The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-01-26
Flash JeweIry.
[From the jewelers. Circular

The doctrine of equality which has produc-
ed so many high and noble qualities in the
American character, has also very unfortu-
nately developed a spirit of imitation which is
not only ridiculous, but very often even Gull
pable. The servant maid, understanding
that she is as good as her mistress, only not
as rich, determines to dress as well in appear
ance, if not in reality. If her mistress has
camers hair shawl, Bridget spends years
savings on an imitation made at Paisley; if
her mistress wears ornaments of the pale,
rare color, Bridget makes a grand display
with sealing-wax ornaments of the same hue.
If the mistress wears diamonds, Bridget dec
CRATES herself with brilliants from Alaska or
genuine paste. Massive gold brooches and
bracelets were at one time sore point with
the ladies of the basement, because nothing
else would look like the real article. But
here science has come to the aid of the affiict-
ed and has invented an aluminium which has
all the appearance of eighteeu-carat gold.
Bridget is, therefore, enabled to shine on
Sundays and holidays like queen of Sheba.
Few persons, however unobservant, have
failed, occasionally, at least, to notice the COR
geous character OF Bridget's jewelry. 1t ap-
peals to the eye even more forcibly than the
bonnet which it is her pride to wear when
she takes her outing. Sometimes the ear
rings are so large that when she whisks
around the table slight but perceptible
clang is heard, to be attributed solely to those
splendid ornaments. The brooch that covers
her silk kerchiefis of the same ample size and
radiant splendor. And Of rings, she has at
least, half dozen, apparently of plain gold
but very solid. The mistress of the house
usually surveys her brilliant maid with a look
half OF amusement, half of vexation. But
there is on the brow of the master percepti-
BILE frown, for well he knows that these SUI
perb trinkets have been trafficked by some
peddler in exchange for the pair of old boots
which alone suit his feet when his corns are
troublesome; or that warm overcoat, service
able but questionable, which his charity has
designed for some employee or dependent.
Brldgets young man, who calls on Sunday
evenings, has a shirt front adorned with SOL
1talre diamond of apparently enormous value.
1t is about three and half carat in size, and
would be worth, if genuine, about 1000. As
1t Is, its intrinsic value is zero, but it has a
market price of one dollar, setting and all,
and the profit of the manufacturer and retail
er was about ninety-fve per cent. Bridget's
young man patronizes glass, but his cousin
Terence purchases his diamonds of the real
and only original Jacobs, who will let him
have magnificent cluster pin as large as a
five dollar piece for three dollars, beautifully
set in the finest imitation gilt and double
washed brass. The stones in the cluster pin
are nominally from Alaska; they are simply
crystals of quartz, and will remain very brill
liant for about week, or, if called for, three
times as long, but they will become at lasG far
duller even than ordinary glass. Bridget's
young man wears, also, brilliant studs to his
wristbands, apparently carbuncles of large
size and splendid hue. They cost him one
dollar and quarter and really they look pref
ty well, considering the time he has worn
them. The color is right enough, and owing
to the tin foil at the bottom of the glass, there
is as much glow as in real stones. What is
wanting is lustre, for the carbuncle, though
cheap stone, is very hard and takes quite
high polish. 1t will reflect objects in pettO
like the apple of the eye, but this the imita-
ton will not do. His cousin Terence has
studs that resemble moss agate; these are
made OF glass and cost only fifty cents. In
both cases the setting is the same, of brass
gilt.
There is species of flash jewelry which
only respectable people affect. 1t is orna-
ments in imitation of jet and onyx. Ladies
who wear expensive jewelry on state occa-
sions, frequently in morning toilets wear ear
rings and bracelets of a composition into
which shellac largely enters. They consider
this no offense, though the setting is of brass
gilt, and the ornaments are, in every particu-
lar, as false as Bridget's. But because they
are black, they are not considered as belong
ing to the order of flash. This is a peculiar
feminine reason, but though the practice is
condemned and detested by all gentlemen, it
still prevails. The earrings, however, are
going out of fashion, because in many instan-
ces the poisonous nature of the brass Injuries
tRs ear, produces purulent swellings, and Of
ten severe earache. These ornaments are
Partisan speciality, and extremely cheap.