The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-11-21

carried from India to Persia in 1879 by Nsdir
Shah. and scattered and lost after his death.
Ans:her ruby. larger than this one. of which a
model and impressions still exist had the same
four names engraved upon it. but the stone has
been recut-a piece of historical vandalism that
/ is objectionable. Its present whereabouts are
| uncertain.
Another ruby engraved with the name of Au-
runezebe is said to have been among the Jewels
of his son. and diamond that has been cut
since also had the engraved names Of Jahingar
and Shah Jehan.
The Kaabs at Mecca, said 10 have been built
/ by Abraham, incloses sacred black stone
seven inches long. called Ruby from
| Heaven" but in reality believed to be me-
teorite.
Next to the diamond and ruby, the emerald
has always been held in the highest esteem.
| Its peculiarly-rich and delicate color has a
charm that is ever new. and its cool green tint
| is said by many authors to be restful to the eye
Emeralds are usually cut in simpler form
| than diamonds and the corundum gems Tie
| form preferred is what is called the table-cut-
a square or oblong, with large fat face and
bevelled edges. the lower surface being cut in
| long, marrow facets parallel to the sides. Fine
gems command the price of fine diamonds, and
! the phrase "A fswless emerald is classic.
The immense emeralds reported by ancient
writers as carved into statues, etc. were plainly
other green stones COMPOUNDED under the same
name. Fine emeralds have always been rare
and highly esteemed. The emerald is the soft
est Of the precious stones. and, although not in
SO great demand from 1875 to 1890, il was never
cheap With its recent return to high favor,
fortunately, new finds have been made and
many fine emeralds sold. Those of rich color
cut eH cabOch0R. are especially appreciated
The ancient Mexicans and Peruvians had
many fue emeralds, which attracted the atten.
tim of their Spanish They yrpr
held in great esteem by the native chiefs, and
were eyquisitely wrought. Those of Mexico
came from Bogota; those OF Peru were OBJ
tanned in Bogots in tho Atacama desert
else in Ecuador, where the name Of Esmsralda
is still borne By village and river on account
Of the former abundance of the gems in the
vicinity. None, however, are now brought
4 from either OF thess regions Cortez sent home
two large of emerslds, which were lost
ship returning to Spain. He also brought
with him magnificent emeralds, for some of
which he was offered enormous sums. In one
of the cases, it is said were 10000 carats Some
OF them had been cut in the most exquisite
manner by the Mexican workmen-one carved
into the form of flower, another of fish with
eyes OF gold, another of bell with pearl for
the tongue, aud fourth into a cup with
golden foot. 1t may be that the Spaniards
sometimes confused the rich green jadeite with
emerald.
In the Temple OF the San, at Cuzco, in Peru,
there is reported to have been splendid image
Of the sun. with disk and rays of gold. set
thickly with emeralds; this fell to Piz2rro,
who. it is said. gambled il away in a single
night. The royal collection at Madrid con-
tains magnificent crystals OF emerald, some Of
them of the finest water and of large size. evil
IDENTIFY from some of these New World To-
calities
The principal source of cmeralds is at the
Muse mine, near Bogota, Colombia, South
America. They are also found at Takawaja,
Siberia, and At Mount Zabsra in upper Egypt.
This last place was the principal source known
to the apcienis. but il had been long forgotten
when French traveller, NJ. Cailisud, dis
covered the old workings a few years ago.
Some OF the ancient -emeralds were doubtless
obtained from locality at Habachthal. in the
Tyrol. as we'll as from Mount Zabars, in Egypt
Light-colored emeralds in considerable quaa-
tity have lately been found at EmmavilIe, New
South Wales. and in Alexander County, n. c.
but the latter, though elegant specimens of
crystals, are not clear enough for cutting.
BOeota specimen in the cabinet of the Duke
OF Devonshire is remarkably fine; it is a per-
feet hexagonal crystal two inches high. and
about the same in diameter. and weighs lS3
ounces. yet choicer crystal, costing $500. but
only one-third the weight, was in the celebrated
Hope collection.
Some OF the Siberian emeralds in the Impe-
rial Museum at St. Petersburg are much larger,
but less iue; one is la inches long and IL
inches broad. and weighs l6s pounds. North
Carolina has yielded few very fine crystals,
the best Of which are in the Bement collection
In Philadelphia
The opal holds its place among the gems by
virtue Of its singular beauty, although in gen.
era no stone not harder than quartz is so ranked.
There are many varieties. ranging from those
that have little or no play OF color, which are
called common or semi-opals, to the exquisitely
beautiful precious opal of jewelry. Among tue
finer varieties may be noted the following:
First-Noble opal. which is whitish in gen
eral aspect and translucent and closely shot
through with small and brilliant gleams OF all
the colors of the rainbow. This is the kind
most priced for setting. When the colors occur
in minute specks like mosaic, it is called por-
opal.
Second-Flame opal. which Ia transparent and
almost celorless, but has broad, famelike sur
faces of various tints
Third-Fire opal, or girasoE; this is somewhat
like the last, but the general color of the CLASSY
mass is yellow to red with colored reflections
Of many tints in the same way.
Fourth-Recently the Australian mines have
yielded brilliant precious opals whose general
color 10 rich blue 10 green; sometimes when
held up TO the light. they show yellow or
reddish color This is tho main distinguishing
point between them and the finest Hungarian
opals
The finest quality Of noble opal is mined at
Dubrcck in Hungary: but the Queensland,
New South Wales aud Idabo mines in Wash.
iDgton State now formidable rivals both as
TO quality and yield. In our own country
within lew years past promising localities OF
line opal have been discovered 1T several points
In tho far Northwest, in the lava beds of the
Owhyhec district in Idaho and in Washington
State near the Idaho line. These have been
worked 10 some extent, and fine material OBJ
tanned. and single gem has sold for 81 600
Allusion should lac made to a very beautiful
style OF work known opal cameo which con-
AIsts ia carving a head or other device in a thin
seam OF OPAL and cutting away around il TO the
stone on which IL rests. thus bringing out the
head in relief on different colored back ground.
In the Queensland opas this effect can he pro-
dueed with great beauty, the dark-brown rock
contrasting very elegantly with the raised do
vice ia brilliant blue or green opal filled with
its CLEANS of fire.
The famous necklace Of opals that belonged
hrst 10 the Empress Jose phi Inc aud lastly to the
lil-iaied Eugenie was recently sold in the United
States. The great central opal, known as the
Burning Troy, like the rest OF the gems i'm this
coiaret. proved 10 be more valuable for its his
tory than for It's beauiy.-Neu Yosk Sun,
From Now Until Spring
Oyercoats and Winter wraps will be in fashion.
Ihey can be discarded, temporarily, while
travelling IN the steam heated trains of the
ChicHgo' Milwaukee d st. Paul Railway. For
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