The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-08-16
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM.
A Rare Collection OF Gems aud stones Now to be
Seen,


The collection OF gems exhibited by the National
Museum at the Cincinnati and New Orleans kxp0si-
lions has Jus been placed on exhibition here for the
collections, yet educaonaily il is the most conpeie
series OF gems and ornamental stones In the United
States II embraces specimens OF diamonds, sap
phiIes, Tubes, emeralds, berys, aexandfite, tour
mallne, hiddente, encase, sp0dumene, topaz, chry-
soie, aximite, epidole, ldocrase sphene, diopsde,
e rock cyss crne ana SMOKY se, ara a@e
hyst caiseye, halrstone, gold In quartz, carnelia
sard, sardonyx, cameo agate, bloodsione, moss
amazon stone, aragonlte, Bmithsoniie, malachlte,
apisaznli, nuorspsr, amber, satiiispar, alabaster
nre-marble, Jade, serpentne, oolite, ahd seatlte.
Both cut aud uncut stones are exhibited In the
collection, group OF models OF the principal
diamonds IN the world beginning the series. Next
crystals. the largest Weighing eighteen carats Is fol-
cai state. Gonspicnoas Tor their bright coors are
the sappires, spnels tournalines, and zrcons, each
OF which IL represented by several colors and a
variety OF tlDts. The beryls and topazes are
especially Brilliant the American specimens OF these
precious gems leading In inagnincence aud beauty.
The ournalnes not less attractive, aud embrace
six handsome specimens from Maine, the large
table-cut green specimen from Paris, Me-, being
sspesay WORTHY o. aols a, sars white !oarn "a
ieiesi q his SNOWY pad. Beaass the ordinary
pink specimens are grouped together, The most con-
splcuons being large white topaz from Colorado.
Among the rare gems ON exhibition nothing at
tracts 80 much attention AZ several cut aud uncut
specimens OF hlddenite, the new variety OF spodu-
meme from Alexander County, n. o. Three CHINA
mon garneis from Italy and three green garnets
from siberia are especially noteworthy. A pad OF
gem gravel from ceyon, containing ruby, sapphire,
spine chrysobeTyl, and quartz. Ia very Interesting
70 the student OF mineraoRy, being one OF the best
illustrations OF the educational series.
the second case begins with q large series OF the
different varieties Of quartz, all OF which remark
ably attractive It includcs specimens Of carved
rock crystal, false topaz, amethyst smoky quartz,
catseye, rutile 10 quartz, carnellan sard, blood
stone, agate, mOss-agates aud Jasper. OF especial
Interest TO Americans are The specimens OF ruIllated
quartz from North Carolina aud the gold quartz
from California. The iedspars are well represented
by suDstOne, ln00nstone, labrad0rite, and amazon
stone, each of these exhibiting beautiful plays OF
color.
II Is intended TO adj another case TO this unique
and wel-arranged collection, In which to enlarge the
series already on exhibit ana to display handsome
models OF crystals aud cut stones No more attrac-
tive exhibit can be found In the Museum than this
superb gem collection, which 10 now ready for In
specon. Its popularity and interest IL well attested
by the large number OF visitors who daily frequent
this storehouae OF the nationa resources which is
fast growing beyond It's confined limit and will soon
require slater building 10 contain itstreasures.