, 1880-01-31
ARTIFICIAL
(Fr0m the Times.)

There are very few persons whose sense
of the fitness of things would not be a
little disturbed if they We're suddenly told
that diamonds could be produced as plenti.
fully as peas in summer, aud that the
source of the supply was likely to be
Glasgow. Glasgow produces many excel.
ent things, 40 doubt, such as iron ships,
model University students, brilliant rector
ciated by those to the manner born, and
81 atmosphere, to say the least. not very
Suggestive Of the brilliant purity OF a gen
uine diamond. But Glasgow is q very
enterprising place, and if diamonds are to
be produced ar:licially, there is really no
reason why the. Transformation should not
be effected there as we'll as anywhere else.
1t would, Indeed, be very difficulty to
determine what would be the effect Of the
discovery, if it should prove to have been
really made. Would Glasgow suddenly
become a mere synonym for "Brumma-
gen." and would persons of wealth and
refinement discard the purest and most
lustrous OF precious stones simply because
they bad been placed within easy reach Of
moderate purses ? The effect of such a
sudden change of fashion and taste would
De almost appalling. Coming at the heels
Of agricultural depression. when rents are
everywhere falling aud lands are running
TO waste 10 default of solvent tenants, a
large depreciation in the value of diamonds
would be regarded in some quarters as
almost a national calamity. Certainly if
diamonds were to become cheap or unfash-
ionable, there are very few women but
would feel themselves aggrieved. Even
the genuine and natural productions Of the
Cape have hitherto been held more or less
at a discount In the market of Fashion.
The fortunate possessor of oil .fashioned
stones, genuine specimens of the vieiLe
roche could afford to despise the upstart
P0'cenus from South Africa. But Golcon.
da aud South Africa alike are now threa-
tened with a formidable rivalry. and that
from no less prosaic @ place than dingy,
common-place, and matter-of-fact elias.
glow. Nor does science itself promise
anything but q more or less prolonged
respite to the possessors Of what has hith-
erto been regarded as the most inimitable
OF precious stones. Professor Maskelyne,
the chief OF the Mineral department at
the British Museum, has pronounced, it is
true, against the genuineness of the arti6-
cal diamonds from Glasgow hitherto sab
mitted to bis examination. "The' problem
ne says. "of the Formulation of carbon
from it's ordinary opaque black condition
. into that in which it occurs in nature as
the limpid crystal of diamond is still
I" unsolved." But that it will be solv-
" ed" DE adds. no scientific mind can
doubt" Whether. therefore, the foal
transformation is effected 10 grimy elias.
gov or 10 some more poetic and appropri.
ate laboratory, theres is little permanent
consolation to be offered to those who
value diamonds for their rarity and costli-
ness and not for their pure and unrivalled
lustre.
Some time ago it wes announced that
Mr. Nc Tear. OF the St. Rollox Works,
Glasgow. had produced diamonds by artif-
c'al means. Specimens of the crystals thus
produced were sent to Professor Maskelyue
iot examination. and the result Of his
'nsestlgation was described by himself ia
our columns two days ago. The general
nature OF his verdict can bsst be indicated
W story which, like most stories, is
ss.y sa.sIy old, but is good enough to be
'S'' 'gain. Once upon'a time, it is said,