Numbers of ancient peoples believed amber to be a cure for insanity and fever when worn round the neck as an amulet.
During the reign of Nero the Romans made an ex¬ploration of the amber country, and we are told that 13,000 lbs. of amber were brought to Rome, including a piece weighing 13 lbs. Later, amber was made into knives and forks with one prong, used only by great princes and prelates. At that time it was more valu¬able than gold.
The beautiful amber cup found at Hove, with stone and bronze utensils, in 1870, and now in the Brighton.

Museum, is said to be the finest specimen of amber in Europe. On the Baltic coast, particularly on the shores :of Eastern Prussia, where the Great European War of 1914-1918 waged fiercely, masses of amber are fre¬quently thrown up by the sea, and women and children. pick off the amber entangled in seaweed specially caught in nets. Between Konigsberg and Memel rounded masses of amber are found under the stratum in pyrites, sulphate of iron, and sand, at a depth of from forty to one hundred feet.

A kind of amber, but different from any other form of fossil resin, is found in Burma in clays of the Meiocene Age and in the oil-fields. It is harder than the Prussiii-amber, is easily cut and takes an excellent polish, bet many thin films of calcspar are included, and there is less variety of colour than in Baltic amber. When light is thrown upon it at a certain angle a bluish tinge is given to this Burmese amber. Rosaries, trinkets and figures of Buddha are made from this commodity.
The stories attached to these and other stones, more or less precious, would fill volumes.

Valued from the remotest ages, commerce in these articles shows no diminution, but rather an enormous increase, as civil¬isation progresses. Every ornament or decoration of value, worn by monarchs and statesmen, or given by them as rewards to faithful followers, is still set with jewels.
“You call these toys,” said Napoleon. “Well you manage men with toys.”