The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-07-14
THE LATEST CRAZE.
Animated Jewelry-Ltve Beetles and Green
Snakes Worn by Fair Ladies.

THE LATEST CRAZE.
Animated Jewelry-Live Beetles and Green
Snakes Worn by Fair Ladies.
s.Here is something new in the way of orna>
salesman in large uptown
jewelry store said, opening a box for the in
spection of q New York Sun reporter Out
walked monster beetle, fully four inches in
length. About its body was q solid gold band.
locked by q tiny paddock, to which was attached
3 costly gold chain, about two inches in length,
fastened to pin. The beetles back glis tened
in light, having been treated to dress of gold.
and as it numbered along it's long legs worked
together in curious fashion cts shawl
pin. You see the pin is used to fasten lace or
a shawl, or perhaps worn on the bonnet, the
insect crawling around the length of the chain.
They are perfectly harmless and not expensive,
as they live on air-that is, they have never
been seen to eat This one was brought here
to mount, which is q very fine operation, as
tho legs and antennB are all SO delicate. After
all, there is nothing Objectionable about them,
except the idea of having them crawl over you
They all come from South America, and the
only lot in the city is to be taken to France,
where the owner will try to introduce the
to 500, depending entirely on the amount Of
the ring There is nothing cruel about it, as
they are bound loosely, and the gold has no
effect upon their hard sides.
In Brazil the IaSnlO0 OF wearing DoeLloS ID
carried to a great extent A we'll known resi-
dent has a beetle with collar of gold, which
meets at the top, and is there ornamented with
q diamond of great value. The insect has q
cage, surrounded by the plants among which
it lives in its native state, and nothing is neg
lected to make it as comfortable as possible.
But the most popular insect used for an orna-
ment in Brazil is small phosphorescent
beetle. These are often worn fastened in the
hair, and as the two phosphorescent or light
giving spots are on the sides of the head, the
black insect is, of course, invisible, especially
when in the raven locks Of the fair Brazilians.
Twenty or thirty of these beetl ill throw
out light sufficient to read by, and when al.
ranged around the head in circle, or grouped
over the forehead and held in place, the effect
is beautiful
Several years ago New York lady gave q
masquerade ball at her summer house in
Newport The dancing was OH the lawn, and
the guests were requested to be there half an
hour before dark The hostess wore the cos
tune of night, and in the daylight her black
dress, covered with ivy leaves, did not attract
special attention, but when she appeared in
the gay throng after dark she presented per
feet blaze Of light, and was the center of the
admiring and wondering company. Tremu-
lous waves Of reddish yellow flame seemed to
move over her entire dress. while cap on her
head cleaned one great fiery star. The cause
of this illumination was the phosphorescent
y
previous to the ball the designer Of the cos
tune had been storing away freflies, and on
the day of the fete they we're rapidly put on
the dress. AS the hght-giving spot is on the
ventral surface, each one was placed on it's
back and held down by . fine silver wire, so
skillfully caught that it could not turn over or
escape, and was not injured. Ghs stats was
formed of many beetles. @
In Jamaica a large beetle, the lampyris, is
used by ladies' Some of the phosphorescent
beetles used by them give out lights that have
to be seen to be appreciated, and more than
as many different degrees of light, shade,
tint. etc. One, the pygolampis, has rich or
ange color, changing to yellow. Pickering in
Intermittent flashes Of light; another, called
photuris, is curious for the gradual increaselof
light it shows; commencing with faint red
dish hue, it rapidly grows in brilliancy, finally
blazing like q torch, rich green light, and
then dying away to reappear again. They at
tract other light giving beetles, and frequently
numbers OF lesser lights ars seen fitting
of the greatest brilliancy. Other uses are
made of these beautiful creatures than as or
naments. Travellers have fastened them tc
their feet and carried them in baskets of wicker
to light their way in the dark. Southey men
tions this in the following lines in his poem
Madoc: -
She beckoned and descended, and drew out
From underneath her vest cage, OF net
1t rather might De called, so me the LW12S
Which knit it, where confined, two f1re-fies gavt
Their lustre.
Snakes have been used as ornaments, tn,
| small, inoffensive green snakes being the mos
! popular. on account of their beauty and harm
! less nature. They coil around the arm, cling
! ing on with all the tenacty Of their golden, be
! ieweled imitators that are now 80 fashionable
! Animals, or parts Of them, although NATURAL.
the adjuncts of barbaric splendor, are great.
used IN the makeup Of fashionable toilets o
| the present day. Some of the handsomes
| sleeve-buttous and studs are made of polished
| fish skin-sharks or dogfsh being preferred
! as they take a fine polish, and closely resembl
| the fossil coral favorites, that are also used
y and when highly polished the delicate cell
that were once the home Of the coral polyp ar
| distinctly visible, and as q whole resembl
honeycomb
An expensive Costume was cape made OF a
extremely rare humming bird. The whole Dir
| was hardly larger than ones thumb, and on it
breast a single patch of gold was found abou
an inch in length. The cloak was compose
wholly of these patches, and in the sunligt
must have Wed with golden fleece. The bird
are valued at $50 each. @
A lady in St Augustine created 8 sensatio
by appearing in public with .. chameleon rest
ing on her head-dress, and held there by del
cate silver chain. The little creature was pei
fectly tame and made no attempt to escape; bt
when touched by other than its owner i
throat pulled up and curious waves of colo
| passed over the whole body, ranging from Gee
| green to dark brown. Small lizards are use
in Egypt by some of the native ladies as orn,
ments, and lie half concealed in the draper
that overhangs the face. The red clawed so
der crab are sometimes used in Mexico as pin
The crab is dislodged from its stolen shell ar
given beautiful golden one, or one that b;
been plated with gold or silver. Fastened
the lace by pin and chain they make uniqt
ornaments ~
Death from Tight Lacing.
From the Glasgow News.