, 1890-08-09

tsc
To picture the sedate and matter of
fact oyster as rising to the surface Of the
ocean to drink in the dew of heaven may
well be regarded as a stretch of the inn
agfnafion worthy OF the most fanciful
weaver of romances. Yet such was
stated by early writer's to be the origin
or b pearl, that gem which is deemed
worthy to deck the brow of royalty,
which adorns fair women, which is the
delight of the treasure hunter and which
In all ages has been the symbol Of beauty.
purity and worth.
This pretty ~conceit, however, is brushed
AWAY by the stern realities of sober fact.
The keen eye of science has discovered
that the birth Of a pearl is anything but
apoeticai affair. 1t is due to an acct
dent, and to one of those provisions of
nature by which every living creature
resists for foreign attack and seeks to
protect itself from injury. The oyster
pearl springs into existence in two diff
ferent ways. The first is by the intro
duction into the animal of a foreign sub
stance. In Some unguarded moment the
oyster may permit a minute grain Of
sand to slip into its domiciie and lodge
between the flesh and the shell. The
oyster is powerless to expel the intrud-
ing substance. which Immediately be-
,nes a source of irritation
There is hui one remedy. The animal
begins to cover the grain Of sand with q
coat Of membrane, followed by layer
of calcareous matter called nacre. This
is identical with mother-of-pearl, that
beautiful lining of the shell which re-
fleets all the colors of the rainbow as
well as the most delicate and subtle
tints. Nacre is constantly exuded from
the body of the oyster, the cookie, the
nautilus, the snail and other animals OF
the mollusk order, and forms their outer
covering, hard or soft, thick or thin, nc
cording to the protection demanded by
their surroundings. Around the intrud-
ing grain Of sand which has been men
toned accumulate alternate layers Of
membrane and nacre until a pearl is
formed.
HI MOST VALUE lens.
These pearls, however, are not the
valuable gems of commerce, because, in
the first place, they preserve the form OF
the grain of sand, and hence are irregu-
lar in shape, and in the second place,
AutJ AEtQutulll dNllitEo W Iut shell anu
consequently present n rough side.
The perfect pearl is found loose In the
interior Of the fish, and has its beginning
in Al animal germ. The oyster annu-
ally produces a number of eggs, which,
as Don as they develop into diminutive
animals, are thrown out of the mother.
Occasionally, however, an egg proves
abortive and remnins behind. 1t is almost
microscopic in size, and is inclosed in a
tiny capsule. This capsule now becomes
to all intents and purposes n foreign sub
stance. But it has certain powers akin
to those of the present, one of which is
that of manufacturing, throwing out
and gathering around itself nacre. The
nacre completely envelops it, and the
germ of the animal is soon incased in n
beautiful prison. usually spherical in
form, but sometimes pear shaped. This
is the true pearl.
The most famous pearl fisheries In the
world are near the coasts Of Ceylon,
Japan, Java and Sumatra and in the
Persian gulf, although pearls in limited
quantities are obtained in the streams of
,~-arfous countries.
HOW THE YER WORK
Before the divers begin their work
there are blessings and magic spells from
priests and sorcerers to drive away the
sharks and bring good luck. These in
carnations are of course roundly paid
for. The boats start out late at night,
so hat operations may begin at day
break. The divers have small instru-
ments for COMPRISING the nostrils and
beeswax to stop the apertures in their
ears. Each one holds a block of stone
between his feet to aid his descent.
Leaping from the boat and plunging be-
meath the waves, the divers reach the
bottom, where they run about swiftly
and fill their bags with oysters as quick
ly as possible. When n is ready to
rise he gives a signal and is drawn back
to his boat by a rope.
Divers cannot remain in the water
over n minute on the average, while two
minutes taxes the most expert. A very
few who nave stayed under four or five
minutes have won great regulations for
their extraordinary endurance.
The occupation is injurious to the
health. a. it requires n tremendous
amount of exertion. Divers are short
lived, subject TO various diseases and
have been known to expire suddenly
upon reaching the surface of the water.
One peculinrity of pearls is that, un-
IKE other precious gems, they are liable
to decay. Occasionally a valuable pearl
changes color, seems to be attacked with
ideadly disease and crumbles into dust.
Such is reputed to have been the fate Of
the most magnificent specimen ever
known.
Passing through successive hands 1t
finally became the property Of a Rus
sian merchant and found q possessor
who knew its immense value and priced
It accordingly. BE kept it carefully in
a secluded room of his magnificent man
sion, apart from all other Of his treas
ures. 1t was the wonder and admira-
ton of his favored friends who were
permitted to look at it. The merchant
finally became involved in a political
conspiracy and fed to Paris, taking his
one great treasure with him. He kept
it hidden for n time, but at last consent
ed to show it to some distinguished low
ers of precious stones. But when he
opened the casket he fell back in dismay
and staggered as though stricken with
death. The gem had begun to change
color. A fatal disease had attacked it,
1t was soon n worthless heap Of white
powder and the once wealthy merchant
was a pauper.-Galvesron News
during the epidemic of fuI in thu
county last'summer. | had hard work Il
keep a supply of....Chamberlain's Collie
Cholera and Diarrhea Remedy on hand
People often came ten or twelve miles II