Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-11-20
A WORD ABOUT JEWELS.
Opals and Rubles-The FamOus Sancy
Diamond The Opal Considered
UnIncky as the ''Eyll Eye"
Paris Dealers Puzzled mt Certain Geneva
Jewellers Throwing on the Market
LRrge Number of Rubios.


word about Jewels. noticed in ar
English paper recently that Queen Vic,
toria had lately giveniaway many Jewels
containing opals 10 order TO overcome, II
possible, the prejudice against them
How this prejudice arose II would be In.
terestlng TO learn. Among the anciente
this stone was highly esteemed. Pliny
relates that Roman senator own
Ing an opal valued at 10000 Aes.
terces (about 1000, 900 francs) was exiled
because he refused TO sell 1t TO Marc An
tony. In the middle ages II was still
greatly priced Robert de Berquen, a
dealer in precious stones OF that time,
writes that the opal renders the person
wearing 1t amiable and acts as preserva-
tive against miasma and contaglon In the
air AT the present day II is considered
unlucky as "the evil eye.n
The Paris dealers in precious stones
have been recently puzzled by the action
OF certain jewelers. In Geneva in throwing
on the market 5000 or 1000 francs' worth
OF rubies which present certain peculiar
features TO the analyst. They are found
TO contain aluminium, magnesia, pro-
toxyde Of iron, sesquioxyde OF CHI omium
and silica precisely like genuine rubles,
the purrst stones coming from the East.
Still the Paris dealers are Suspicious,
aud II Is now supposed that some clever
chemist has found the secret of dtssoly.
ing this ruby hitherto deemed lnsOluble
ana has succeeded in forming single
large stone out of number of small ones.
Inc prohl thatwould accrue from such an
operation may be inferred when IL Is
re- uuNg s.f
bles would only be worth ten francs. but
the same stones melted and made into a
single stone would be worth when offer
ed as genuine ruby weighing ten carats,
10000 francs.
To conclude my gossip on precious
stones will relate curious story told
DY the celebrated Jules Jsnin. IL appears
tnat ne once came near losing the cele.
pfated Sancy diamond, said to be worth
l,6oO, 200 francs. 1t appears that he was
one DAY visiting the Louvre in company
win the Princess Demldoff. The latter,
as the weather was warm, took off her
shawl on which was her diamond brooch.
rms she handed TO the author and asked
him to keep 1t for her.
Janln, OF course, consented and slipped
II Into the pocket Of his white vest and
's'NN~A." Az hiSlV hDOuL ltt neiLner did
the princess. The next day, however.
she asked her husband II M. Janiu had re.
turned the pin.
mo" replied the prince.
6They sent In haste to Janin's lodgings.
"fou don't mean to say IL was the
Ssncy diamond2" cried the bewildered
crltici "what can have done with it2u
He searched through his wardr, be with
out success, Suddenly thought struck
him.
cried
" In that case" said his servant, "it
has gone To the washerwoman's -
Everybody ran To the washcrwoman's.
The good soul was cautiously questioned.
She must not be exposed to too great a
temptation.
so, yesl broastpu," she replied care.
lessly ~ remember. didn't supoose
you cared about 1t, so | gave IL 70 INV
youngest to play with"
Fortunately the child was not far off
lie did not suspect that his plaything was
worm a million aud half, but IL was
quite safe. Janiu, however, never told
the story withouta shudder.