Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-12-23
THE "PEARL DOCTOR :.
queer Occupation Followed bv q
1oung Englishwomor

AouhR Englishwoman
A young English woman whose card
is inscribed Miss Blank, Visiting lew.
eler' is pioneer on path that promises
10 lead to fortune; for in this, the sec
ond, year of her venture, she can boast
OF long list of patronesses. containing
many well-known names.
Shortly after she found herself
Obliged to do something to make money
sne chanced to see a quantity of old
fashioned jewelry which a friend had
inherited. In spite of their clumsy, out
ol-uate settings the beauty of the stones
inspired Miss Blank. She began to
make sketches of different ornaments
IN which they might be set, and so pref
" and original were her designs and so
much ingenuity did she show in plan
ming the Encouragement of the stones
that her friend exclaimed:
why, you are genius! Here Is YOUR
vocation. You must go about, ask peo-
pie to get out all their old odds and ends
OF 1ewelry, and then show them what
beautiful things those same odds and
ends would make"
Then Miss Blank began to study pre-
clous stones and became a good Judge
OF their value. This knowledge soon
opened another branch of her chosen
calling, namely, the selling and ex-
changing of stones, old ornaments. etc.
For instance, Mrs. A., who had opals,
thought them unlucky, and was only
too delighted to exchange them for the
turquoises which Mrs. B. felt sure made
her look sallow. Then Mrs. G. found
one really fine pearl set in an old-fash.
Toned locket, was simply dying to match
1t and have a pair Of earrings made, but
could not afford the necessary outlay
However, she had diamond screws she
was willing to part with, and now she
sports in her ears most becoming big
pearls. Then Mrs. d. had an unpaid
dressmaker'S bill on her conscience
which she simply did not dare show tc
her husband. But Miss Blank, by sell
Ing for her quantity of old gold orna
ments, enabled her to settle the account
herself. AS matter of course, Miss
Blank always keeps the names of ex
changing parties secret, even from eact
other. and in their new settings the
stones are not recognized.
Next it occurred to Miss Blank thai
| ch irrht also rtoI hn al NJ, r
of jewels, a matter which during the
season she found greatly neglected by
overworked maids. She has now
earned quite a reputation as pear
DOCTOR" for these gems which are fount
lying loose in the oyster shells and nee(
no cutting or polishing to enhance theil
beauty, as if to make things even, re
quire more careful usage than any
other precious stone. They become dul
and discolored, or, as jewelers. expires!
1t, get "sick" and die"
On one occasion, when large, badl!
1iscolored pearl given her to experiment
on resisted her treatments, she deter
mined to try an ancient recipe, found II
some musty pamphlet. This set fortl
that the gastric juice of fowls had
wonderful effect on dull yellow pearls
and would, if applied according to di
rections, quickly restore their origina
beauty. So, in fear and trembling, Mis-
Blank fed the big pearl to a rooster
which she securely confined, and, as th'
recipe prescribed, after two hours tim
killed it and relieved 1t of its valuable
luncheon. AS to the result, her owl
words were: "Of course, l felt hk'
nothing more nor less than a murderesS
but the pearl was ever SO much i'm
proved"