Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-01-09
Diamond Waste.

the extent of the trade in diamond
waste. Most of this material comes
now from the cleavers. Formerly,
when diamonds were still very expen-
sive, cleavers did not deign to set to
work upon a stone unless it was main
ly of fair quality, and the most OF 1t
could be turned out as valuable dia-
monds. But now, through the great
competition in price, nothing may be
rejected. if piece of boart contains
but one good corner, though not more
than one-eighth of carat in weight,
and consequently less than half that
weight when polished, it must beturned
to account and if this little available
portion lies in the center Of the stone
it can only be reached by a great deal
of cleaying, which will unavoidably
produce many splinters and much dust.
Cleavers waste is of several kinds, gen
orally sold in a lump to dealers. First
there is the boart, or the remnants OF
stones from which small corners have
been taken off these realize the full
market price of boart. Out of the 9TH
er waste are picked the few splinters
vet fit to be worked into rose diamonds,
next the long pointed splinters which
when inserted in a handle are used for
points in engraving upon stone, glass,
etc. After these come the smaller bits,
some of which may also be used for
engraving and the stronger ones for
boring holes in porcelain, glass, etc.
The smallest material Of this kind Is
generally stamped into powder and
employed in polishing diamonds and
in the arts. Some Of the coarser pieces,
when smooth, are used for slabs, in
which holes are drilled, and they are
sold for wire-drawing, being much
harder and more durable than any
other substance for this purpose.
A great deal of waste also comes
from the cutters During the cutting
a variety of splinters and fine irag-
ments are thrown off; hence the waste
material furnished by cutters, and to
some extent by the cleavers, is the
sweepings, of which there are again
two kinds, viz. First, "bak fulIes,
the residue of the bak or box upon
which the friction of the two diamonds
occurs, a mixture of minute diamond
rticles and scrapings of cement sec
! ond, table fuiies, u SWEEP T'eeepf@'eas- AZ OF -4a
floor of the shop. All these pass
through complicated processes of clean
ing by dextrous and experienced hands,
At first nothing is seen but black,
dusty fragments of the cement used to
fit the diamonds on the handles, with
here and there a glimmering bit hard
" visible to an inexperienced eye
The buyer, however, knows how tc
treat it by sitting, burning and boil
ing in nitric acid, so that out of tins
black mass is brought a fine snow
white powder, mixed with minute frag
ments Of diamond, used for stamping
An extensive trade is done in these
different kinds Of waste, and it is ex
ported from Holland to various part
of Europe and America for technica
purposes. Over 200 persons in Am
sterdam gain their living as dealers II
diamond waste and sweepings.
A Scotchman had dream in which
he saw four rats in single file. Tn
first was fat and sleek. The SECOND
and third were thin and half starved
The fourth was blind. He puzzle
much as to the meaning of the dream
Both himself and wife felt sure it mean
some calamity. Finally the boy 9
the family, with keen wit and practl
cal wisdom, ventured an interpreta
S ton. "The fat rat, said he, sis tn
saloon keeper. The lean rats az
, mother and myself. The blind rat
; yourself, father
A young lady walked into Boon
= boro store, and after selecting pee
+ OF cloth, asked what it was worth.
q -Four kisses per yard, SAID the pc
q clerk.
e The young lady stood abashed for
n moment and replied that she wOu
b. take 4 yards. The cloth was cut o