Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-09-18
Concerning Rubies.

Concerning Rubies.
The diamond, which is pure carbon
in a crystallized state, has been man
ufactured, but only in the most minute
CRYSTALS, and those after the process
has been continued uninterruptedly
for months. Many people unhesitat-
ingly give to the diamond the trst
place among gems 1t is the hardest
known substance in the world, and
the brilliancy OF a first-water stone
when accurately cut is something won
derful The value of a good-sized di-
amond, however, cannot approach
that OF ruby OF similar size which
has the true pigeon blood color.
Off-color rubies, that is, stones Of a
lighter or darker tint than the regu
lation shade, of carat or less in
weight, are cheaper in price than dia
monds corresponding in size. But the
discovery of large rubies having the
dark carmine tint, which is looked
upon as the sine qua non OF the true
ruby, is so rare that the value of these
gems increases in far greater proper
ton than that of the diamond. Ru
bies weighing more than four carats
are found so infrequently that per
feet one of five carats will command
ten times as high sum as diamond
of the same weight.
All over the east from the earliest
times the ruby has been considered
the most valuable of stones. 1t has
been the exclusive property OF kings,
and its record has been handed down
the ages. 1t was one Of the jewels
which adorned the breast-plate of the
high priest in the time of Aaron, 1900
b. G. King Solomon uses it as a sim
lie in the Song, 1000 b. G.. One Of the
oldest traditions among the Chinese
is that the ruby grows in the ground
like flower, beginning a pale yellow
color and being in full blossom when
it turns TO its glowing crimson.
The finest specimens OF this gem are
found in Burmah, where, from time
immemorial, it has been law that all
stones above certain size must re
vert to the crown, no matter who may
have been the fortunate finder. This
law has undoubtedly caused the de
struction Of many magnificent speci
mems, as the discovery of large stone
and the consequent risk Of forfeiture
would lead to its being broken in frag-
ments. This would naturally divide
it into several stones, each much less
in value than the stone they original
ly formed, but still individual proper
ty. 1t is thought that to-day there
are concealed in Burmah among the
treasures which were hidden during
the British invasion, rubies OF far
greater size and value than any the
world has yet seen.
True rubies are found in compare
lively few paris of the world besides
Burmah. She seems to be the moth
er earth. Some are found in Madras,
in Mysore and in Ceylon, though the
Ceylon stones are generally off-color.
Goudamak, in Afghanistan, produces
rubies, but Of the almost worthless
kind. called spinels. In some parts Of
the United States they have been
found of the finest color, but in very
small quantities, and few good ones
come from Australia, but as rule
they are small and inferior in color.
Rubies have always been royal stones
and have been considered the most
valuable Of all the jewels possessed by
kings. Some OF the stones celebrated
in history have proved, however, not
! TO be rubies at all, but merely spinels.
The great ruby in the Maltese Cross,
which occupies the front Of Britain's
imperial crown, is OF this character
and owes its value only to the historic
associations which surround it. This
| jewel was presented TO the Black
Prince after the victory OF Najera in
1867, by Pedao the Cruel, King OF Cas-
tile, and afterwards worn and nearly
lost by Henry v at the battle Of Agin-
court
Marco Polo, the celebrated Vene-
tian merchant and Traveller, brought
back with him TO Europe the story Of
a ruby a span long, as thick as a mans
hand, and without a flaw, belonging
to the King Of Ceylon, and in ex-
change for which Kubla Khan offered
a province Of his empire.
The largest ruby known in present
times came from China and belongs
to the Russian crown jewels. 1t is as
large as pigeons egg, and was pre-
sented TO the Empress OF Russia by
Gustavus III. of Sweden, during his
visit TO st. Petersburg. The finest
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