster.
When Perseus awoke, he could hardly believe his senses. Minerva
came along, fearing for her brother's safety. She was equally
astonished.
To commemorate his great achievement, she forthwith endowed
the new stone shrub, christened by her Gorgias, "in memory of,"
with every possible power for good, to offset as much as possible the
harm done by the Gorgon while living, and this is why coral is so
valued to this very hour.
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