Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-10-16
Queen EleanOr's Mixture.

| CALLED, this morning, on certain
well known gem collector, who was 30
good as to show me the contents OF his
cabinet. After the first half dozen speci-
mems, my attention began to wander, for
a very little of that sort of thing goes
great ways with me. "What is that little
bottle you keep among your gemsY IN
quired L.. =,
"That is my Queen Eleanor's mixture"
said he laughing. "But for it l would
not be in possession OF yonder ruby, the
value of which is over thousand pounds"
"What ?" cried l. "Do you mean to
say it is artificial. thought that that no
tion Of manufacturing gems was pecu-
liar superstition
$50 it is" said he "but nevertheless,
am indebted to the mixture for that ruby.
The fact is this: My collection is too well
known by half don't mind showing 1t
to an old friend like you, and of course
am proud of all these things; but have,
in a general way to keep too sharp an eye
upon my visitors to make the exhibition
pleasant. People whom know nothing
about call upon me, and present card OF
a friend of mine and say Mr.. So-and-so
assured me you would be so kind as to let
me see your gems Two men came to-
gether upon one occasion with the purpose
(as aiterward appeared) of what they call
ed putting the mug on me-that means
garrote and robbery; but did not like
their looks, and declined to show them
anything without letter of introduction.
They had, as it afterward turned out,
stolen the card of professor of mineral
ogy. am not, however, afraid Of single
visitor, because l always keep this handy"
and my friend produced very pretty
| little pocket pistol, cooked, and, have no
| doubt, loaded. amos.
"But the BOTTLE" said /; what is the
use of thatP"
"That is the supplement to the piStol.
Thus, only yesterday, very Unlocking
| fellow-a foreigner, all hair and false jew
ery and very foolish thing OF him 1t
was to come to me with paste diamonds in
his shirt-front-brought letter of intro
duction with him from friend of mine
at Dresden. The letter was genuine, but
| | had my doubts from the first as to wheth-
or this was the gentleman to whom it re-
ferred. However, l brought him in here
and showed him the gems. He made
some very commonplace observations,
which convinced me he knew nothing of
the subject and, after thanking me in a
somewhat servile manner for my courtesy,
took up his hat to CO. | slipped between
him and the door, and locked it in a sec
ond. My ruby said l, if you please. or
1
to his forehead. That little stone, which
| have said is valued at about one thou
sand pounds, was missing. Instead of
being indignant, my gentleman merely
answered, Indeed, you are mistaken, sir.
You may call your servant and examine
| every pocket
al know that, you scoundrel,' returned
III. 'You have swallowed that ruby now
drink this or die held the weapon in
one hand, and the mixture, which is an
ometic, in the other. The situation was
very disagreeable for him, have no
doubt, but did not seem to be at all em-
barrassing. He shrank from the pistol
Cor at least the police station, which was
its alternative), and took the physic like a
lamb, while stood over him with the
weapon and the bowl (that little white
basin yonder), exactly as Queen Eleanor
stood over fair Rosamond That's why /
call it Eleanors mixture; a decoetion
without which no gem cabinet of any
value can be pronounced complete. When
| miss a specimen, | always know at once
that some visitor has swallowed II, and
then you know he has to swallow this
Chambers J0ttrfldI.