The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-08-12
Jcwelry Alive.
LIVE BEETEFs IN GOLD BANDS-ilNlN''
GREEN SNAKES THAT con- HOUND
FAIR ARMS.


Here is something new in the way OF
ornamentation,' a salesman ina large up
town New York jewelry store said,open-
ing a box. Out walked a monster beetle,
fully four inches in length. Aboutlts
body was solid gold band, locked by
tiny paddock, to which was attached
costly gold chain, about two inches III
length, fastened TO a pin. The beetle
back glistened in the light, having been
treated to a dress of gold, and as it lumber
cd along its long legs forked together in a
curious fashion. lisa shawl pin. You see
the pin isused to fastcn 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 eX
pensivc,as they live on air--that is, they
have never been seen to eat. This one
was brought here to mount, which is avery
fine operation, as the legs and antenn;p are
all SO delicate. After all,there is nothing
Objectionable about them, except the idea
of having them crawl overyou. 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
fashion of wearing them They cost from
SO to $50, depending entirely on the
amount of the ring. There IL nothing
cruel about it, as they are bound loosely,
and the gold has-no effect upon then
! sides.
In Brazil the fashion''of wearing beetles
is carried to great extent. A well
| In hng o la tI ,1l ia,
of gold which meets at the top, and is
| there olnamented with a diamond OF
| great value The insect has q cage, sur
rounded by the plants among which it
lives in its native state, and nothing is
neglected to make it as comfortable as
| possible. But the most popular inSo CT
used for an ornament in Brazil il 4 small
Iphospholosccnt beetle. These are often
, worn fastened in the hair,and as the two
phosphorcsccht or life giving spots arc
on the side Of the head, the black inso Ct
is, of course, invisible, especially wher
in the raven locks OF the fair Brazilans.
| Twenty or thirty Of these beetles viii
throw out light sufficient to read by.ol
grouped over the forehead and held il
place, the effect is beautiful.
Several years ago New York lad,
gave masquerade ball at her summer
house in Newport, The dancing was OF
the lawn, and the guests were requested
TO be there half an hour before dark
The hostess Wore the costume Of In,
night, and in the daylight her black dress
covered with ivy leaves, did not attrac
special attention, but when she appeare,
J in the gay thronG after night she pre-
sented perfect blaze OF light, and wa
the centre of the admiring and wonder
ing company. Tremuious waves of red
dish-yelow flame seemed tOmove owe
: her entire DRESS while in n cap on he
head CLEANED one great fiery star, Th
cause of this illumination was the pho,
phorescent light of more than 5000 lirC
flies. For weeks previous to the ha
7 the designer of the costume had bee
storing away fireiies, and on the day c
the fete they Were rapidly put on tn
dress. As the light giving spot is o
the yentral surface, each one was place
on its back and held ddownby "A fine sily,
wire,so skillfully caught that it could nc
turn over or escape, and WAS not iniurc,
I The star was formed by many beetles
In Jamaicaa large beetle, the lampyri
is used by ladies. Some of the phosphc
! resent beetles used by them give OF
lights that have TO be seen to be appr,
: ciatcd, and more than twenty diftcrcl
kinds are used, representing rs many di
fereut degrees OF light, shade, tint, ct
One, the pygolampis, has rich orap2
color, changing TO yellow, llickCrinm
! intermittent flashes of light; anothc
t called photuris, is curious for the gra,
ual increase of light it shows; commo
. cling with faint reddish hue. it rapid
grows into brillancy finally blazing iii
atorch, Il rich grcenl light, and then d
! ing away to reappear again.
Snakes have been used as ornament
| the small, inotfensive green snakes beir
I the most popular on account of the
! beauty and harmless nature, They clir
d around the arm with all the tenacity
d their golden, bcje Heed imitators that a
/ now SO fashionable, Animals or par
c of them, although naturally the adiunc
2; of barbaric splendor, are greatly used
e the make up of fashionable toilets
1t the present day Some of the handsor
n est sleeve buttons and studs are made
N polished flesh skin-sharks or doc ii
1t being preferred, as they take a fine p
it ish, and closely resemble the fossil col
rs favorites, that are also used, and VIII
'd highly polished, the delicate cells Il
IN were once the home of the coral pol
90 are distinctly visible, and as whole
as semble honeycomb.
III An expensive costume was ca