Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-11-19
DIAMOND CUTTING.
THE WORK THAT IS DONE BY
THE JEWS OF AMSTERDAM.

THE JEWS OF AMSTERDAM.
The Diamond Cutters Art n Compar-
atively Modern One-How the Work is
Carried On-A Tedious Process-POlish
ers at Their Wheels.
| The quarter of Amsterdam inhabited
| ~ the Jews is curious, but in respect to
leatness contrasts unfavorably with the
est of tho city. 1t is visited principally
% see the workshops of the diamond cut
;ers, which arc near Joden Bree STRAIT, in
he vicinity of the Portuguese syna-
gogue. These form one of the leading
Industrial features of the Dutch metropo-
is. There are engaged IN the business
orty merchants and proprietors Of It
ing and polishing works, and some TO-
100 persons in subordinate capacities,
whom it maintains in comfort or in lux
Try, and to whom it is said to be worth
over so, 000,0 600. Nine thousand of the
10000 are Jews, that race having had
rom very distant times an extraordinary
affinity for this form of wealth.
A COMPARATIVELY MODERN ART.
1t is strange to think that the art of
cutting the diamond, though the stone
tself has been held precious from
period which antedates history, should
)nly have been discovered i'll the Six
eenth century. Before that time rough
diamonds only were used, and those
we're preferred which presented naturally
1 pyramidal figure, and which We're set
With the point projecting. In 1876
Louis de BerguGm discovered the art of
,utting the stone and of polishing it with
It's own dust. Then for the first time its
true beauty was revealed. 1t has from
lime to time been cut in many forms, as
any one may see who examines models Of
hose most famous, but only two are now
employed by skilful lapidaries-the rose
and the brilliant. The rose cutting is
only for thin stones. 1t presents on
one side a pyramid of triangular facets
and on the other q fiat surface, to be hid
len by the mounting. The brilliant, on
the contrary, presents on one side Il fiat
surface, surrounded by triangular fac
cts, and on the other pyramid of facets,
intended to be placed openly in the set
ting and to reflect the light.
Most of the diamond cutting and pol
iShing establishments are in Zwangen-
burger STRAIT, and unless one has guide
he finds the locality with difficulty. Once
found, there is no trouble about seeing
the operations. The proprietors are only
too glad to receive visitors, who may be-
come customers, for there is n good deal
Of rivalry in the business. The COnci-
ergc conducts them through the place,
receiving half form (21 cents for the
service.
HOW TIE WORK Is DONE
The work is carried on on several
floors, and the processes, though nice,
are simple, uniform and easily under
stood The power is supplied by hand
some steam engine in the basement in u
very simple manner. BY means Of coGs
it is transferred to upright shafts run
ming up through the different floors.
These have great horizontal pullieS from
which it is conveyed to the polishing
wheels ranged along the sides of the
rooms. These are also horizontal. The
first operation consists in dividing the
diamond as many times as is deemed nee
essary. Technically this is called cleav-
age, and it is one of the miracles Of ma
ture that the hardest substance known
is capable of such minute separation.
II is the business of the skilful work
man to find the cleavage by following the
seams Of its crystalline forms, which run
parallel 10 the faces of regular octahe-
dron. Having found it he fixes the rough
diamond on the end Of short stick, or
mandrel, by means of cement which is
easily softened by heat, but hardens
quickly, holding the stono in its place
with the requisite tcnaCity. Then by
the aid of another diamond having a cut
ting edge and fixed to another mandrel
in the same manner, he traces line
along the face of the hard crystal. IL is
only necessary then to apply the edge Of
a small sharp instrument to the line he
has traced, give smart blow and the
diamond quickly separates at the point
desired.
A TEDIOUS PROCESS.
The first cutting is done by workman
whose hands arc protected by thick
gloves, who, having fixed two diamonds
immOvably in the manner just described,
rubs them briskly together, which re-
suits in giving the form rose or the form
brilliant, according to the nature Of the
stone or the preference OF the master.
| These manipulGtions of the diamond are
performed over little boxes, that not Il
particle of the powder be lost. The men
| engaged in it sit at little table or bench
adjacent TO the main room, whose mp
purtenCnces arc all OF the most primitive
description The polishing is performed
with great cXactituGc. The horizontal
wheels or discs used for it are Of steel,
about foot in diameter. The diamond
dust is mixed with oil before being ap-
piled. The diamond is firmly fixed in an
egg shaped piece Of lead in such q manner
that only the surface to be applied to the
disc is exposed. To the lead is attached
n sort Of stem or short handle, which is
taken by the polisher by means of pair
| of pinccrs. When touched to the disc
the pincers arc held immC rablc by two
| pieces of iron, one of which presses it
| firmly on one side and the other on the
| other.
The polishers sit at their wheels in q
| long row along either wall, bat ut little
distance from it and facing the middle Of
! the room. The diamonds are fixed i'll the
| leaden eggs by set of workmen, much
| less in number, who sit at little furnaces
along tho wall. 1t takes n keen eye to
| determine when the facet has been cut
| Just enough and not too much.-AmSter-
| dam Cor. San Francisco Chronicle.
An Uncalled For Remark.
Young lady (reading card just brought
| in)-Mr. Frank S. S. Smith.
Young man (who dislikes the Interrupt
tion-Dear me! his mother must have
! bn xI-ac CbrictaDal =