John, the emerald, emblematic of his youth and gentleness.
Matthew, the amethyst, emblematic of sobriety. Matthew was once a “publican,” but was “sobered” by the leaven of Christianity.
Matthias, the chrysolite, pure as sunshine.
Peter, the jasper, hard and solid as the rock of the church.
Philip, the friendly sardonyx.
Simeon of Cana, the pink hyacinth, emblematic of a sweet temper.
Thaddeus, the chrysoprase, emblematic of security and trustfulness.
Thomas, the beryl, indefinite in lustre, emblematic of his doubting faith.
245. What is the origin of “bogus”?
According to the Boston Daily Courier of June 12, 1857, this word originated as follows: “The word ‘bogus,’ we believe, is a corruption of the name of one Borghese, a very corrupt individual, who, twenty years ago or more, did a tremendous business in the way of supplying the great West, and portions of the Southwest, with a vast amount of counterfeit bills, and bills on fictitious banks, which never had any existence out of the ‘forgetive brain’ of him, the said ‘Borghese.’ The Western people, who are rather rapid in their talk, when excited, soon fell into the habit of shortening the Norman name of Borghese to the more handy one of Bogus; and his bills, and all other bills of like character, were universally styled ‘bogus currency.’”