Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1878-02-22

OF his productions. He emp l0yed
nearly hundred workmen, besides
.p-hnn6her of women and young
Those business 1t was to pol
ne colored stones and line the
cee pearls with fish scales and
J AK. The scales of the roach and
dace are chiefly used for this pur-
pose and form q considerable source
Of profit to the fishermen of the
Seine in the enyirons of Corbeil,
who bring them to Paris in large
quantities during the season. They
must be stripped from the fish
while living, or the glistening hue
which we admire so much in the
real pearl cannot be initiated. 1t
was, however, to the cultivation"
at the diamond that M. Bouguig-
ccn devoted his ingenuity, and,
had he detailed the mysteries of his
craft, some of the most singular
hlstorles of "family diamonds" and
uheirlooms" would have been
brought to light. On one occasion
8 lady entered his shop, looking
rather flush and excited, and,
drawing from her muff number
Of morocco cases, of many shapes
and sizes, opened them out on the
counter.
II wish to learn the price of q
parure to be made in exact imita-
tion of this" she said; "that is to
say, II you can initiate the work.
manship with sufficient precision
for the distinction never to be OBJ
served
Bourgnignon observed the arti.
eles attentively, named his price,
and gave the most unequivocal
promise that the parure should be
an exact counterpart of the one be.
fore him. The lady insisted again.
She was urgent overmuch, as is
the case with the fair sex In gen.
eral. Was he sure the Imitation
would be perfect? Had he OBJ
served the beauty and purity of
these stones ? Could he initiate
the peculiar manner in which they
were cut? etc.
SOyez tranquille, Madame" re-
piled Bourguignon; "the same
workman shall have the job, aud
ycD may rely upon an exact coun-
u t0t R0Ib VI His WOThs
The lady opened her eyes in as
tonishment and trepidation, and M.
Bourguignon, with unconscious Sc
renity, added, BY way Of reassuring
her; II will attend to the order my
self, as did when 1 received the
commands of the gentleman who
. ordered this very parure. / think
eet February" and, with the
Of Test unconcern he proceeded to
Va rs his ledger to ascertain which
workmen executed it and
ec.os 1e date of Its delivery.
pioo Il, however, was domestic
ouro carried on by means of
20 n'gnon's artistic skill,
saii1e meas often called upon to
Pacifi aid to diplomatic craft like
l., Numberless were the snuff
"adorned with valuable dla-
monds" which issued from his atel-
Ter In secret as the reward of pub
lie service, or skillful negotiation;
innumerable portraits ''set in brill.
fants," which were mounted there
TO gladden. the hearts of charge
d'affaires, attaches and vice-con-
suls. The great Mehemet Ali mot
the one who is now fighting the
Russians; heis Prussian-a rene
gade to his religion; but genuine
Turk, like all great men who,
when they commit little actions,
always do it on a great scale, may
be said to be the first who ever in
troduced the bright deluslons of M.
Bourguignon to the unconscious
acquaintance OF the children of
fl1Ht prophet "who suffers NO de-
1eivers to live"
The willy old Mussulman, who
knew the world too we'll not 10 be
conscious of the value of the APP
pearance of profusion on certain oc-
easions, had announced that every
Pasha who came TO the seat of gov
.eKnment, to swear allegiance to his
power, would return to his province
laden with presents of jewels for
his wife. 1t may readily be inn
aRined that under such conditions,
the duty became q pleasure, and
that they needed no second bid
ding. Meanwhile Mehemet, with
characteristic caution, had dis
patched an order to his envoy, then
scjourning in Paris, to send him as
many Of the diabolical receptions
zof the lying Franks, in the way of
mock diamonds, as he could col
lsct. Bourguignon undertook to
furnish the order, which was exc
euted In due course and duly APP
propriated, no doubt, causing many
Mashaliah! of delight to fall
from the lips of the harem beau
lilies Of Egypt, and many an Allah
HUI! of loyalty from those of their
husbands. at sight OF so much
generosity.
A visit to some of the workshops
will Inspire the mind with wonder
to behold the perfection with which
art can be made to initiate the most
exquisite productions of nature.
The luster Of the diamond. the
richness, the double reflection of
the ruby, even the caprice and dc.
Walton In the form and color Of the
pearl, escape not the cunning eye
Of the artist. Some of the parures
are valued as high as five or six
thousand francs. The workman
ship, however, is as tasteful and
costly as any produced by the first
jewellers in the world. The setting
is always of real gold and the fash
ion of the newest kind. A tiara
from these stores OF the price Of six
hundred francs will rival In effect
and delicacy It's neighbor, which
may have cost twenty times as
much; none can tell the difference
but those who have been allowed to
handle it, and breathe upon 1t, and
touch 1t with the tongue, and APP
ply an acid to 1t, In order to see
Whetnef or no II becomes furnished.