Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-21

4 Marvellous Story which IL Isn't Nee
cesnry TO believe.

Translated from the French OF Emile zola.i
One of my friends, young chemist said
to me one morning
81 am acquainted with an aged scien-
tist who has retired to small house on
the Boulevard d'Enfer, there to study
without interruption the capitalization of
diamonds. He has already obtained daz-
zling results, Would you like me to take
You to see him ?"
| replied in the Affirmative, though not
without secret terror. A magician
would have frightened me less, for stand
in but slight dread of tho devil, but am
afraid OF wealth. and | am free to admit
that the man who one of these days shall
discover the philosophers stone will fill
me with respectable fear.
As we walked along my friend gave me
some information in regard to the mann
facture of artificial precious stones. Our
chemist: had been lending it their atten-
ton, for long time, but the crystals
heretofore formed we're OF such small size
and the cost Of producing them SO great
that the experiments were looked upon
simply as revelations OF ike curiosities of
science. 1t WAS merely n question of
finding more powerful agents and more
economical methods, in order to turn
out the precious stones at lower fig.
IRE.
Meanwhile we had reached our destina-
ton. My friend, before ringing the bell,
warned me that the aged scientist, who
had no love for curious intruders, would
certainly accord me most ungracious re-
ception. | was the first outsider who had
attempted to penetrate into his sanctum
sanctorum,
The chemist opened the door, and 1
must confess that at first Thought he had
stupid air, the air of a cadayerous, low
lived shoemaker. He received my friend
politely, accepting Inc with low growl
10 ii L had been n do9.belonging to his
young disciple. We crossed neglected
garden, ut the extremity of which stood
the house, 4 dilapidated hovcl. The ten
ant had torn down all the partitions that
he might have but one vast and lofty
apartment. There he had established q
complete laboratory outfit, consisting of
strange appliances, the use Of which did
not even try to comprehend. The only
articles OF luxury, the only pieces of fur
niturc, were a bench and Il table OF black
wood.
In this den | saw the most dazzling, the
most binding sight had ever witnessed
IN my whole life. Along the walls, upon
the floor. were ranged numbers of wretch
cd baskets, the willow twigs of which
Were ready to burst, full to overflowinl
with precious stones. Each bnakot con,
tained but one species of gem, Rubies
amothysts, omerads sapphires, opals and
turquoisas, thrown into corners like shov.
elfuls Of stones on the oidesof a highway
shone with living light Illuminating the
apartment with the sparkle of thoil
i,ames. They were furnaces, glowing
Goals, red, violet, green, blue and pink
One might have imagined that millions o
eltin eyes were laughing on the floor
amid the gloom. Never did Arabian tai,
display such treasures, never had woman
dreamed Of such paradise !
could not suppress a cry Of admiration
'NAnt wealth y | exclaimed
"The value OF these gems is incalcula
ble !"
The aged scientist shrugged his shoul
dorS. lie guzed ut me with an air of dee
pity,
Each Of these heaps is worth but fe,
francs, said he, in his drawing and hol
low voice. "Thcy embarras me. To
morrow l will scatter them over the alley
Of my gaIden TO serve as gravel"
Then, turning toward my friend, h
continued, taking up handfuls of tn
gems:
Look at these rubies. They are tn
most beautiful ] have yet obtained. I nj
not satisfied with these emeraids-the
are too pure. Those which nature make
always have some fault. and don't desr
to snrpass nature. Whit discourages m
is dat | am still unable to produce til
willie diamond. l shall recommence IN
experiments tomorrow. When / hay
succeeded the crowning work of m
life will he achieved, and / shall di
happy
The scientist had drawn himself up |
his full height | no longer thought Il
had a stupid air. / began to tremble
the presence of this wan old man. wi
could food Paris with miraculous rain.
"You are afraid ofrobbers, are younot
! asked, 81 see solid bars of iron acro
your door and windows. IT is well to tai
precautions.
"Yes am afraid, sometimes" he mu
INJURED, ''afruid lest idiots may murder Ii
before ! have produced the white di
mond. These stones, which really he'
but little value, might tempt my heir
Ny heirs terrfy me; they are well awa
that, by causing my disappearance, tho
would buly with Inc the secrets of II
discoveries, thus preserving the full vall
which tho world places on the artifci
precious stones you see about you"
He grew thoughtful and sad, We we
seated on heaps of diamonds, and I loo
ed at him, my left hand plunged into
basket of rubies, my right mechanical
sitting ha lfuls of emeraids as childr,