Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-09-13
rHE PRECIOUS PEARL.
1t is Unexpectedly Found in American
Waters.
From the Cincinnati Times starJ


From the Cincinnati Tines Star.1
There is a current expression about
pearls and swine which would seem to
have wider application in certain sense
than most people have suspected. The
sense referred to is this: While pearls are
to be found in the streams and rivers all
over our country, few appreciate the fact.
People, with the exception of those who
are well-informed on the subject, have a
vague idea that all pearls come from the
remote East, and do not suspect that some
very fine specimens have been found in
American waters.
1t has been stated by gentleman con-
nected with the Tiffany firm, OF New York,
that the State OF Ohio furnishes the hand
soonest specimens of the American pearl.
The same gentleman says that his firm
possesses several Wisconsin pearls valued
at 5000. The finding of American pearls
began about thirty years ago, when one
was found in Bound Brook, N. J. Tiffany
gave 81 1000, with a watch and chain, to
the discoverer of this gem, and finally,
after passing through many hands, it came
into the possession of the Empress Eu-
genie.
The discovery of this pearl created
great excitement, and the waters in the
neighborhood where 1t was found were
searched by many would-be pearl
Nothing was found as valuable as the first
one, although one was destroyed by being
cooked before it was noticed, which would
have been worth, it is estimated, $4,000.
Since that time they have been found
almost everywhere, and just at present
there is al excited search being prose-
cuted for them in scheduled pond up in
Michigan; already very valuable gems
have been discovered in this locality, one
of the last places where any one would
have supposed them to exist.
Although it is claimed by the above
mentioned representative of the Tiffany
firm that the best white pearls found in
America come for the Big and Little
Miami rivers of this State, the reporter
found upon inquiry among the jewellers
that the Miami pearls were considered
almost worthless here.
One of these gentlemen said, when
asked if he had seens any: Yes, a man
man came in here not long ago with
handful of them. They are too irregular
in shape and too impure to suit our pur
pose.
"a friend of mine once spent his vaca-
tion up on the Miami gathering them,
with the expectation of earning quite
sum in that way. He brought them to US
and we told him We could not give him
81 so for the whole lot"
"Where can the American pearls be
found ?"
"Well, Michigan is the place just now
that is attracting the most attention. But
nobody can tell where they will be found
next Diamonds have been found unex-
pectedly in all kinds of out-of-the-way
places, and it is just the same in the case
of the pearl"
"What gives the pearl its value?"
"The most valuable pearls are Of pure
white and perfectly round. This is the
only gem which does not need the lapi-
dary's art 10 reveal its beauty. Sometimes,
when the outer covering is spotted or
otherwise imperfect, it is peeled off. Un-
derneath will be found spotless surface,
and the gem will pass as one smaller but
more valuable than the original
"Few people understand about the max
ing of this precious gen. A grain of sand
or some other small and irritating particle
gets lodged in an oyster or mussel shell.
The oyster cannot remove it, but can get
rid of its irritating effects 1t deposits
layer after layer of secretion of lime and
hides the irritating gain in mother of
pearl In China advantage is taken of
this fact, to obtain the most delicate pearl
figures. Small pellets of clay are nodded
into various shapes or metal images are
made; these are inserted between the shells
of river mussels in the month of May and
left there until November The mussel
by that time has deposited several layers
of 'nacre,' or mother of pearl and pearl
image has been obtained, which could not
have been cut out of completely
pearl
at thus happens that when the ex-
terror covering is imperfect it can be peeled
off, A pearl is like an onion in that res,
pect and consists of many concentric
spherical layers. But no matter how far
you may peel you rarely find the grain
which caused the construction Of the beau
tiful gem.
"The perfectly rounded pearl, I have
said, is the most valuable, other things
being equal. Next in order of value comes
the pear-shaped, and last the egg-shaped.
Some have the form of buttons, but these
have to be cut into shape, and when they
are cut they do not possess the luster,
which is quality that renders the pearl
valuable.
''While the pure white is the most val
ued, the colored pearl commands high
price. In India and China the yellow
ranks first in value. The Michigan pearls
are pink, and those that come from the
Gulf of California black.
"Have you ever seen any large ones ~
"Oh, yes, in New York I have seen one
half-inch in diameter. The size has
great deal to do with the value set upon
them. If you wish to see some just as they
are taken out of the shell, have no doubt
you can 6nd some at Harff 4 Cramers.
They find great many upon opening
their oysters and clans"
At Harff & Cramer's, however, they did
not have any on hand. They often find
them, and one of the proprietors said that
he had quite collection at home, among
which were some that he valued at S25.
The oysters come from the East River,
New York.
1t is said that an expert can tell quickly
whether pearl comes from fresh water or
not. Such pearl lacks the luster al
ways characteristic of the oriental or salt
water pearl.
American pearls are used principally for
pins and brooches and are well known in
Europe. Thoy are priced for their oddity
and prismatic colors. A great many were
exhibited at the Paris Exposition, and all
were sold
The pearl ranks among the most beauti-
full gems. not for brilliance, but for luster
and translucence. They have been long
known to the world, and ancient writers
refer to them as "angels' tears" and drops
of "dew from heaven"
Browning has suggested their value in
few lines:
There are two moments in a divers life