The herald., 1896-01-13
Bellicose Aspect of the World
and Sale of RubieS
A STORY ON A SPECIALIST
Bright C0lOrs for Ladies' Street Weai
Now the Vogue
The Probabilities of War-Drled and Canned
Fruits in the Navy-Mining natters.
Tonnage In Frisco

Isidor Bernstein, Maiden lane. N. Y,
dealer in precious stones is in the city on
brief visit. He said: 1 do not know
whether the bellicose aspect of the world
has anything to do with it, but just now
there is an increased demand for rubies,
genuine stones of fine color. Such gems
always find ready sale, but it is the
fashion to wear them just now by the
smartest sets in New York; especially are
they in favor as gifts to bride, accom-
panied by such lines as the following, by
Dome:
Up, up fair bride, and call
Thy stars from ont their several boxes take
Thy rubies, pearls and diamonds iorth, ana
make
Thyself a constellation OF them all.
You remember, too, in Captain Jones, the
bon mot, "He's said to have rich face and
come from Upper Burma. The largest
ruby known was found in China about the
year 1929, and was presented to Prince
Gargarin, governor of Siberia; it after
wards passed into the hands of Prince
Mentchikoff, and is now set in the Russian
imperial crown. There are rubies of dif-
ferent shades of color; the balass is of a
pale red, inclining to violet, and the spin
ell is also of a paler color than the true
ruby. The latter is soft, and almost vel
vety in appearance, and emits glow,
lively and ardent. of a scarlet, or fire color.
The spiuell rubes are about half the
value of diamonds of the same weight; the
balass is worth about 81 per carat; per-
feet ruby, if it weigh more than three
carats and half, is of greater value than
a diamond of the finest water at the same
weight. 1t is, however, usually found of
small size, even as small as pin-head. 1t
is then not of much value: it is also found
in weights ranging from four to ten
carats, and very rarely up to twenty,
thirty, aud even forty. 1t is never found
of an angular or crystalliform shape, but
always OF a pebble-lke figure. often
rounded, sometimes oblong, and some
times pear-like in shape, but slightly flat
tened on one side. 1t is commonly SO
bright and pure on the surface as to need
no polishing; in the crowns of royalty it is
always worn in it's native state. Nearly a
century ago experiments were made on
rubies by the duke of Tuscany, when it
was found that the heat whish dissipated
diamonds, only softened rubies, their
weight and form was unchanged, but there
was some diminution in the richness of
the color. 1t is extremely difficult to en-
grave upon this stone, only one artist hav-
ing been notably successful, a German of
the name of Haffler, long since dead.
DR.. Ward, a wealthy retired physician of
fornia. He is surprised at the size Of Los
Angeles, and delighted with the many
easily-reached suburban hamlets. Across
the walnuts and the wine at an early dinner
yesterday the doctor related an amusing
story affecting one of the local specialists.
A married lady of middle age, who resides
near Redondo, accompanied by a friend
visited the genealogical genius. After
detailing her symptoms, and undergoing a
protracted examination. she was gravely
told that she had fluctuating fibroid
tumor, and that an immediate operation
was desirable. A fee of $3.50 was asked.
Much alarmed the lady was not long in
seeking connubial consolation. Benedict
looked incredulous and uneasy, and called
in reputable family physician, who smiled,
pocketed fee, and retired. The climax of
the story was reached yesterday, when
the population of the Golden state was in
creased by the addition of healthy male
child. The tiuctuating fibroid tumor has
not yet been found, but the lady is very
happy and will rapidly convalesce.
Albert Schweitz, fashionable ladies'
tailor of Fifth avenue, New York,
passed through Los Angeles yester-
day. There is nothing Of much in
terest to note about ladies' gar
ments, be said, except that for street
wear bright colors are the vogue. Sleeves
are not worn quite as full, and the very ex-
cluSiNely StylSu WOfieIl have tne HECK anu
shoulders somewhat sloped, in the style
worn by the princess of Wales and her
daughters. 1t is very difficult to fit an
American woman we'll about the neck and
back, as SO many are round-shouldered,
even the buds of society. A bicycle cos.
tune, almost the exact copy of that worn
by French vivandiere, is the latest thing,
but it requires a nice, lssome figure and
piquante face to set it off we'll. Business is
very good, and l am glad to say that more
disposition is shown by expectant brides to
buy their trousseauX in this country.
M. Herzog, a wiuemakcr of Freiburg,
Germany, said: "California wines have
been growing in excellence from year to
year, especially the red sorts. The makers
away behind so for as color and bouquet
are concerned. 1 think war between Ger
many and England ia sure to happen soon.
There has for the past ten years been
much irritation over African colonization,
the military element is eager for war, Bis
marck is said 10 favor it, and 1 fear that
the influence of the queen, the czar and the
duke of SaXe-Coburg will be impotent to
maintain peace, though it is earnestly de-
sired by the Socialists and the great and
growing Liberal party. War is unphilo-
sophie, relic of barbarism that should
have no place in these days."
Ferdinand Herd, the managing represen.
tative of the Julian Gold Mining company
of San Francisco, is in the city. We are
about to open up, said Mr.. Herd, three OF
the ledges on the property recently pur.
chased from L. Schilling. five miles from
Julian City. Two extensions of the ledges
pay, at depth of $50 feet, $40 per ton.
A stamp mill has been ordered, and when
it is erected San Diego county people will
talk OF 'our gold Mines" Mr.. Christ, the
president of the company, is expected to
arrive tomorrow. An Office will be opened
in Los Angeles and much of the necessary
supplies will be bought here.
William Culhbert. an Anaconda mining
man. is in the city purchasing supplies for
the development of q territory already
prospected. near San Bernardino. Mr..
Cuthbert said that recent improvements in
the treatment of intractabIe ores made il
possible to work many abandoned mines
profitably. A syndicate, of which he is a
member, is working on the dump of an
abandoned mine near Pocateilo, Idaho
with new process, and. though the yield
of gold is only 81 per ton, it pays hand
somely.
Charles G. Chetwynd of the Wet ualline
department. of the English admiralty, who
passed through the city yesterday, said !:
st looks like war with Germany, both sides
are full of fight, the English naval officers
and men being anxious to distinguish
themselves. 1t will, think. be very brief,
but awfuily disastrous to one nation or the
other. Since California dried and canned
fruits have become cheaper, large quanti-
ties have been used in the navy, much to
everyones delight. Jack makes all sorts OF
fresh sub-acid drinks out of dried fruit. He
drinks no rum now when afioat unless he is
sick, and then but rarely"
Il. b. Whitaker of Victoria, Vancouver
Island, said: 'sCalifornia oranges are
much in favor with us, and. indeed. all