San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-06-13
MAKE-eeLlsvE DIAMONDS.

The Way French Paste Ia Made and
Slammed or M tho Real Article.
The formula for compounding French
paste, which is peculiar kind OF glass
perfected In Paris by Donault- Wieland,
Is as follows: Rock.crystal, six ounces;
red lead, nine and IL quarter ounces; pure
carbonate of potash, three ounces and
three drachms; boracic acid. three
drachms; white arsenic, six grains.
When fused, thoroughly interbbended,
cooled, cut and polished, In diamond
forms, 1t takes good expert to tell the
gems 80 made from the roal ones. The
more oxide Of lead 10 added, up to GER
tain point, tho greater f. the resultant
brilliancy, but tho softer the glass and
consequently the less pcrmanency TO It's
effect.
Persons Of means invest In bogus gems
for various rcasons. Ono does not care
to keep locked up in nero ornament the
large amount Of money that would be
required to purchase diamonds In such
size and number Us society might expect
him or her TO have, 60 few really fine
stones are purchased for habitual wear,
to challenge criticism, and brilliant ar
ray Of "French pastes" ID provided for
show upon occasions when big display 10
expected and there will DO no danger of
close critical inspection. The few real
stones have made a reputation that
covers the others. Who Is going TO Bus-
poet very rich man or woman-gay one
of the "400"--of wearing bogus gems?
And yet the very rich arc just the ones
who do wear them most. Another per-
son In society may be the actual owner
Of fine lot Of family diamonds, which
are temporarily In pledge, fact that
must not DO suspected by others, and will
not, 30 long as French paste" can show
its honest glitter in tho seeming likeness
of the hypothecated treasures. Still
another mny own plenty Of diamonds
and actually have them in possession,
too, yet be too prudent to expose them to
the danger Of loss or theft in mixed
multitude, 80 long rs all tho effect of
their splendor may be produced at much
less risk.
Rubies and sapphircs are even more
successfully initiated than diamonds.
The limitations Of them actually possess
tho Same chemical composition as the
real stones. Equal quantities OF nluminia
and red lead are heated to II red heat in
an carthenware cruclble. A vitreous
substance IL formed, which consists of
silicato Of lead and crystal Of white
corondum. These arc fused with BIZ
chromatc Of potassium to form tho ruby.
or with little oxide Of cobalt and a very
small quantity OF bichromate OF potaU-
eaum to mako tho sapphire. The gems
so made are expensive, but much less go
than tho real stones, and arc very hard
with fino luster and excellent color, if
tho proportions of tho materials are eX-
actly right Emeralds, topazes, garnets
and various other more or less valuable
gems arc well initiated in glaes colored
with different silcates and oxides. Sham
pearls arc also 80 well made that, when
properly set, thoy cannot he distinguished
from genuine ones. They are simply
beads Of clear glass coated inside with
lustrous solution obtained from tho scales
of some small fishes-bleak and dace. II
takes tho scales of 40, 900 Of the fishes 20
mike two pounds Of the solution, which
10 called Essence d'Oricnt." The imita.
ton pearls are more durable than the
real ones, which are liable to be injured
By perspirntion or various other incidents
OF wear.-Philadelphia Times.