Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-05-23
Pearls Of Great Price.


The pearl is substance formed by
certain bivalve mollusks allied to the
oyster, and consisting of alternate con-
centric layers of membrane and car
Donate of lime. The true pearl-oyster
has, an equivalve shell, nearly semicircu-
lar 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 n
popular superstition, before science
was brought into play to destroy the il
fusion, that pearls are produced by the
oyster swallowing the dew early in the
morning, and this dew was then COLI
verted by the oyster into pearls. Ac-
| cording to DR.. Baird, it appears that
the ultimate cause of the oyster form
! ing this beautiful substance is to get
rid of a source of irritation. "Some-
! times" he observes, "this happens
! from a 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 a great
annoyance, the animal covers with a
smooth coat of membrane, over which it
|
! times, it is caused by some enemy of
! the inhabitant of the shell perforating
| it 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, balks its nefarious design.
In both these cases we find the pearl
usually adhering to the internal 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, ac-
| cording to the observations of Eveard
Hume, who has paid great attention to
this subject to be the ovum or egg of
the animal, which, instead of becoming
ripe, proves abortive, and is not thrown
out by the mother along with the
others, but remains behind in the cap
sule in which the Ova are generally con-
tanned. This capsule being still sup
piled with blood vessels from the parent
animal, goes on increasing in size for
another year, and then receives a cOv-
ering of nacre, the same as the animal
spreads over the internal surface of the
shell. The pearls found in the sub
stance of the animal are generally
round, but they are occasionally pear
shaped, in consequence of the pedicle !
by which the egg is attached being COW
cred by the nacre as well as the egg
itself.h
From the earliest times pearls, from
their pure, lustrous beauty, have al
ways been held in the highest favor,
and although their intrinsic worth |
Chat is, pearls ordindire), is usually |
placed next to diamonds, extraordinary
specimens, either for size, tint or
nacre, are by many considered fully
equal to them. One of the most re-
markable pearls on record was pur-
chased by the celebrated traveller,
Travernier, at Catila, in Arabia. 1t is
pear-shaped, regular and without blem-
ish, and between two and three inches
in length. It's valued at the enormous
sum of $500, 900 in gold. The next in
value is the world-renowned per
egrina," considered the largest and
most exquisite single pearl extant. 1t
is the size of pigeons egg, and was
brought from Panama in 1860 by
cavalier named Don Diego de Tennes,
who presented it to Philip III. of Spain.
Its value has been variously estimated
at from S250,000 to $300,000. 1t was
exhibited at Seville as curiosity. A
negro boy was one day padding about
the coast, doing little fishing on his
own account, when he brought up a
small oyster. He was about to toss it
into the sea again as worthless, but on
second thought he determined to open
it, He did so, and there within was
the "Peregrina." His good fortune
procured him his freedom. Another
one of extraordinary size, although of
inferior quality to the marvellous ''Pere-
grina," is also among the Spanish
crown-jewels. 1t is pear-shaped, and
weighs fully $50 grains.
Many of the worlds literal pearl
paragons belong to the Crown of
France. Among them one especially,
described as being of superb 90 orient
nacre and lustre), weighing 81 $40
carats, is valued at 200,500 francs.
Two exquisite pear-shaped earrings
(said to be the identical earrings of
Josephine's time) which, when weighed
together, turn the scale at ninety-nine
and fraction carats, are estimated at
300, 900 francs. There are about sew
enty more very fine specimens among
the jewels of the French regalia, some
pear-shaped and some round. An
enormous pear-shaped pearl, brought
from Berlin, was exhibited at the Paris
Exposition in 1855. A most superb
pearl necklace-the gift of her brother,
the Prince of Wales-was worn by the
Princess Royal of England on the oc-
casion of her marriage with the Crown
Prince of Prussia. 1t was valued at
ha nf |
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 marriage, followed by similar
one each succeeding year. If the royal
couple live only few years longer the
superb Gordon will be long enough to
make 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.
Round pearls are more rarely found {
of a large size than those that are pear
shaped; the most perfect round pearl
hitherto discovered measures an inch
across, and is valued at $3.50, 1000 in
gold. Several years ago there was ex-
hibited in the city of New York the
"crown pearl" 1t was
most extraordinary freak of nature.
and consisted of one large pearl resting
upon three smaller ones, forming per-
feet crown. Julias Caesar is said TO
have presented the sister of the great
Cato with single pearl of the value of
200, 900 francs. Eight million francs
are said to have been worn in pearl or
naments upon the person of the wife of
Caligula on state occasions. Caligula {
also placed collar of pearls upon his
horse probably the identical animal
for whom he provided gilded oats in a