Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-17
Something About lot.

The mineral itself Is nothing more nor less
than species of pitch coal, found in detached
ly, light and moderately hard. It's often con-
founded with 'cannel" coal, but it is quite dis
t1nct. Camel coal is much harder than jet, has
no grain and splits in any direction. Jet is not
easily. fused and requires moderately strong
heat, burning with line, greentsh-white flame
and emitting a bituminouS smell. The particu-
for taking on fine polish Jet abounds more
or less all over the world. In England it is
found In greatest quantities in the neighborhood
of Whitby, in Yorkshire. There it is mixed with
bltumenZed wood and cOniferOuS trees in the
upper las or alum shale Of the district. In
Prussia It occurs in association with amber, and
is named by the amber diggers 'black AMBER.
phrase which seems to have travelled to ITALY,
for the mineral is there sometimes called cambria
nera." This term is more applicable from the
fact that jet, like amber, becomes electrical by
friction.
There is belief that amber and Jet come from
one source; that amber is fossil gum, while Jet
is the trunks and the branches of The trees more
completely bitumenized and freer from earthly
impurities than camel and other coal Indeed
Mr.. Magellan goes so far as to say that Jet is
pure amber, differing only in color from the I'M
disputed variety In France large quantities
are found in the department OF the Alde, where
large number OF artisans find steady employ
ment in fashioning it into rosaries, religious
beads and ornamental trinkets when fashion de-
ity is found at Villavictosa, in the province of
AstuIias, and is manufactured principally at
Oviedo.
But during the present century jet became
popular ornament, and now probably in not
Few minds Whitby and jet are inSeparabiy as
ISOLATED. The article acquired considerable
value, and some twenty years ago jet earrings
Shlll1ngS pair. Then a lucrative trade was
carried on at Whitby. jet miners scooped out
pits In the Cleveland hills. and large num-
Der of men ana youngwomen Whitby found en-
ployment in carving the precious coal into arti
cies OF feminine ornament. Bat the success of
The English jet trade brought competition into
the held and with it imitation, which latter first
demOilSheu the genuine jet trade and then COM
United suicide Cheap and inferior jet was i'm
ported from France and SPAIN and what was
wanting in value with regard especially to the
former OF these was amply COMPENSATED for by
the superior taste displayed by the French
artists in designing the ornaments. Then COL
ored glass invaded the jet market, but the
greatest blow OF all was Intervention OF vulcan
lte Nulcanite is simple compound, its only
componentS being india rubber and sulphur
combined by the pressure OF steam. This sub
stance has many advantages over real jet. 1t is
equally black, more tenacious. and consequent
~ more suitable for watch guards. 1t is also
more easily worked, being manipulated While
hot, and is not more than one-tenth the price OF
jet.
Nulcanite became the rage for a time, and Jet
Tell into disuse. But the manufacturers OF vul-
camte, not satisfied with their victory over gen.
ulne Jet, fell into evil ways, and Succumbed TO
the great temptation to adultefate the genuine
vulcanite. The addition OF littaJge and whiten-
ing cheapened the yulcanita considerably and
Tor a time did not interfere with it's appearance;
DuL the pefnlciOuS effects OF the alloy soon tells
ana the lefty black' OF yulcanite turns to a
faced green. Tile yuicanite rage passed over
ana fashion IN its reaction from the Sombre Or
nament flew 10 the opposite extreme and set ilp
'iSilver mania.'' There are now signs that this
Is On the Tale, and the leaning for oxide OF gold
by Which the rapid transition from JET 10 silver
among the masses was Slightly interrupted
does not seem likely to come into favor again.
10 this state OF matters. says the CDnje;.y quar-
dtdn, comes the announcement from Whitley
mat there are signs CT revival in the jet trade.
Inc Indications OF a resuScitatiOn OF the in
dustry are certainly tangible but while not de-
string TO throw wet blanket on Industrial
hopes OF any description, we would venture to
question whether there are any real grounds
Tor SuppcSing that the manufacture of let will
ever experience anything like a real revival 1t
may pc true that the stocks of jet ornaments at
prove? The fact is, that jet has been for some
years so low In value as to be hardly worth
keeping" and probably hardly worth carrying
away. Earrings which in the halcyon days OF
the jet trade would have brought thirty shil-
nngs pair, retail price, could, during recent
years, have been had for five shillings, and what
were five shilling earrings formerly, are now
Inc same with vulcanite, and an ornament of
this composition which might have cost two
s s zen years ago, could now be bought for
should fashion in its caprice lend favorable eve
to "black jewelry, and jet consequently acquire
an increased value, that moment would the
market be flooded with vulcanite. How cheap
soever Jet ornaments may be made, vulcanfte
VIII underSell them, and as vulcanite looks
equally well, is more durable because less brit
tie, and Is in many respects superior, any resus-
cltat10n must be ephemeral, and the sparkling
coal from Whitby must succumb before bare
preparation-a fact more calling than that
which befell 1.-THE ielt or marble farre from Ire
nation to the ''Stone more of value, and 10 ore
smooth and ne.-[Scie'tifc american.