Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-02-11


Many years ago there was published
in France little book Of which the
title may be translated 1.-THE Diseases
of Precious Stones" the unknown au-
thor being either jeweler or an ex-
pert collector who had brooded over
his gems until he became half crazed
in regard to the whole subject of jew
els and jewelry. In every line of the
little treatise the author shows his
devotion to the subject on which he
had become an enthusiast. He re-,
CARDS gems as having personality of
their own. and, the qualities and attri-
hutes of living, acting and reasoning
beings. He considers them as capable
Of feeling well or Ill. and seems to be-
lieve that they even have their
moody seasons. when things have not
gone particularly well with them,
and they feel sour. discontinued and
at outs with all the world. He iInag-
ines them at times dissatisfied with
their wearers, as being too old or too
ugly to be worthy Of such ornaments.
and then he supposes that the dia-
inonds take no interest In the social
function to which their owner has
been invited: then they grow dull and
sleepy and refuse to shine. At other
times, when they adorn the fingers Of
young and beautiful woman, he sup
poses they are stimulated to do their
best. and then they send forth their
most splendid scintillations in the eff
fort to outshine all the other diamonds
in the company.
The Dutch diamond cutters of three
centuries ago did not share the old
Frenchman's belief about the sickness
and health of the diamond. but did
devoutly believe that in some way
they could not clearly comprehend the
diamond was a bewitched stone. not a
few also eherishing the suspicion that
it was under the direct and special
protection of the devil. In those good
old intelligent days any misfortune
that could not he explained was attri-
buted to the direct act and intervene
ton of the father Of evil. When IA
nose bed without visible occasion it
vas because the devil had twisted il:
when a man fell down. IL was the devil
who had caught his, foot and tripped
him: when he became i'll from over
eating or drinking. the arch enemy
had been tampering with his meat or
liquor. SO the diamond cutters. not,
exactly understanding the physical
construction of the stone. and knowing
nothing about its cleavage planes
found it very often split or crack un-
der their manipulation. and whenever
a gem was thus damaged the vexation
and loss were directly attributable to.
Satan. who. having made the diamond
in his own laboratory. was lcath TO
see il appropriated by men. and so
took malicious pleasure in damaE-
ing it whenever he could.
So many accidents of this kind oc-
CURED that in one d.amond-cutting
factory little chapel was fitted out,
where every cutter went and said his
prayers before going to work. while.
for additional protection. a bottle of
holy water MAS placed on each work
bench. and before beginning any tick
lish operation on the stone at which
he was engaged the cutter mostened
his hands and scattered a little of the
protecting liquid about the bench. and
the devil was thus frustrated in his
evil intentions so frequently that, il
may be supposed. he became discour-
aged. and the worlimen, persisting in
their deVotioES and also in their eff |
forts to perfect their knowledge of the |
gem and of the best methods of cut
ting it. the old enemy finally ceased |
his annoyances and accidents became |
comparatively rare. Such as occurred |
were for a time easily explained on |
the hypothesis that the local witches |
were doing what they could to injure
the diamond cutters job. as witches |
were well known to be ready for any
mischief, but. by and by, the witches,
too. disappeared, and the workman
who spoiled diamond was himself |
compelled to bear the responsibility
without unloading any part either on
Satan or on his female intimates the
witches.
1t is curious fact that in the
early days of diamond cutting occas-
icnal gems which at first seemed per-
feet were afterward found to be de-
fective. Many diamonds have what
the experts call feathers" which are
probably minute crevices in the body
of the gem and in some few instances
these have been known to develop toll
such proportions as to ruin the gem.
Diamonds have occasionally beer
cracked by exposure to heat, as when
the wearer sat before an open fire, |
but such instances are of so rare &C.
currence that no diamond wearer need
hesitate to take the risk, for there is
not one chance in 10.000.00 that per-
feet gem will suffer in the least from
any such exposure. The stories told
in the narratives of a century ago of
stolen gems turning to pinch of
white powder are mere fancy. Dia-
lnonds exposed for considerable time
to an intense heat will undoubtedly .
be damaged by the partial consump-
ton of their outer surface. When the
Southern hotel was burned in ST.
Louis many years ago number of
diamonds We're afterward re- {
covered from the ashes. but they had |
lost their luster. The gems were COW '
cred with white crust, and had to
be recut at the expense of their size G
ere they regained their beauty liz
Among infirmities to which precious I
stones are liable is one common to t
all colored stones. that of fading, or TT
osing color when long exposed to the +
light. A member of a leading firm of v
Partisan jewelers. once made the re-
mark that his establishment lost sew e