The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-25
Harris Remarkable Gift
for Judging Gems.
Gould Tell Weight and Quality
by Looking at Them.
A Privilege Enjoyed by Police But
Not by City's Fircmen.

On one OF the steamers OF the Provi-
dence Fall River and Newporis teamooat
Company late Yesterday afternoon the
Gossiper met travelling salesman for
large jeweIry house in New York who
told many interesting stories. The
majority OF them were doubtless apoc'
rypbal and intended only TO amuse, but
one OF them was OF a different character
and struck the Gossiper rs worthy OF
being repeated. II concerned Marcus Il.
Harris, an art connoisseur and expert in
precious stones who died about a week
ago very suddenly at his home in New
York city. Mr.. Harris possessed, accord
ing 10 the story tola the Gossiper,
faculty or natural gift, for estimating
the weight and quality OF precious stones
that was simply marvellous. He could at
q glance estimate within 1854 OF a carat
the weight OF any stone that might be
placed before him and with the gem still
in tts setting. The nicety OF this calcu-
laticn will to realized when II is remem-
pered that 1854 OF carat Is the sixteenth
of a grain.
II wns very rare indeed that he erred,
and he could not only estimate the
weight OF n stone, put:he could detect
the slightest flaw or imperfection. His
estimate OF quality was invariably cor
rect. He was one Of the very few experts
in colored stones In this country, for
there are rot today half dozen men In
the Unie ed States who are first-class
judges OF ruties, emeralds and "a )phires.
The emerald and ruby are more precious
than the diamond, because they are more
rare, and a man might be in business a
lifetime without handling more than u
dozen such gems. Mr.. Harris knowl-
edge of their weight and quality, how
ever, was really wonderful.
About l5 years ayo Mr.. Harris was put
TO test. He wss asked TO give the
weight of rose Gu. diamond in an old
fashioned brooch. ''It weighs al
carats," he said after examining
it, "but," he continued, "it Is not
worth what you think it is
because 1t is imperfectly cut on its
under faces" The owner OF the stone,
diamonn dealer himself, laughed ana
said 10 was willing to wager not only
tnat II was perfect, but that 1t weighed a
little more than five carais. a silk hat
was agreed upon as the wager and the
stone which was very dirty vas removed
from rs setting and weighed. 1t showed
crfx . nd for sfr,,s in,
the cutting wss discsrnable. The chief
lapicarywas csllsd and the diamond clean.
ed. When II was weighed a second time
IL proved to be precisely as MIR. Harris
had said. Moreover the imperfection In
the cutting lecame visible. 1t was out
1900 part OF an inch. For twenty-five
years Mr.. Harris wore silk hats and 1t Is
said he never paid for one in all that
time, winning them on wagers similar
to the one just related.
1t isn't very often that one sees fire-
man on street car, but they do ride
occasionally and when they do they pay
their full fare just as do the ordinary,
every day passengers. This fact was
called to the attention OF the Gossiper a
day or two ago by gentleman who
wanted 10 know why IL vas that the
fremen &C -.ot enjoy the same privilege
ss the policemen in tho matter OF street
car travel. "rhe policeman has a special
ticket Tor which he pays only half the
regular iare. That is all right and very
generous on the part Of the company"
said the gentleman, "but why should not
the fremen be treated in the same way.
In the matter OF the Importance of the
service rendered the public 1t seems to
me the fireman is equal to the policeman
and IL one enjoys special privileges can
not understand why the other should be
deuied than, -