Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-08-06
PEARLS IN OYSTERS.
Facts Concerning Their Origin and
Growth.


The keen eye or science has dIscov-
cred that the birth of a pearl is any
thing but a poetical AFFAIR. 1t is due
to an accident, aud to one OF those pro-
visions OF nature by which every living
creature resists foreign attack and
seeks TO protect itself from injury. The
oyster Iearl springs into existence in
two different ways. The FIST is by
the introduction into the animal of a
foreign substance. In some unguarded
moment the oyster may permit a
minute grain of sand to slip into Its
domicile and lodge between the flesh
and the shell.
The oyster is powerless 10 expel the
intrading substance. which immediately
becomes a source of irritation. There
Is but one remedy. The animal begins
to cover the grain of sand with 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
bodies Of the oyster, tie cookie, the
nautilus, the snail, and other animals
OF the mollusk order, and forms their
outer covering, hard or soft, thick or
thin, according to the protection de-
manded by their surroundings Around
the intruding grain of sand which has
been mentioned accumulate alternate
layers OF membrane and nacre until a
pearl is formed.
These pearls. however, are not the
valuable gems OF commerce, because,
in the first place. they preserve the
form or the grain of sand and hence are
Irregular In shape; and in the second
place they frequently adhere 10 the
shell and consequently present one
rough side.
The perfect pearl is found loose in
the interior of the flesh, aud has Its be-
ginning in an animal germ. The oyster
annually produces a number of eggs,
which, As soon as they develop into
diminutive animals, are thrown out by
the mother. Occasionally, however,
al egg remains behind. II Is almost
microscopic in size and is incIosed in a
tiny capsule
This capsule now becomes, TO all in
tents and purposes a foreign substance.
But It has certain powers akin TO those
OF the parent, one of which Is that of
manufacturing, throwing out, and
gathering around itself nacre. The
nacre envelops It, and the germ of the
animal is soon incased in beautiful
prison, usually spherical in form. but
sometimes pear-shaped. THIS is the
true pearl. Its size of course depends
on the length of time TO which the pro-
cess is continued, rs the Pearl is en-
larged by constant deposits from year
TO year.
rnnsyIa-,hra ;,.,o,,,;,- L.. ,oo,, ~
ercI5ed in the manufacture OF artificial
pearls. The French have attained the
greatest. excellence in this industry.
From a small fish called the bleak the
scales ale scraped, washed, and pressed
between folds Of linen cloth of fine tex
tuTe- y fluid then slowly trickles from
them, and when II has been filtered
often enough to attain the requisite de-
gree Of purity is mixed with an aka
line substance to arrest the decay Of
animal matter.
This is the precious Essence
d'orient," to produce a pound OF which
several thousand of the fish are re-
quiIed. The addition of a small guam
tity of isInglass completes the pIepara-
tion of the fluid for use. The essence
is now injected into hollow spheres OF
oclorless glass until it covers the sur
face OF the interior. Instantly the glass
bead is transformed into an admirable
imitation of a pearl. In fact, the coun-
terfeit Is 50 perfect that II can only be
detected by weight
The Italians also make artificial
pearls, but in an entirely different way
They insert skillfully colored varnishes
into glass beads, and also cover porce-
lain spheres with a cement made from
finely powered mother-of-pearl. These
limitations are pretty ornaments, but do
not make any pretense of competing
with the genuine article.
The production of pearls by assisted
propagation is a curious industry which
has been carried on more successfully
by the Chinese than by any other peo-
pie. They take the mussels from their
beds, and, prying open the shells, or
boring them, insert small molds or
beads SO that they will lie in the soft
flesh. The animals being unable to
expel these foreign bodies Immediately
scribed in the natural pearl-makIng
process.
In a year a complete coating is
formed, but the beauty of the pearl is
greatly enhanced by allowing it TO re-
main undisturbed for two OF three
years. These pears, however, are sell
dom perfect III shape, because it Is
almost impossible TO obtain or manu-
facture kernels OF spherical form. The
deposit OF nacre, of course, follows
every inequality of surface in the artI-
ficIkl molds.
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 various countries. Ceylon, how
ever, stands in the greatest renown for
its pearls and pear.-divers. Ceylon Is
an island in the Indian Ocean, about so
miles south of IIindooStan. 1t presents
great contrasts of scenery, from pre-
cipitous and picturesque rocks TO level
plains Of sand
The pearl oyster banks are on the
west coast, ana here at certain times
of the year, villages suddenly spring up
and are as suddenly abandoned at the
beginning and end of the diving season.
The formation of one of these villages
is strange sight
Bleak and deserted wastes of barren
land suddenly become populated, great
throngs of people clad in gay colors
rapidly assemble, and there is a confu-
sion of tongues where but u short time
before only the swash of ocean waves
WAS heard. Besides the divers there
are provision dealers, boat Iepairers,
traders, laborers, merchants from many
nations and priests.
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 Incantations are of course round
ly paid for. The boats start out late at