Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-16

opals, comedians, agates, carbuncles, trito-
mite silicates, analcime apophylite, estil-
bite, few dianonds-about equal TO ours
of Lake George and Alaska-and the beau
tiful pearls of the southern fisheries. Since
the somewhat fussy Queen of England has
lately been exerting herself TO render opals
more fashionable than diamonds, we may
look for revival of the opal trade. One
of the richest opaliferous districts in the
world is Queretaro, near which city is q
famous building whose partition walls are
built entirely of opal. The celebrated Sim
patica mine is most noted for its great vari-
ETY. of opals. it being a magazine of all
known varieties, including what are known
as g fire" opals, semi-opals," precious"
opals, etc. The gems are found in a por-
phyry matrix Of reddish-gray color. dis
seminated without apparent system, and
are obtained by sinking shafts or boring
with large augers.
ONE OF THE FINEST BLACK oPALs
Ever known came from this mine, and is
now in the possession of Charles A. Dana,
of New York. No words can describe the
beauty of the polished stones. Some of
them are as transparent as a drop of water,
but showing all the colors of the rainbow
in occasional flashes others are pale vel
low with pink, blue and green lights hid
den in their translucent hearts and others
are of the milkwhite variety, with which
we are more familiar, containing wonder
full fires"
A column might be written on the rocks,
states, and marbles, porphyry, basalt gran
lite, onyx, alabaster, etc, with which the
country abounds. The celebrated " Noun
tain OF Marble near Pueblo, is worthy to
be classed among the wonders of the world.
1t is the beautiful onyx whose fame is
worldwide, and it is found all around the
City of Angels "-as Puebla is called be-
cause of tradition that the heavenly hosts
came down by night and assisted in build
ing the big cathedral. The rarer and more
highly colored pieces are deeply embedded
in quartz and are extremely difficult to get
at So translucent is some of it-streaked
with pale green, pink and yellow, shading
from dead white TO mahogany brown
that thin slabs of it are used instead OF
glass in the windows of little church
erected near the quarries for the Catholic
workmen; and the softened light admitted
through the alabaster is something too
lovely for description. The famous altar
in the cathedral, within which the Bishops
are buried, is composed entirely of this
material-steps, floor, dome and pillars
and the Tai Mahul of India cannot be more
beautiful
There is scarcely an deliberately gotten-up
mansion in Europe that does not now con-
tain some specimens of this work, in fur
nishings, mantels, door-posts or ornament
atoms. The fayorite palace of the Brazilian
monarch has a great deal of it. The good
Dom Pedro first saw the substance in the
Mexican department of the Centennial Ex-
hibitiou at Philadelphia, and straightway
sent large orders to Puebla
The most wonderful work of the kind in
the world is doubtless that famous group of
Puebla onyx which ornaments the magnif-
cent dining-Toom IN
THE PALACE OF CHEMINTz,
Built by the late insane King of Bavar a.
One of the rarest pieces in this superb col
lection is large square block of black and
yellow onyx, with clusters of purple grape.
upon it, each berry shaded as exactly as
possible, and so Stimulating nature in an
appearance of delicate, velvety bloom, that
the effect is indescribably beautiful. Both
background and fruit, it must be remem-
bered, are made out of a single block of
marble, the fruit being carved from a strata
of purple that happened to run through the
original piece.
Another group is of plums of various
colors, shading from light yellow egg
plums to green cages p" and that of
deepest purple, against background of
delicate pink. Some large pieces are of
pure. transparent white, with sprays of
green vines running over them, all carved
from one slab.
Puebla is the only place in Mexico where
this kind of work is done, and the ignorant,
poorly-paid workmen are artists in their
way. The manner of cutting and arrang-
ing the layers or strata of stone, as followed
by the stone-cutters of Mexico, resembles
ancient cameo work, but is entirely origi-
nal with the Mexican workmen. Unfor-
tunately for art, the modern cameo work
of Florence and Italy is mostly made with
newly-patented machinery, and is far less
beautiful and artistic than was the ancient
Florentne work.
The Mexicans also make exquisite vases,
mirror-trames, paper-weights, pen-holders,
knives and all manner of frail ornaments,
and it is mystery of trade not limited to
Puebla that you pay far more for these ar
ticles opetty dealers on the spot than would
be charged across the sea by foreign traders.
FANNIE B. WARD.
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aT0 NITRO STEEP