The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-06-04
More about Diamonds.

If the Eastern monarchs wore diamonds
about their persons, it was principally be-
cause they regarded them as talismans, as
having magical properties and the same
belief was shared by all nations. Serapius
ascribes to this gem the power of keeping
at safe distance lemures. incubes, and
succubos; and of making men courageous
and magnanimous. 1t was also thought to
nullify the attractive power of the magnet.
The Indians believe that diamond powder
taken into the mouth causes the teeth to
fall out and that the stone acts as a pre-
sentative against lightning.
There is mention in history, of 4 cloak of
Charlemagne's the clasp of which was
formed by two diamonds and in the in
ventory of the effects of the Duke of An
jou, in 1860 or 1868, diamond cut into
the form of shield is amongst the list of
valuables. 1t was not, however, until the
time of lever lapidary of the name of
IIermon, in the beginning of the fifteenth
century, that glimpse was obtained of
the real magnificence of the diamond as
an article of ornament but it was reserved
for Louis Van Berghem, forty years later,
to discover the method of cutting the dia-
mond into regular facets, thus revealing
the jewel in its full beauty. He established
guild of diamond-cutters i'll Bruges but
his pupils, driven from this place by the
intolerance of the priests, afterwards set
tied in Antwerp and Amsterdam. The lat
ter town still has the repute of possessing
the first diamond-cutting factory in the
wsrld. 1t was here, in the establishment
of NJ. Coster, that the keh-i-noer was recut
in 1852.
The operation may mere properly be de-
scribed as grinding than cutting. The
stone is applied to the surface of a fiat
iron plate, covered with oil and diamond
dust, and rotating with great velocity
The extreme nicely required in diamond
cutting may be imagined when it is remem
bered that multitudes of these gems are SO
small, that it takes one Thousand to weigh
single carat.
The origin of the carat-four grains Troy
weight, lis from the Arabic word ''Kuara,"
the name of the seed of pod bearing
plant. These seeds are uniformly of the
same gravity, and were used for weighing
against gold-dust. The weight was adopted
in Hindostan, and thence all over the world
The rage for the possession of these pre-
cious stones so much increased after the
revelation of their extreme beauty by Van
Berghem, that Paris alone, in the time of
the Cardinal Mazarin, who was great
diamond fancier,-suppertc seventy five
diamond cutters. In England also were
several renowned lapidaries, whose work
was so perfect that even now the diamonds
called 90 old English - are much priced
The art, however, in this country has de-
clined.
In the Middle Ages extravaganza use was
made of diamonds as well as of other pre-
cious stones. The description of some of
the state dresses worn in those days appear
almost fabulous. Take the dress worn by
Queen Mary on the occasion of her mar
riage with Philip the Second of Spain, for
instance. 1t was made in the French style,
we are teld The close gown or kirtle WAS
of white satin, wrought with silver; the
robe, richly brocaded on a gold ground,
| with long train, was bordered with pearls
and diamonds of great size the large re-
bras sleeves were turned up with clusters
of gold set with pearls and diamonds. Her
chaperon OF Golf was bordered with two
rows of large diamonds, and on her breast
was a diamond of inestimable value pre-
scented to her by her bridegroom.
A robe was prepared for Marie de Medici
for Il christening ceremony trimmed with
| 80, 600 pearls and 5000 diamonds, and val
ued at $4,000 crowns this magnificent
robe had one defect, however,-it was too
heavy to be worn. Nor was this splendel
confined to ladies' apparel. The Dukes OF
burgundy and other wealthy noblemen net
only appeared with garments sparkling
with diamonds and other Jewels, but had
the housings and chanfrins of their horses
set with gems. There is one thing to be
said, however; diamonds were much
portable property, that could be secreted
CT removed at any moment. In times OF
revolution and political ferment, jewels
have always risen in price. In Paris, dur
ing the great Revolution, diamonds doubled
their value and even now, in countries
where the government is insecure, wealth
is partly kept in the form of .iewelry in case
Of emergency.
When the banking system was in its in
fancy, and letters of credit were unthought
of, such means of conveying property were
very convenient us Marco Polo and his
brothers found on returning to Venice after
their twenty-four years. absence in the