, 1880-03-28
LONDON.
Agitation of Scientific Circles Over
the Alleged Artificial Dia-
monds.
Tic Adaptation Of the Electric Light to
Practical horticulture.
Wrangle Over the Proposed Memorial to
the Prince Imperial in West
minister.
Death of One Of the Most Remarkable OF
Partisan Adventu1esscs.

Special Correspondence Of The Chicago Tribune
LONDON, March o-scicnti1lc writer's are just
now severely ugitatcd. You know the sensation
cnuscd some months ago by the announcement
that 1: Glasgow chemist Of rcputG had actually
succeeded in producing artificial diamonds that
were not dstinguishablc from the real stones
Owners Of tho precious brilints were In terri
bio suspense to know If the dircful news was
true, and II general conyulson OF diamond
brokers seemed imminent Fears, however,
were allayed by d statement from Prof. a1askc-
lync, Of the British Museum, that the crystals OF
carbons submitted to him would not withstand
tho usual tests. D11t now-lrhnppy news for
those whose accumulated riches are contained
in their jewel caskets-anOther gentleman from
Glasgow, by name Hunncy, claims to have sue
ccssfully achieved tho crystallfzntion, and this
time the Professor acknowledges that the specl-
mems sent are tcst-p proof. It Is too soon to es~
Innate the force Of the upheaval II our Scottish
cxperl1ncntalist has really succeeded in pro-
ducing III his crucible diamonds with all tho
properties Of the genuine stone. Afnny of the
gems of the Grccan and Roman periods it will
be remembered, which were once thought most
costly, are Of little value now, and it may
be that tho jewel esteemed most precious
to-day ID before long to be toppcd OF Its gilt
tcring throne. 4 glance Mt the listof celebrated
diamonds known to exist ut present is interest
ing. The Draganza, in possession OF the Crown
of Portugal is generally set down US the first,
being by fur tho largest Stone ever found. be-
lcyc, however, there is a suspicion by some
that this is no diamond but u topaz. It was
found III Brazil in 174l and is tho size of hen
egg, and Is said to be valued by the Portuguese
Government ut the absurd sum Of something
like 500 ,ooo,ooQ. The second in rank IS the Mat
tau, found in Landnk Norneu, III list or there
abouts, weighing 367 carslrs. and possessed by
tho Kajuh Of Mattan. The Nixan weighing $40
Garats; belongs to the potenlt;e OF that 1'me e;
precious jewel in the rcE..li. OF the English
crown, has remarkable history. It originally
RnoMl, gseu as tho o Gyrat G. hogui. Subsequently by
right of conquest it came into the possession of
Mohammcd Shah It original weight was >'47
curuts, but owing to the fulneSs OF lap
idary was eventually reduced TO third Of its
original weight, when 1t became known BY It's
present Oriental nnmo. Preceding the koh.l-
ranked the Regent, the Orlofr. and tho Star Of
the South. The Regent, also known us the Pitt
diamond, played I'M important part in shaping
tho history of Europe.
A HARDLY LESS STIRRING SENSATION
among the scientists is. tho demonstration that
the electric light may be used with enormous
advantage for horticultural purposes DR.:
on e Easo4 rs an has
Il series Of experiments which go to prove thnt
plants exposed to sunlight In the day. and to the
electric light ut night thrive far better aud
faster than those which have daylight only. He
exhibited to his audience on the occasion OF his
lecture before tho Royal Society last Thursday
light brought into full bloom in three quarters
Of an hour. At first sight the prnctical value OF
this achievement seems Insignificant But its
these days electro T. OH -horticuIturs win make its
presence felt with gratifying reality in our do
inestic economy. What, for Instance, would be
tho price Of certain vegetable dclicacies had de-
clincd sufficiently to bring them within tho
reach of some Of us who arc not uailionares?
tail tainea. ''''afS When our hopes IRE ss'n realized
that the force can be regularly applied to
flowers and quiok-ginwing vegetables will IN IN
doubtcdly be in more popular demand. The
Turning Of these for town markets Is at present
extremely profitable, and the public is con-
stant sufferer because Of the contracted supply.
Speaking Of Dr. Siemers. am reminded that he
has just made application to the authorities OF
Berlin for permission to lay an electric railway
in that city. AS the Germans were greatly i'm
pressed wit some experiments he made III their
Capital not long ago, showing the working Of Of
electricity as Il motive power, have no doubt
they will gladly give their consent.
THE BATTLE
whether or no n memorial tc the late Prince
Imperial shall be allowed IN Westminster Alb,
hey RACES bitterly: The ptiful and tragical end
Of the young Prince in Il South African gully
reused universal sympathy. There was no dis
cord in the expressions Of regret that one SO
been SO terribly cut or in tho hey
dax Of bis yoSth ne wa was fighting: 2;,ut too; e.
question whether or not the Ind. who rs we have
since found out only went to Zululand in order
to put himself III training to make 4 dash upon
France, shall be honored with place alongside
the greatest In English history-statesmcll. or
ators, poets, and painters-is a different thing
altogether The Dean Of Westminster say5 VINO
shnll be allowed memorials i'll the Abbey and
who shall not. He is the keeper OF the National
Mausolcl1m, as it were, with absolute power;
The Dean hns given it out that the Prince shall
have his place In tho fame, and sticks to it, not
withstandinE tue deputations which have called
upon him and protested against the Dissertation,
and generally expressed public opinion. m IL is
expressed wishes Of the Queen and other nlr1n-
bers Of the Royal falni!y that the Dean is stand-
ing out against the public will. Edmund Yates %
On this subject ito the effect that the Court had
taken care to express the opinion pretty point
soy ysoeeS is 1hs6 sesS ~ ss e
quote. Laboucherc, in his q Entire Nous"
hs Dem is Is nersa5nx h,t neither It anta1 bis
action in regard to the memorial. His reply. to
the deputation that waited upon him. ho thinks,
the ingenious dignity OF i bencllced Clergyman.
His chief point. that Mir: cariy1e did not sign
the protest against tho memorial, has been
answered By Mr.. Carlyle stating thAt his name
had bcen signed by his approval Thut tho Ut,
most the Prince ever conf ltemplatcd was thut. IL
it WIS the wish Of the French people that he
should return, he wua not unwilling to do go, ls
directly III contradiction with the revelations Of
n. PAu1 dc Cassa9nac. That Henry Wis
Chapel, where the memorial IS to be erected, "
not part Of the Abbey is wretcbed quibbe; |
am sorry concludes Mr.. Labollchcre. that
tho Dean should have been led into pursuing u
course most dlsrcspectful to the French nation
and contrary to the wishes OF vast number or
Engltsbmcn owing to his endcAyols to reconcile
bis duties as Dean with those OF court1cr. TOT.
in the main, am one Of his admirers Oliver
Cromwell is denied a place in the Abbey. Yet 4
foreign Princellng, who was only the son OF his
father and the pretcnder to d throne must have
a cenotaph there.
l SEE ny THE PARIS CORRESPONDENCE
Of the DespatcA that the Comtcsse le Hon died
Inst week IN a fifth floor lodging III the Rnc
dc Tfeit The Con1tesse was one Of the most re-
nlnrklble women that ever rode on the waves OF
Parisian society. Do you remember the fair
Jewess In Les Slendeurs ct MsGrcs dune Court
fsanc,' by Bazac? Mime. ie Hon was the original
Have you ever CHANGED upon the llb1ulnous
"Fanry," by Ernest Fedcau5 She was its hero
inc. In that curious novel, "Thc Wandering
jew, she IS given prominent part, and Victor
Hugo bus consecrated page to her In " L His
toire dun Crime Nine. lc Hon was indeed
noteworthy In many respects. but chiefly rs the
original type of the afagdalen in fashionable
life She was the political Eodmother OF the DUO
de hlOrny, and good deal more besides to that
adventurer. she Was in mourning for the DUO
d'Oricans when she picked up the illegiIimntc
sou Of Queen Hortense and made him her caya-
Eer. Her father was one OF the richest belgian
Jews OF his tfme.-1sauc cMasselmann,-and when
he died bis daughter became the principal share
to- hmm