, 1890-12-11
BARRELS OF DIAMONDS
A Hovel Filled With Pre-
cious Stones.
ONE WHO COULD MAKE ANY GEM
But a White Diamcnd-The Sol
enlist Scatters Gems Broad
cast in the Streets.
Emile /ola.l

one of my friends, said to Inc few
mornings ago:
81 know an old scientist who has
Withdrawn to small house on the
Boulevard d'Enfer that he may
study there without interruption
the capitalization of diamonds
Already he has obtained dazzling
results. Would you like me to take
you to see him?"
On the way my friend gave me
some information con ncerning the
manufacture of artificial precious
stones For long while our chem.
lists had been giving it their atten-
ton, but the crystals formed were so
dlmlnutive, while the cost of pro-
duclng them was so great, that the
experiments were regarded simply
as the revelations Of the curiosities
of science.
When we had arrived at the house
he greeted my friend poll tely, utter
ing n low growl when l was pre-
sented to him, as II | had been a
dog belonging to his youthful dis
clple. We walked across IL neglected
garden, at the back of which was
the house, "a tumbledown hovel.
The scientist had removed all the
partitions that he might have one
vast and lofty apartment, in which
he established n complet te laboratory,
full Of extraordinary apparatus, the
Use Of which l did not even strive to
comprehend. The scientist himself
answered the bell and opened the
door.
In this hovel the most dazzling,
the most binding sight had ever
seen in my entire life burst
upon me. Numbers of dilapidated
baskets were arranged along the
walls upon the floor, their willow
twigs ready to burst from overflow
ing loads of precious stones. But
one species of gem was in each
basket; rubies, amethysts. emeralds,
sapphires, opals and turquoises,
thrown into corners like stone hea ps
along u highway, glittered with
living light, illuminating the den
with the sparkle of their flames.
They were furnaces, glowing Goals,
red. violet, green, blue and pink.
They looked like millions of elfin
eyes laughing on the floor amid the
gloom. No tale in the "Arabiau
Nights" had ever revealed such
treasures, no woman had ever
dreamed of such a paradise.
l involuntarily uttered cry of
admiration.
"Why, this is the wealth of the
IndiesW / exclaimed. "These gems
have an incalculable valuep
Struggling his shoulders, the aged
scientist gazed mt me with profound
pity.
"These heaps are worth but q few
francs each," said he, in hollow
voice, drawling out his words.
"They bore me, and tomorrow
will use them for gravel in my gar.
den paths"
Gathering up handfuls OF the
gems, he continued, turning toward
my friend:
"Glance AZ these rubies. / have
as yet obtained none more beautiful
These emeralds don't satisfy me
they are too pure. Natures emer.
aids always have some flaw aud
don't want to surpass nature. The
white diamond is still beyon me; |
am unable to produce 1t; and that's
what discourages me. Tomorrow,
however, | shall resume my expert
ments. When / have succeeded my
life's crowning work will have been
attained and l shall die happy"
The scientist drew himself up 10
his full height; the air of stupidity
had vanished from him. L trembled
in the presence OF that wan old man
who could shower down on Paris
such miraculous rain.
"Don't you fear robbers?' asked.
81 see you have put solid iron bars
across your doors and windows.
Such precautions are advisable
"Ges, | am sometimes afraid,n he
'afraid that idiots may
me before | have sue
ceeded in producing the white dia-
mond. These stones, though they
have comparatively little value,
might tempt my heirs; my heirs
fright me; they are well aware
that by causing my disappearance
they would bury with me th secrets
of my discoveries, and thus give |
these artificial gems You see about
you the full value the world puts ON
genuine precious stones"
He grew thoughtful and sad. We
were sitting on piles of diamonds
and / was staring at him, my left
hand plunged into n basket of ru-
bles, my right hand mechanically
sitting emeralds like sand through
my fingers.
At length l broke the silence, ex-
'You must lead Il wretched life,
men Us you do! Are you
totally without pleasure"'
lie looked Mt me in amazement.
~ work" he answered, "and am
never weary. When L feel unusual
ly gay | put some of these stones in
my pocket and stand at the further
end of my garden, behind "a loophole
which opens upon the boulevard.
Then, from time to time, l hurl u
diamond into the middle of the
street."
He laughed rs he recalled this
practical joke.
"You can not imagine the be-
havior of the people who find the
stones They treinble and glance
behind them; then they hasten
away, as pale as death. How much
the poor fools have af-
forded me! What delightful hours
l had spent at the loopholew
His peculiar tone filled me with