Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-05-24
WHAT is Amber?

/
j the fash OIL. The mandate Osthc Gu cn has
gone forth, and has become law. Beads
of translucent gold cnci-cIc fair throats,
and hang pendent from shell shaped ears
They shine like liquid gold on coiilurcs and
spring bonnets. Amber buttons and firing
es are indispensable to the summer toilette;
amber bracelets are clasped around fair
white arms. aud amber brooches shine with
their yellow CLEAN on soft laccs. The shop
windows are filled with them the steamers
are frcighted with them. ev will have
their day till new fasllicx takes their
/ place.
DO the gay votarcs of fashion ever ask
the question, from what is amber formed,
and from whence does it come! These
were subjects of debate long before the
Christian era. The poets of every cline
have drawn delicious imagery from its
wealth of golden color. while its electric
properties have given rise to many strange
wild superstition.
Amber is one Of the most useful produc-
tions of past age, and possesses, apart
from its intrinsic value as an art material
the greatest possible interest to the students
oi three sciences, Entomology, Botany and
Geology. The largest quantity of amber
is found on the southern shore of the Bal
tic, between Memcl and konigsberg, where
it is cast up by the action of the ground
swell after the northerly gales. 1t is also
found on the coast of Sicily. on the shores
of the tdriatic. on the English beach of
Norfolk and Suffolk, and at Cape Sable. in
Mary land Mining for amber in beds of
brown liguitc is carried on in Prussia. and
it is found in excavations all over Europe.
Still amber continues to be the gem OF the
sea by which 1t is yielded only after a
storm. and i'll such small quantities that its
value has ever remained undiminishcd.
The origin of amber has been fertile
subject for discussion ever since its discov-
cry. There can be no doubt, however,
that the ancient opinion of its origin was Il
correct one that it is the semi fossil resin Of
species of conitrrous trees. The forests Of
northern Europe must have been of dlf.
/ tcrent character at the time of its forna
ton from those of the present day, Judging
from the variety of objects found impacted
in the amber Luxuliant vegetation aud
a tropical heat could alone have developed
such plants. aud insects as are inbedded
in the clear Juice which flowed from the gi-
gantic forest trees of an age when the world
was no: yet fitted for lis present inhali.
tallts.
Amber is found in masses, irregularly
shaped, and usually of small size, The
color is OF all shades from pale straw tn
deep orange. The clearneSs is Of all de-
grccs from transparency to opacity.
Amber was highly esteemed by the an
clients. Thaes Of Miictus discovered its
electrical properties 600 Be. The Greeks
called it cterty0a, and it has the honor of
giving a name to the science of electricity
Almost all the Greek and Latin authors
have something to say of eicctroa. and very
strange Wild theories were made to account
for its characteristics. Some supposed it
to be produced by the rays Of the scttin.
sun on the surface of the earth, resulting
in an 'unetuous sweat which was washed
off by the sea. and further elaborated in its
depths, BY others that y sheet of water
called Lake Electron was situated III the
garden OF the lIcsperidrS. and that amber
Tell into the water from the poplar trees by
which its banks were lined,
But the supernatural properties OF am
bcr have always been the subject of the.
deepest interest. 1t is not strange that to
the ancients its power OF attracting light
substances oitselt and then repclling them.
should have endowed it with IL kind of life,
and led to the supcrStitlous belief that some
intelligence of another world some fairy or
spritc, had selected it for a dwelling place
In the fairy literature of Persia the abode
of the Peris is called Ambcrabad. The
liindoos have their amber mooa. and the
various st.pcrstitiUnS OF the northern nations
connect amber with fairy pranks and witch
cs spells This was the belief of the peo-
pie inhabting the southern shore of the
Baltic, as they had the mysterious gem
constantly before their eyes, and associat-
ed i'll their minds with manifestations of
wtchcraft in which they firmly believed.
This view OF the subject is fully carried out
by the plot of story called The Amber
Witch 1t is an exceedingly interesting
story as cnbodyns the superstitions of the
time in a very readable book. 1t was writ
ten by the pastor OF district III Pomcr-
ania, and published i'll 1873. The time is
the period OF the thirty years war. The
pastors daughter, the charming heroine.
when her father and herself were almost
diving from hunger, discovers ON the Streck-
elbcrs vein of amber, from which they
derive considerable and very mysterious
revenue In the stiffness of the night the
poor Girl is seen ana watched as she goes
in pursuit of her hidden treasure. Amid
the strange complications of the plot, the
real witch succeeds in fixing the authorship
of her own evil deeds upon the pastors
daughter, who is thence called the Amher
Witch. She is tried. convicted, and on
her way to the stake everything consprcs
for her destruction, until suddenly the ia
blcs are turned, the hero appears saves
her from "a terrible death and carries her
off to his castle as his bride.
PICKING Ut TlIoCGIIrS. Boys, you
have often heard of blacksmithS who be