Morning journal and courier., 1880-03-09
Diamonds.
NIInes and Buyers and How she Stone
 are Selected

NIInes and Buyers and How she stone
 are Selected
 Philadelphia Telegraph, Paris Letter.l
 The readers of the Telegraph may remem- Der magnificent diamond that I described in one of my letters some six months ago, called the ''Star of South Africa" stone weighing 125 carats and the fac simile of the Regent in all respects, save in being of decided yell low color, while that famous gem is as purely colorless as it is remarkable in size. This splendid stone, one of the very few large dia- nlonds of the world that have ever become known to general commerce, has been sold to the Shah of Persia. I much regret that none of our American millionaires cared to secure so unique and magnificent gem. And apro- DOS of diamonds, it is now a well-authentica- ted fact that the great Kimberley Mine in South Africa. the source of supply of ninety nine hundredths of the diamonds of the worlds commerce of to-day, has been pur- chased by joint stock company, and it's pro- ducts will hereafter be regulated so as to ele- vate the present depressed prices of these bsauteous stones. magnificent diamond, inferior in size to the ''Star of South Africa" but surpassing it in color, has recently been discovered in the mine aforesaid. It has not vet been cut, but will weigh, it is stated, when that process is performed, some eighty carats at the very least. As an eight-carat diamond is already 8 very large one as solitaire rings and earrings go, it will be seen how very large this new addition to the galaxy of famous diamonds must be. Purchasing diamonds for the retail trade is, am told, very diff cult and delicate task. The buyer takes his seat at table with large sheet of white pa- per spread out before him. On this kpaper is poured out the contents of certain of the pack ages in which diamonds are delivered into the hands of the wholesale dealers. The keen eye of the purchaser expert at once singles out the fawed, shallow, ill-shaped, or yellow-stones. These are swept out ruthlessly, and are def nitely rejected. The remaining stones must next be paired-a very difficult and delicate operation. To facilitate it tin plate mounted on four feet and pierced with holes in gradua- ted sizes is produced On this the selected diamonds are laid, and are shifted to and fro till each diamond is fitted into hole propor- tionate to it's size. Then the stones are sub- iected to 8 second and final examination, the buyer bouncing upon every one that pre- sents any defect, such as irregularity of shape, lack of brilliancy, dullness of water, or yellow ness of tint. The matched diamonds are then carefully put up in pairs, either in small cases or simply folded in papers. The refuse diamonds are generally sold to French jewell CTS, to make up the wonderful flowers and stars and insects that one sees blazing under the gas-light in the windows of the shops on the Palais Royal. In fact, French customers as class are far more easily suited in dia- monds than are Americans. They like some thing showy, and look more to general effect than to the absolute perfection of each indi- V1Qual stone. WOulu LQ0I6kOI0 HuVlb0 OuI country-people when they come abroad to address themselves to American jewellers when they wish to buy diamonds, and not to suffer themselves to be tempted by the dag zling gewgaws displayed on the Rue de Ia Paix or in the PaIais Royal. They will only pay half as much again for them as they are worth if they buy in those latter places, and then if they wish to dispose of their purchases or to have them reset in 8 new form, they will find themselves with 8 lot of fawed and imperfect stones on their hands.
 The Hall Railway Signal Company, of Mer- iden, has recently increased It's capital to $175, ,OOO.
 stNo man shall ever kiss ma except my flu ture husband. :" she said, as he was about Ieay- inc her at the gate. Suppose agree to be your future -" ''Why, then I'll agree ia kiss you," she said, eagerly and she did. Her mother was informed that he had pro posed, and the old lady called around next day to fasten matters, and before he knew it he was eternally booked. It was a mean ad- vantage, but bird in the hand is worth two on the front gate.
 s'I believe in personal devil" said Mr. Moody, at @ revival meeting, held in O remote Western city. "That's true, that's true-youre right there, stranger" said an old farmer, rising from his seat in his earnestness. Where upon calm-faced, placid looking woman rose from the other end of the pew, took him by the ear and led him slowly out, and the assem- bly, knew then, for the first time, that the old mans mind was filled with domestic thoughts instead of the hereafter.