The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-09-09
Pearls.

"
ship with precious stones, is numbered
among them in the world of ornament
for the sake of its beauty. Formed al
most exclusively of lime and an organ
ic matter secreted by its parent mol
lusk. it has yet, when its dimensions
are favorable, and its smooth and
beautiful form reflects with an irimi-
table sottness the colors of the light,
the preciousness of corindon, which
can boast of birth far back in the Azoic
age, ard a durability that compared
with the fragile and sensitive 'gem
the. sea-" is we'll nigh eternal. The
pearl, dedicated long ago to Aphrodite.
is sacred to love and beauty. A ''string
of pearls is the nuptial cord that binds
Cupid and Psyche. Its very fragility
associates it with the sentiment of ten
derness and ideal delicacy; and the
subdued brilliancy of its lustre was
esteemed in the Orient as second only
in charm to the ''soft splendor" of a
young and beautiful woman.
There is no fixed money value of
pearls according to their size, as
quality has so important a part in
their valuation. A pearl of finest
quality is sparkling white, with a
delicate reflection of azure; the least
tint of yellow spoils it completely. and
in securing necklace of pearls the
matching of size and tint gives what
is called an 'associative value.'' The
bridal gift of the Princess Royal of
England, consisting of thirty-two we'll
matched, though not perfectly
associated pearls, is valued at 1913, 600.
In 1889 the crown of France held
pearls valued at $186,OOO, but some
of these have caught the deadly all
ment of discolorment, which no art
has yet found means to prevent or to
cure.
The possibility of change in the beau
ty and value of the pearl is one of the
sad perils attending it's possession. A
moral is pointed against the too Jealous
boarding of treasure in the history of
a merchant who became the owner of
a wonderful pearl of the size of a pig
cons egg, and of an opalescent lustre
so marvellous that people came long
distances to be allowed to gaze upon
the wonder. The merchant, to express
the sanctity of this object, made it the
center of something like temple,
whose inner sanctum, paved with NAL
achite, and hung with silken tapestries.
contained pedestal of Egyptian mar
BILE, on which was placed an intricate
casket unlocked by magical key un-
der the spell Of incantations. So
guarding his pearl, dearer to him than
his life, and representing fortune,
the merchant reached tho moment
when he wished to display his treasure
to the eyes of royalty. A retinue OF
mobiles and a concourse of bankers
awaited the spectacle. The mysterious
alfabet which regulated the openings
of the manifold casket was carefully
followed: the unique key was applied
to the last guard of the priceless treas
ure, when 10! almost death-struck
with sudden dismay, the merchant
found only mockery of the contents.
The imprisoned pearl had lost its beau
ty and its value; it was. indeed, no
longer a pearl the pearl of pearls
but a poor little mass of unattractive
limestone, fast darkening into decay.
The most beautiful pearls are found
in the Persian Gulf and the straits of
Manaar, which separate Ceylon from
India, or more recently in the Gulf of
Mexico and upon the coasts of Cali
fornia and the vicinity of Panama.
Pain, which is associated with the pro-
duction of so many precious things that
Ito take pains" has become the watch
word of achievement, is associated with
the pearl not in its birth. but in it's
presentation to the daylight. The
pearl-divers are a short-liyed and
suffering people.
The love of the ancients for pearls,
the extravaganza of the Romans in
spending fortunes upon them are well
known, and moderns have exhibited
equal enthusiasm. Twenty-Five years
were spent in search for ''virgin
pearls" to form the necklace (the most
perfect pearl necklace now in the
worldly of the dowager Empress of
Russia