Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-02

II Artificial Diamonds Were to be Made.
From the Spectator
The question 10 q curious one, for il involves
good deal OF human nature. IL the value OF
precious stone wholly dependent upon lie
rarity and she consequent proof IL affords that
Its owner 10 possessed OF wealth. or, at all
events. Of wealth which he can afford 20 waste2
That 10 a nearly universal assumption espe-
cislly with those 10 whom wealth is In itself an
onense, and IL has this support at least that
many woman who would despise pretense
thinks. II she actually has the diamonds at her
bankers, she may wear their copies IN paste
We venture, nevertheless, 20 question It's en-
tire correctness
The enormous market price OF precious
stones, ~ compared with their bulk and utility,
10 no doubt due 10 their rarity and the conse-
quent qualification 10 vanity which their Dos
session affords; but their whole value does not
consist in that The desire for them IL pro-
Noked also by their inherent beauty. as OF dow
ers gifted with an attribute Of permanence and
possibly also by that instructive taste for
shining things which has made dewdrops
strike all races as erquisitely beautiful-nobody
ever paid FOR a dewdrop-and which, as many
doctors know, rises in some men and women 20
well-marked kind Of insanity. Many klspto-
maniacs can control themselves against their
temptation so long as the coveted article does
not glitter. No possible ease OF manufacture
can make an eternal dewdrop other than beau-
tiful or take away the ruby's gift OF setting Oh
mesh or dim the strange flash OF the opal 90
utterly unlike anything else that nature has
produced by the way. the reference 20 the
opal may be a mistake, for the beauty Of that
Jewel, being the result OF natures failure and
not OF her success-for she can hardly have
intended those hiatuses which Weld the irrs-
descence-may be wholly beyond even the
ablest chemists art
The taste for jewels would be universal n
only the people ever thought Of them ~ posi-
price they would be universally worn a. in
deed the cheaper jewels and limitations are
already. What would happen. we believe,
therefore, II jewels became cheap. 10 that the
rich would abandon them in their present form,
which tends more and more 60 a costly SIM
plicity-the stones being. as ID we're. barred az
all other ornhment-and that whole populsr
lions would take them up, thus constituting
them once more great article of commerce.
Every woman above the poorest would use the
stones for ornament. Ii is Birmingham Jew
elry that would die, not tire real article. Ths
rich, moreover. would defend themselves By
calling art 70 their aid. and we should see not
only wonderful improvement in eoldsmiths'
work. now often devoid OF even q pretense Of
art feeling. but Q sudden and splendid revival
OF the art Of the gem engraver nov 20 nearly
dead The ruby collar Of the marchionesu
would be almost as costly ever, ss q triumph
OF design and wOrkmanship-even socialists
could harkly make the first designer in Europe
use his gift with a willing heart for a pounda
week-while diamonds would become
with the women Of the people what pearls used
TO be in some parts OF Italy, ornaments with
which IL Was almost indecorous, certainly quiss
bad form, on high occasions, 20 dispense.