The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-11-25
Anecaotes OF Gems,

Pliny tslls the misfortunes of Nonius, who
was prescribed by Mark Antony for the sake
of hts famous opal, bnt who, sooner than sur
render bis treasures valued at GO, 900 sterl-
ing, went into voluntary exile The story
told by the same writer of Cleopatra's S wagSr
with the triumyir, that she would spend up
on q single dinner 3 sum equivalent to fI,.
COZ, 600, Is better known, The Queen was
accustomed to wear In her cars two pearls,
and when her lover ridiculed the banquet
that had been prepared as too expensive,
she threw enc q these into a vessel of
strongest vinegar, dissolved it and drank il
off, The other was to have followed, but
the umpire, BY declaring that Antony had
already lost the wager, preserved it and af-
terward, on the conquest of Egypt, it was
sewn4H tNo, 20 make pendants IN the ears
Of venus u the Pantheon, Mr.. King re.
produces this story TO discredit it, and as
snre ~ M acid the stomach can endure is
capable Of entirely disselying pearl, even
after long naaceration. The willy queen, he
surmikes, swallowed the pearl IN some more
agreeable potAtion than vinegar and, in Or
der to gain her wager, invested the fiction
Of Its dissolution. secure of its ultimate re-
eoxeEy Bnt there was another pearl -,4 nm.
rivAled magnitude, to which a romantic tale
attaches. This was the gem obtained by q
diver at the price of his life, for the SassanI.
an king Pesozes. So priced was It by the
monarch that it occupied his thoughts even
ia1sdsaths IN the supreme moment Of his
fate, when about to perish in the pitfan into
which he had beAa entEapped hy the fnigRed
retreat Of The enemy, he plueked from hi
sieat ear this glory Of has reign and hurlee
Il before him into the abyss, deriving com
fort even Han from having cheated the fos
Of what wopld have been considered tho mos
glorious trophy Of their victory, In lat
times when the diamond had sqpnlantet
the pean IN public estimation, 70 have thi
story Of that known as the Saney, the history
e Nhs1h generally confoundea with that o
CHARTS the Bold, IS hero correctly given
This famous stone was one sent by by it
awner, Sencur de Sancy, to Henry ".
who vented Is raise lean on it. Ihe serv
Isnt b Nhom its transmission was entrusted
vas beset by robbers and murdered. Hi
master oWesef, recovered the corpse, ant
counting npon tie expedients of his faithfu
Eaveg, o1lsad Is and had the satisfaction Q
diacogersng therein his lost treasure. Bona
pArta meF BE- ssid to have founded his for
fEQes upon 3 diamond, for, after the lstl
HEaalGiles i Nas by pledging the celebrates
areeents be procured tho funds indispensa
BE Tor he consolidation Of his power. Th
fqlE cf this stene, slave, is said 10 llav
concealed i In cash made for its reception
h the calf Of his leg, and have escaped {
Madras. Hero he fell in with an Engiisl
skipper, who, hy the promise of finding
pnrcllasee q consideration of Receiving
Hoacky Of what vas TO bercalized, lurad hin
On board ship, and there disposed Of hi
claims by pisching him into tho sea. 1t al
terEaFa came into the possession of Govern
or Pitt 70 whom, however, it must hav
been source Of fearful anxiety, fer We rea
he never made known beforehand the day G
his coming q iawn, nor slept twice consecu
tsVely II tho same honse until III, whe
be disposed Of his harrasing possession t
the regent Of Orleans London Athe
nmum.