New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-14

In 1857. when the total product amounted to
S15. 600. the famous Queen Pearl was found IN
| Notdh Brook near Paterson. ~ D. ms was
finally sold ia the Empress Eugene for $500
and il is said 10 he worth four times that amount
| to-day The "Ncw-,Ierscy pearl fever, however
| soon ran its course but not before magnificent
| pearl weighing 400 grains which would doup'-
| less have been the finest OF modern Times hah
been ruined by boiling open the she'll. Inc ONO
rivers have Welded many pearls, ana III The valley
Of the Little Miami over 10000 pearls drilled ana
undrillod hut dccayed and of no commercial value.
| were found in an Indian mound. In the early
part of last summer many finely colored pearls
were found in the creeks and rivers OF Wisconsin,
and more than 81 5000 worth were sent 10 ms
atty Tho Irnio 3hc frcsh-water molusk. which
is most likely TO contain pearls, Is common IN our
unpolluted streams and lakes, but the chances
| arc AGAINST the seeker collectors who have
opened many thousands OF Chios nave never oo-
served pearl OF value
, II. will be found that much Of this information
may be applied practically in several ways. Mr.
Kuuz upsets various local theories regarding the
character and value Of certain gem stones ard his
! deecrintions of localities and conditions and OF
market values will prove Immediately scrviccahlc
His book disclospS a Surprising amount of min
oral wealth in this country. but it would he
most sanguinc trcasnre-huntcr who would be en-
coura qcd by this work TO search for diamonds or
ruhics The writer's moral seems 10 he that our
best resources the minor precious stones. ana
that their most promising application IS 10 dec"-
rativr work For ten years fresh-water pearls
iade rock crystal rhodontc and other stones have
lren nsed in the decoration of fine silverware. Ike
tho evamnlcs shown at the Paris Exposition last
year Mr. Kunz seeks to reinforce his plea Tor
the use of precious stones in this way ny one oi
tbc orthodox quotations from Ruskin hui we FEAR
that many readers will question Russians maj
authority and dcmur to the acceptance ~ indian
and Persian usage and the affairs of Greek churchcs
as establishing prccedcnts 10 be followed unqucs
,ioringly. There will always bc some question
,s 70 the propricty of applying stone upon wood
dcspitc the fact that this is constantly done.
and thc usc Of precious stones in connection
With slvcrwarc is delicate matter. All this
| has been done successfully hv the exercise OF
sclfrcsraint sobrcty and good taste, but il Will
| NO seen that the opportunity for overloaded and
| Aomboyant decoration will prove irrcS stlbe IN
tho hands of uneducatcl designers. with thcSF
qualifications we are glad to commend Mr.. kunz
suggestions for the more extended use OF agate
gold quar-. agatized wood, jasper turquoise,
rose quartz and amazon stone in inlaid furniture
and interior decorations. Mr.. kunz cites the
so-callcd mineral clocks which have become IA
mlar. but in most cases their interest is merely
curious The same may De said of most of The
nlstands and other objects incrnst"d win
precious ores These and many examples OF the
So-called Scotch lcwclry. made Of agate ana JAS
per- have little artistic valuc although they ere
interesting on account Of their natural qualities
But the Intelligent application Of American
precious stones in the higher forms of deeora-
ton is quite another matter and We aarcc
with Mr. kunz that the subject deserves serious
attention If the brains and fine scnsibility
which produced the old Nuremberg iron work
were dealing with the iron ore of Missouri to-
day. what might not hope for? 80 with tie
utilization of precious stones for decorative pnr
poses We have the raw material But, more
than this. we have actual results which are full
Of promise
In a supplementary chapter Mr. Kunz tells Us
Of the increase Of interest in precious stones.
To-day there are a number of American families
each owning diamonds 10 the value Of half
million dollars OF the French crown le"eI> sold
in 1856 more than onc-third aggregating
$500, 0OO came 70 tho United States Three
diamonds are owned in his country weighing
81 Ia. - and l2j IS caTats respectively.
number Of necklaces worth over 100000 each
are owned here. and one worth S32o.0oo Was
recently sold M TIE death OF us owner II
the course Of the last twelve years the import
duty was paid on 100000, 600 worth Of eat dla-
monds Mr. Henry d. Morse, Of Boston, was Nh"
first diamond-cutter in this country, and Our best
cutters have been trained by him. Al present
there are about twelve diamondcutting establish
ments. Mr. kunz adds tables OF the imporia-
! lions Of diamonds and he cnumeratcs the pubic
and private collections Of precious stones. Tho
completeness OF his work is as evident rs the
| thorough KNOWLEDGE of the author.