Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-09-16

among the first Of the gems. For none
exceed them in the phenomena Of ply
sical properties or in complexity of
composition or in the vast range of
their colors and their hardness is quite
equal to the emerald. which they sur
pass in refractive powers. Whilst their
dispersive energy exceeds even that of
the sapphire and topaz.
There are many localities In the
world where this stone is found. but
fine specimens are rare. aud when they
are impid and approach the emerald.
the topaz and the sapphire in hue. they
are sold for those gems. The red tour
maline. the rarest Of all gems. when
free from faults and of fine colors, ac-
corsiing to the eminent authority Of
Professor Bcudant OF Paris. il sold at
the price Of the ruby, the most costly
Of all the gems. The finest specimens
Q. the tourmalinc species known in the
world have been taken from the now
exhausted locality at Mount Mica.
Some beautiful crystals splendid COL
ar have been found in loose powders
at Hebron, Maine, but the parent ledge
has not vet been discovered There are
other localities in the United States
where these stones occur. bat they are
opaque or Of very poor color and i'm
| perfect capitalization.
There i no gem. not even the sap
phirc. which surpasses the tourmalnc
I Ia, -. A l.
remarked. 1t seems a. IL nature 'had
/ wished To prove To- man that she could
''imitate quite perfectly that which she
/ had created 1.-The most perfect"
| The Spaniards under Cortez whilst
on their march 10 tie capital Of Mexico
| we're astonishcd at thc size and beauty
of the emcralds and turquoises that
1 decorated the persons Of the chiefs who
csine 10 join them as allies or visit
them a envoys from Mpntczuma. AMI
| afler the conquest of the country they
/ sostIht IN vain for the mines whence
these emeralds and turquoises came.
| TAc cmcrald- undoubtedly came from
| Central AMI South America, and were
brought overland or along thn coast a
an article of trade, since they have not
been found anywhere in the United
| States.
| The turquoise. the Mexican said in
| reply 10 the question Of the >paniard,
came from the FAR north, but the M n =.
were not discovered until recent times.
| The histories ~ the Spanish uccupa-
Nj. ..f
these mines at least 80 far a. am
| acquainted with them. 4 mine Of great
antiquity is situated III the Ceriilos
Mountains. eighteen miles from Santa
| Fe in New Mexico. The deposit occurs
in SOFT trachytc, and an immense cayi-
~ lSs beep excaA2ied by, the indians
| III past times whilst searching for this
gem. Within few years the Navajo
| Indians have revealed the existence of
u mine in. .lAe Sierra Blanca Mountains
! IN New Mexico, but they will not allow
any strangers 10 visit il. Nton.s of
7 trAnscrnlent beauty have been taken
/ from il AMI handed down III the tribe
7 from generation ~ generation - heir
! looms
/ Nothing tempts the cupidtv Of the
I Indians 10 dispose Of these gems. Rnd
/ gratitude alone causes them - part
\ with any Of tsesc treasures, which like
I tie mouutaincer, OF Ihibtt, they rr.ard
| with mystical reverence The Navalos
/ wear them a. ear-drop-, hv boring them
! and attachin. them 10 the ear BY mcan7
! of deer sincv. Lesser stones are
| pierced. then strung on sincws, Aui
ami worn as necklaces. Even the no.
/ bier | u Indians, when stripping the
/ ornaments Of turquoise from the ears
VI the conquered Navajo, value them
as sacred treasures. AMI refuse 10 part
| with them even for gold or silver. olc
Of these magnificent stone, VA, pre-
| sentei by the Navajo chief to VI iJor-
| General Carleton, when Governor Of
New Mexico. anl it may be taken as
the type Of the American turquoi-e,,
| although there are larger ami finer
stones III possession Of the tribe. Ii l.
! nearly an inch i'll length, osc-third
broad and one-tit,h in depth, and equal,
IA purity and delIcacy Vi lint. y the
best Of the Persian. Other mines have
been reported as occurring along the
Rocky Mountain range, but nave not
Seen able 10 obtain any reliable infor-
nation concerning them.
DR.. Hainlin closed ty displaying
beautiful parure Of American gems,
Containing nearly one hundred and iif-
ty stones, and many Of those he had
described, especially the red, blue,
green, yellow, pink and white tourlna-
lines also the sapphres and the beryl,
Of nearly all the colors know to the
Species