The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-05-28


hanged, but fatal attack of smallpox
cheated the gallows. 90 .s1s1 Esnl =.
PEARLS OF GREAT PRICE. sbE.g
How Pearls Are Really Formed-Thefr Fa-
bulous Price-An Ancient Superstition.
The pearl Is q substance formed by certain
bivalve mollusks allied to the oyster and
consisting of alternate concentnc layers of
membrane and carbonate of lime. The true
peari-oyster has an equivalve shell, nearly
semlcii cular in form, greenish in appearance
without and ornamented with the most
beautiful nacre within. The pearl oysters
live in the warm seas of the East and West
Indies. 1t used to be a popular superstition,
before science was brought into play to de-
stroy the illusion, that pearls are produced
by the oyster swallowing the dew early in
the morning, and this dew was then con-
verified by the oyster into pearls. According
to DIR. Baird. II appears that the ultimate
cause OF the oyster forming this beautiful
substance is to get rid of a source of irrita-
ton. sometimes" he observes, 'this hap
pens from grain of sand, or some such
small foreign body, which has insinuated
itself between the mantel of the oyster and
the shell, and which, proving great annoy
ance, the animal covers with smooth coat
OF membrane, over which it spreads layer
OF nacre. At other times. it is caused by some
enemy of the inhabitant of the shell perfor-
ating 1t from the outside to get within reach
of its prey. With plug of this same matter
the oyster Immediately fills up the opening
made, and shutting out the intruder, baIks
Its nefsrious design. In both these cases we
find the pearl usually adhering to the inter
nal surface OF the shell. The best and the
most valuable specimens are generally found
in the body of the animal ITSELF and the
source of irritation is here proved according
to the1 observations of Eveard Hume, who
has paid great attention to this subject, to be
the ovum or egg of the animal. which in
stead OF becoming ripe, proves abortive, and
| Is not thrown out by the mother along with
the others, but remsins behind in the cap.
sule In which the Ova are generally contained.
This capsule being still supplied with blood
vessels from the parent animal, goes on in
creasing in size for another year, and then
receives a covering of nacre the same as the
animal spreads over the internal surface of
the shell. The pearls found in the substance
of the animal are generally round. but they
are occasionally pear shaped, in consequence
of the pedicle by which the egg is attached
being covered by the nacre es well as the egg
ITSELF" 3 sesW seb Sis
sf BEAUTY AND vALUEoF PEARLS. ga
From the earliest times pearls. from their
pure, lustrous beauty, have always been held
in the highest favor, and although their in
trinsic worth THAT Is, pearls ordinaire,)
is usually placed next to diamonds, extraer
binary specimens, either for size, tint or
nacre. are by many considered fully equal to
tutiu OuS Vi luc ulUst I6HdIkdDle pearls
on record was purchased by the celebrated
traveller, Travernier at Cati;a. in Arabia. 1t
is pearl shaped, regular and without blem-
ish, and between two and three inches in
| length. 1t is valued at the enormous sum of
| $500, 600 in gold. The next in value is the
world renowned "Peregrina.' considered the
| largest and most exquisite single pearl ex-
| tant- 1t is the size of pigeons egg, and
| was brought from Panama in 1860 by cava-
lier named Don Diego de Tennes, who pre-
scented it to Philip II. of Spain. Its value
has been variously estimated at from $780,
600 to 100000 1t was exhibited ct Seville
as a curiosity. A negro boy was one day
| padding about the coast. doing little fish
ing on his own account, when he brought mp
q small oyster. He was about to toss il into
the sea as worthless, but on second thought
he determined to open it. He did so, and
there within was the "Peregrina." His
| good fortune procured hum his freedom.
Another one of extraordinary size, although
| of inferior quality to the marvellous APere-
grlna," is also among the Spanish crown
jewels. 1t is pear-shaped. and weighs fully
4S0 grains. 81 70
- FORTUNATE OWNERS OF PEARLS. -
Many OF the worlds literal pearl paragons
| belong to the crown of France. Among
them one especially, described as being of
1 superb "orient' (nacre and lustre, weighing
/ q 10 carats, is vaiued at 200, 500 francs.
/ Two exquisite pesr-shaped earrings (said to
| De tQc lQeQtlcal earrings Oh Josephine 3
| time) which, when weighed together turn
the scale at so and fraction carats, are esti-
! mated at 300, 900 francs. There are about 20
more very fine specimens among the jewels
of the French regaiia, some pear shaped and
some round. An enormous pear-shaped
pearl. brought from Berlin, was exhibited
at the Paris Exposition IN 1856. A most
superb peal necklace-the gift of her brother,
the prince of Wales-was worn by the prin-
cess royal of England on the occasion of her
marriage with the crown prince of Prussia.
1t was valued at 50O, 900 francs The queen
of Prussia has necklace of pearls, each pearl
alike in size and beauty. This has grown
from one pearl, presented to her by her
husband the first birthday after their mar
riage, followed by similar one on each sue
ceedlng year. If the royal couple live only
few years longer the superb Gordon will be
long enough to make q double row hanging
to the waist. One of the large pearls in the
English crown Is said to have been found in
the river Conway, and was presented to
Catherine, queen of Charles III.
LARGE, ROUND PEARLS RARE.
Round pearls are more rarely found of a
large size than those that are pear shaped.
| The most perfect round pearl hitherto dis
covered measures an inch across, and is
| valued at $3.50, 900 In gold. Several years
ago there was exhibited in the city of New
4 York the marvellous scrowl pearl" 1t was
a most extraordinary freak of nature, and
consisted of one large pearl resting upon
three smaller ones, forming perfect crown.
Julius Cesar Is said to have presented the
sister of the great Cato with a single pearl
of the value of 200, 600 francs Eight million
francs are said TO have been worn in pearl
ornaments upon the person of the wife of
Caligula on state OCCASIONS. Caligula also
placed a collar of pearls upon his horse
probably the identical animal for whom he
provided gilded oats in hall of tortoise
she'll studded with emeralds and topaz. And
in those days of ancient Roman luxury the
noble ladies wore their slippers incrusted