The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-12

ravines forests and the unconvertcd beasts In the
geological Gardens, or consoled themselves for tho
disappointment by sundry beers and mint ucps in the
neighboring hotels. All the hotels were gloomy. The
Sunday law dcprives them Of urge custom from the
tcay limits their week TO i've days The rule OF this
Commissioners about Sunday Is one OF the greatest
blows 10 the popularity OF the Exhibition. ana win be
recognized hereafter as the principal element Of it,
predestined financial failure
THE HUNGARIAN oPALS
After the visitor to the main Exhibition building has
looked IN VAN in the American departments Tor any,
thing very striking the way OF artistic work let him
90 to the Austrian Hungarian section and look al the
beautiful display OF opals from the government mines
in Hungary-tbe only mines In the world, by the way,
where really fine opas found. The collection Of
unique and one of the most notable exhibits in the
building. Several cases are filled with speci.
mons Of these precious ,. stones s. no s,. Two 70
the rough to two exquisite hkenesses OF the En-
pcror and Empress OF Austria These latter specimens
really triumphs OF art work, as II was formerly
deemed impossible 10 engrave successfully upon soft
a stone as the opal The likeness OF the Emperor y
cut upon line opal set IN bracelet and surrounacc
national coors OF Hungary. The Empress
face engraved upon similar jewel, sci
in a locket. In both heads the lines as clearly cut
as in tho finest canoes They accomplished after
greatest and patience by ono OF the best artists
in Austria, who occupied over two years 10 nls Task
can we'll believe what told by the officials, that
these engraved opals the finest specimens Of
their KIND in the world The largest opa: known is con-
tanned in another case II weighs 0o2 carats and
is the Koh.lnoor Of opals but, like tho Koh inoor
there are smaller gems that have much ire
There IS also. a gorgeous collection OF rougs
opuls unequaled in any museum IN wnicn
the curious may trace the formation OF thest
wonderful products Of nature from their beginning VI
through their growth crystal form until The time
when decay begins period OF time covering MYRIAD
Of years. There are many other gems 10 this collec
worth calling attention 10; but one must see TINS
exhibit 10 appreciate it. II is becoming known as ono
OF the most interesting in the department.
WHENCE THE ofALs COME
The mines from which these jewels come are In the
IN the most picturesque part OF
Hungary region now $500 feet above water loveI,
but whose formation shows II 70 have ben
thrown up from lar below the The opal
mines are from to eight miles IN extent
and feet dccp at their greatest depth They
are owned by tho government and have been worked
for 500 years. Their grea yield has been within the
last thirty years since they have been under the d.
rcctIon OF the family Of Iibanka, Ludwig Ritter Gold
schmidt Won Lbanka beng at present in charge OF
them.
The opal is water product, but in what manner and
by what subtle alchemy beautiful colors are dcvol.
oped is mystery that is natures secrets. All
that scientists tell US IS that the water 10 which
The opals form runs through rocks nt no'o,na
cinnabar ana other minerals The getting out OF the
opals Is performed by 400 men, laboring alternately
day and night under the superintendent Of Mr. LID
anka Like many other luxurious and beautiful trink-
cts enjoyed by the RICH the wcarer little knows Inc
patient labor, the pcrs, the time ana the rchnen sH
by the MINER lapdary aud the engrnver necessary
the preparation every single beautiful stone before
it is ready to DO set by the Jewccr. Some curious
things might be about the prejudice often en-
terained against wearing opas by people who ought TO
know better, but who believe in the superstition that
they bring i'll luck upon the wcarer. This singular
notion is said to have originated Spain twenty
years ago and to have eliminated in France under the
last Napoleon. 1t is compliment to the general intel
lccncc OF Americans to know that IL IS not so often
heard Of In tins country This superstition, however,
must be dying the opal is SAID TO be the avore
level OF the ladies' the English court Queen Victoria
herself rarely wearing other jewels IN public England
Is now the best market Tor the product Of the opal
mines next to which Germany and Austria; and as
the demand is said 10 be increasing yearly while the
supply IS diminishing, the merchantabe value OF the
Jewels IL on the increase.