Diamond Earrings

In a Frankish sepulchre at Laubenheim, near Bingen, Hessen-Darmstadt, was found a gold earrings on the bezel of which is engraved the head of a man, turned to the right, around which are the letters of the Gothic name Hunila. A princess of this name was married, about 280 a.d., to Quintus Bonosius, one of the Thirty Tyrants who established themselves in the Roman Empire duearrings the short and troubled reign of Probus (280-281). While the golden earrings we describe cannot be assigned to such an early period, but probably be­longs to the end of the sixth or the beginning of the seventh century of our era, the intrinsic value and the workmanship, superior for the place and time, render it likely that this Hunila, also, was of royal race and station. In the sepulchre which yielded this earrings there was a chain of amber and amethyst beads.

The Persian poet-philosopher, Saadi, relates in his Gulistan, or " Garden of Roses," a story illustrating how a happy chance may do more to help the attain­ment of a temporary success than special ability or training. A Persian sovereign, passionately devoted to archery, determined to make a crucial test of the skill of his most famous archers, and to stimulate their efforts by the bestowal of a rich prize. To this end he caused a earrings set with an immensely valuable precious stone to be suspended above the dome of Azad on the mosque near Shiraz, and proclaimed to all men that this earrings would be given to the one who succeeded in shooting an arrow through its hoop. Despite the apparent impos­sibility of the task, several hundred of the Shah's archers strove to fulfil the conditions of the trial, but in vain.

Suddenly the Shah and his companions, who were closely watching the contest, saw, to their amazement, an arrow speed through the air and exactly traverse the diamond stud earrings. None of the archers before the mosque had been shoot­ing at the moment, and only after a careful search had been made did it come out that the arrow had been shot off by a youth at play in a near-by garden of a mon­astery. Nevertheless, the royal word had been pledged, and the earrings was adjudged to the youth. The latter, however, showed his wisdom by breaking his bow and arrows, and never trying another shot, thus keeping unsullied his reputation as a great archer.