The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-12-15

the composition, he produced a mass ira
yersed throughout with delicate veins 0
+ gold, similar TO the Jumps brought from
Australia and California. BY a modification
of his process he produced hydrophane-
that species of opal which is transparent on
ly when immersed in water and specimens
also Of the allied crystal, hyalite. In thi,
operation, silicic ether and moist air ar,
principally employed and variety Of co
lors could be impaired by the admixtur,
of different colored alcoholic solutions
Chloride Of gold produces u beautiful topa,
yellow and by exposing the crystal for q
time to light, the gold is dispersed through
it in flakes as an aventurine; and kept in
sunlight, the flakes change to a vio,et OF
rose color, and become transparent. In this
fact we have an extraordinary instance oI
molecular action--thc distribution of metal
lie scales through n solid mass one which,
i, light on the modssQf formation Of rocks and
4 minerals: That 'STees of wood, plants, and
animal substances will become silciied, OF
as is commonly said, pctr!icd, is well
known; and though often wondered at, the
diffusion Of the gold flakes through the
crystal is yet more marvellous.
Besides EbclmCn, two other savanS-Sc-
narmont and Bequcrel-have obtained sur.
prisng results in the artificial formations Of
crystals and minerals. Some among their
specimens OF chrysolith and chry sobcryl
were hard enough to cut glass. And many
| curious effects have been noted in the course
Of their investigations and experiments.
Glass containing arsenic, though at first
transparent, becomes cloudy and Opaque,
then waxy, and finally crystalline A fami-
liar instance Of a similar effect is offered by
barley y-sugar, which gradually loses its
Transparency, and becomes somewhat waxy
in texture. Another discovery was, that
| pounded loafsugar mixed with sulphuric
acid, forms a glutinous substance which,
when dry, detonatcs like gun-cotton.
I We might go OH with these Interesting re-
suits, which open novel views Of the capa-
bilities Of chemical science ; but for the pre-.
sent we content ourselves with few words
/ Oh ultramarine--a substance much used by
artists and by certain class Of artiiicers.
Some years ago It vas prepared exclusively
from dpis iagui, a mineral found in Sibc-
ria, and was sold at prices varying from Sc
/ 10 quhntt. But the chemists set TO work
/ upon II, pryins, "-iehiny. TESTING and
eventually discovered its cons,;.nnnts I'm,
were long at a loss for the coloring piinri.
pie. At last Guimet, Of Lyons, hit on the
idea Of trying to combine the constituents in
their natural proportions, as is the native
mineral and the result was, that the color
was produced, and ultramarine could be sold
G., "a r,g.n,,l Iho
are-silicatc Of aumina, soda and sulphu-
/ ret Of sodium; and the color is supposed to
be due to the action Of tn, last on the two
first. Gumet's success set other expert.
mcnts on the scent the secret was recently
discovered, and now ultramarine may bc
bought at Is. Sd. per pound, and is largely
used in many industrial processes.
But there is still another way Of manufac-
turing artificial gems-and to make our arti-
Gle complete we must finish with short
notice OF it. Our clever allies across the
channel have the credit Of discovering and
practising it with no small advantage to
themselves. Just outside the Barrier du
Tone, at Paris, stands large factory,
where a species OF sand, brought from the
Forest Of FOntainebleau, is converted into
emerald, topaz, sapphire and ruby. Artili-
cial pearls are also produced in great num-
bers, and rs they are lined with fish scales,
an active fishery of roach aud dace is kept
up in the Seine during the Spring months,
when the fish are in their prime. But it is
for the manufacture of diamonds that the
,nanutactory is most clcbrated-diamonds
that deceive the eye Of everybody but the
maker. Thomas Carlyle has given us,
. I,s cnppnrnip0r M,
Diamond Necklace, which lets us into the
secret of stupcndous fraud, successfully
accomplished before the very eyes Of royal.
ty; and if we could get at the history OF the
transactions of this diamond factory, we
should find the fraudulent business still live
ly. Many have been deceived who never
found out the cheat put upon them Others
have discovered II to their sorrow. We give
one instance from among many, borrowed
from cotemporary
"a few years ago, an English lady entered
the shop belonging to the proprietor OF the
factory, situate on the Boulevard, looking
rather flushed and excited, and drawing from
her muif number Of morocco-cases of ma
ny shapes and sizes, opened them one after
another, and spread them on the counter
81 wish" she said, ito inquire the price
OF q pdrurc to be made in exact imitation o.
this; that is, il you caH initiate the work
manship with sufficient precision for the dis
tinction never to be observed"
NJ. B examined the articles attentive
ly, named his price, and gave the most une
quiyocal promise that the parure should bC
AN exact counterpart OF the one before him
The lady insisted again. She was urgent
.,nrr,n,h l. thn ia tbu F,i a.,
general. Was he sure the imitation woulC
be perfect? Had he observed the beauty
and purity Of those stones? Could he imi
tate the peculiar manner in which they wer,
cut. &c.
"Soyea tranquillc, madame replied VI
B; "the same workman shall have tn,
job, and you may rely on having an cxac
+ counterpart Of his former work"
The lady opened her eyes in astouishmcn
and alarm; and NJ, b added by way o
reassuring her II will attend to the order
myself, as did when received tho com
mands Of Milor -, who ordered this very
parurc, | think, last February" and with
the greatest uncOncern, he proceeded tC
search his ledger, to ascertain which of the
workmcn had made it. and the date Of it,
delivery.
Meanwhile tho lady had sunk down in .
swoon. The mior named by the t,adcsmar
was no other than her own treachcrous lord
and master, who had forestallcd her. by ex
changing Rundcll and Bridges goodly work
against VI. BIS deceptive counterfeit, nc
doubt to liqudatc his obligations ON the
turf. The veyation Of the lady on recover.
ing from her fainting fit may be imagined
she reproached the diamond maker with hs
wing assisted her husband in deceiving her
; and retired mortified at the idea that she
herself had never detected the difference be-
tween the false and tho rca'. Many time,
had she worn the glittcring gems, believing
them to be the same she had brought in hel
caskct from England.
We have heard it said, that many of the
snuil.boxcs given away as marks Of royal ol
imperial favor are adorned with diamond.
made in NJ B-'s factory and that Niche
init Ali, the late Pacha Of Egypt, was the
first to give away the costly looking shams
If this bc true, il would only be fair to cx
pose the mighty pcrsonages, as well Al
,t,n t..... \ Al. Il. q. n