The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-07-01

nearly all of an equal size. The bush
was brought from England in early days,
and from it a greater portion of the
bushes in the island have been raised.
THE HUNGARIAN OP4LS.
After the visitor to the main exhibit
ton building has looked in vain in the
American departments for anything very
striking in the way of artistic work let
him go to the Austrian-Hungarian sec
ton and look at the beautiful display of
ofals from the government mines in
Hungary-the only mines in the world,
by the way, where really fine epals are
found. The collection of these singular
jewels in the Hungarian section is unique
and one of the most notable exhibits in
the building. Several cases are filled
with specimens of these precious stones.
no two of which are alike, in all condi-
items, from the stone in the rough to two
exquisite cameo likenesseso of the emperor
and empress of Austria. These latter
specimens are really triumphs of art
work, as it was formerly deemed impossi-
BILE to engrave successfully upon as soft
stone as the opal. The likeness of the
emperor is cut upon a fine opal, set in a
bracelet and surrounded with emeralds,
rubies, and brilliants, representing the
national colors of Hungary. The en-
press face is engraved upon a similar
Jewel, set in locket. In both heads the
lines are as clearly cut as in the finest
canoes. They were accomplished after
greatest care and patience by one of the
best artists in Austria, who occupied
over two years in his task. 1 can we'll
believe what was told by the officials,
that these two engraved opals arc the
finest specimens of their kind in the
world. The largest opal known is con-
tanned in another case. 1t weighs six
and two carats and is the Koh-l-noor of
opals, but, like the Koh-i-noor, there are
smaller gems that have as much fire.
There is also gorgeous collection of
rough opals, unequalled in any museum,
in which the curious may trace the for
nation of these wonderful products of
nature from their beginning, up through
their growth in crystal form until the
time when decay begins, a period of time
covering myriads of years. There are
many other gems in this collection worth
calling attention to; but one must see
this exhibit to appreciate it. 1t is be-
coming known as one of the most inter-
esting in the department.
WHENCE THE OPALs COME.
The mines from which these jewels
come are in the Carpathian mountains,
in the most picturesque part of Hungary,
a region now three thousand five hundred
feet above water level, but whose forma-
ton shows it to have been thrown up
from far below the sea. The opal mines
are from six to eight miles in extent, and
about one thousand feet deep at their
greatest depth. They are owned by the
government and have been worked for
five hundred years. Their greatest yield
has been within the last thirty years
or since they have been under the direc-
ton of the family of Libanka, Ludwig
Ritter Goldschmidt Won Libanka being
at present in charge of them.
The opal is a water product, but in
what manner and by what subtle alchemy
its beautiful eolors are developed is
mystery that is one of natures secrets.
All that scientists can tell us is that the
water in which the opals form runs
through rocks holding gold, silver, nickel,
sulphur, iron, anthony, cinnabar and
other minerals. The getting out of the
opals is performed by four hundred men,
laboring alternately day and night under
the superintendent Of Mr.. Libanka.
Like many other luxurious and beauti-
full trinkets enjoyed by the rich, the
wearer little knows the patient labor,
the perils, the time and the refined skill
by the miner, the lapidary and the en-
graver necessary to the preparation OF
every single beautiful stone before it is
ready to be set by the jeweler. Some
curious things might be written about
the prejudice often entertained against
wearing opals by people who ought to
know better, but who believe in the su-
perstition that they bring ill luck upon
the wearer. This singular notion is said
to have originated in Spain some twenty
years ago and to have eliminated in
France under the last Napols on. 1t is
compliment to the general intelligence OF
Americans to know that it is not so often
heard of in this country. This supersti-
ton, however, must be dying out. as the
opal is said to be the favorite jewel of the
ladies of the English court, Queen Vic
toria herself rarely wearing other jewels
in public. England is now the best
market for the product of the opal mines,
next to which are Germany and Austria;
and as the demand is said to be increas-
ing yearly, while the supply is diminish
ing, the merchantable value of the jewels
is on the increase.
THROUGH TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR
TWO DOLLARS.
A railroad train lately made the trip
from New York to San Francisco in less
than eighty-four hours, and a man
named Micheal Ryan lately rode by rail
from Cbicapo to San Francisco for 50 in