The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-22
GEMS FROM ALL LANDS.
Something Of the Beautiful Exhibits
at the Worlds Fair.
The Work of American Artisans in
Precious Stones Deserving Most
Praise, although Lapidaries from
Elsewhere Are Representative
Cutting of Diamonda

Praise, although Lapidaries from
Elsewhere Are Representative
Cutting of Diamonds.
From the Chicago Herald.
The collection of precious and semi
precious stones, curios, antiques and min
erals shown by various nations of the
world in jackson park are not only artis-
tic and beautiful but instructive. For
the first time there can be seen a com
plete exhibit of the precious stones found
in America. The best work and designs
of the artisans Of many different coun-
tries gre exposed. Competition is always
stimulating, aud the meeting Of the
craftsmen from alien countries can but
result in a new era in jewelers. arts. The
largest, and certainly the one most de-
serving of commentator, is that made
by a firm of American artisans.
They have evidenced a deep interest
in the finding and setting of ma
tive stones and minerals. They
have shown that even the
earthly and stony substance in which
metallic ores and crystallines are found is
susceptible of being converted into useful
and decorative objects. The turquoise
found in the matrix of the mountains of
New Mexico is shown and pronounced to
be, in color, the most lasting of all tur-
Quoise 1t is less porous and equal in bril-
liancy to any stone of the same character
found in Persia. This exhibit contains
the most exquisite examples of American
pearls. They vary in shape and size and
many of them are remarkable, not only
for their variety of tint, but for
the great beauty of their sheen. Red,
green, blue and white tourmalines, pos
sessed of lovely transparent qualities, have
been found in the state of Maine and
placed in the most attractive articles of
jewelry Colorado yields flaming red gar
nets of great purity, also opals of translu-
cent and varied prismatic colorings.
Smoky quartz, which is a kind of topaz,
is found in abundance in sections of the
Rocky mountains On the bars on the
Missouri river, not many miles from
Helena Mont, is found matriX which
contains blue, yellow and green sapphires
of great depth and lovely Coloring. In a
belt of the Pueblos a stratum of stone
called serpentine, a supposed jade, is
found. In color it is less beautiful than
the jade Tor yu) Of China, and that found
in Russia. The minerals of America are
susceptible of high polish and are endless
in their tonality. ChalcedOnyX of the
Yellowstone National Park, Wyo., is
especially attractive.
CLEARING AND CUTTING DIAMONDS.
The exhibits of jewelry in plain and or
namental settings; the display Of orna-
mental gems the cutting and polishing of
diamonds by the artistic goldsmiths of
this country, are superb examples Of
what it is possible to do with the precious
gems that the earth yields. A most in
structive opportunity is afforded the Wis
itors at the fairin the showing of the pro-
cesses employed to make a diamond ready
to be placed in an ornament. First the
clearing process, which consists in first
making a nick in that part of the crystal
below the part to be removed. The nick
must always be parallel to an octagon,
which forms the face of the stone. A
quick blow is given a knife which has
been placed in this almost microscopic
nick If this blow has been successfully
dealt the piece drops of and shows a
smooth face on both sides. This clearing
process is used only for gems containing
flaws and IL is only necessary to a small
percentage of gems.
The cutting of diamonds is most inter-
esting. They are cut by the rubbing of
two diamonds together. To do this they
are cemented on the cutting stick with
shellac. The dust obtained in the cutting
is used afterward in the polishing. When
shaped for polishing the gem is given to
the setter. The setter secures the dia-
mond in a cone-shaped, fusible metal,
which has been fastened to the end of a
stick. The point to be polished is always
exposed and points sharply outward. A
diamond when brilliantly cut often re-
quires to be set at least twenty or thirty
times The process Of polishing requires
mathematical correctness in order that it
may as nearly as possible reflect the light
that enters the center OF the stone. Dia-
monds are polished on horizontal circular
disks or wheels of iron The wheels are
covered with oil and diamond dust The
light, life, brilliancy and even color of a
diamond is almost entirely insured by its
scientific polishing.
BEAUTIES OF THE MYSTERIOUS PEARL.
The oriental pearls shown by an Ameri-
can house suggests the charming allusion
made to them by the poet Moore:
And precious the tear as that rain from the
Which turns into pearls as it falls in the
sea.
This opinion was also the belief of
Pliny, who thought the pearl to be a drop
of dew or rain which fell into the shells
when opened by the molluscous animal
for air. The exact nature of the secre-
tion which helps to form pearls has never
been satisfactorily determined; it is, how
ever, ascertained that it is a deposit in
their films, which Overlie each other,
forming irregular, Nserrated edges The
thought is not without sadness, that it is
undoubtedly true that the molluscs have
been caused physical discomfort by the
formation on the beautiful iridescent IL
ming of their shells, of pearls 1t is sup
posed that the pearl is result of acct
dental causes, such as the intrusion of a
grain of sand which by irritating the
tender body Of the animal, obliges it in
self-defence, to cover the cause of offence,
which it has no power to re
move; and as the secretion goes on regu-
larry to supply the growth of the shell,
the foreign substance constantly gets its
share and increases in size until it be-
comes pearl.
A proof of the knowledge of which the
Chinese awaited themselves is shown in
the exposure of a fresh-water musscl con-
tanning figures Of Buddha, made a tinfoil
coated with nacre. After making a close
study of the habits of molluscous animals
Chinese transplanted species of fresh
water mussels to tanks, and inserted be-
tween the shell and the mouth of the
animal either small lead shot or pieces of
mother of pearl They also inserted fig
ures Of Buddha made of metal and tinfoil,
which soon became coated with the pearl
secretion. To the ignorant this trick was
a phenomenon; it suggested supernatural
testimony to the truth of Buddhism.
This is without doubt the most remark