The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-08-20

vosnis Il up aesins turned into amber
Sr;s!" That antique author. Robert
isoyIe. considerea = 70 be OF vegetebfe
production and similar To yellow am
bcr: thus it received its name. amber
gris (gray)-grag Anbsr.E
This and other even naor> plausible
theories sre but indeed fallacies that
puzzled savants havo set forth when
they were at n loss to account tor it,
origin. It is now ascertained beyond .
doubt TO be sge1ezated BY the large
headed sperm whale and l. the result
Of 1 diseased state Of the animal. The
victim Of this rare malady may possi-
bly throw of the morbific substance; OF
finally die of the ailment. The disease
in locsted in the intestinal canal. and
some savants suppose It to b. caused BY
. hillary irritation. After deep study
on the subject severalmodern scientists,
have agreed that the disorder IN akin to
that now fashionable human peril, aP-
pendicitis, intensified and prolonged in
this great mammal. yet that dread all
nent that has but lately been under
stood by the surgeons and medical men
Of the world. -
It 10 known that the ambergris whale
feeds upon the cutie hsh. This crea-
ture IN armed on its head with = sharp
pointed. curved black horn resembling
. birds beak, much like that OF par
rot, only the lower mandible il &he
larger. This In 'found-as 1t IL too In
destructible to be digested- in many
specimens of ambergr:s, ond may often
times aid in establishing oeated dis
ease. It may be considered though to
be but the primary cause of irritation,
a. much of the finest ambergris is en-
tirely free from the tough little
horns. Such is the effect in the
whale of the magnifed-and tremend-
ously magnified- illness which. when
established in our own comparatively
puny organism, causes an instant ana
fatal collapse unless quickly and he
roically attacked by the skill of the sur
geon. The habits Of the great water
mammals, however, tend top'olong life,
and their resisting power against this
insidious destroyer is eloquent OF their
tenacious hold on existence
To the conser vntive whale fisher OF
New Bedford or Provincetown. the dis
covery of ambergris is as unexpected
and as longed- for as the sheeny splendor
OF the pearl that gladdens the pearl
fisher. Almost awe-stricken are the
sxilors when the cry of "amberEris In
uttered. This il the happy event OF ,
lifetime. The substance IN carefully
taken from the bowels of the whale and
In packed in casks. if it is in liquid form,
or in sacks, if it is dry enough.
It il then brought direct to Boston.
where it is appraised by The head OF the
largest wholesale drug firm N the city.
This young man has nc en-iable task
before him in ascertaining the value OF
the article. He has to examine the fetid
mass. which - sometimes OF rank
LIQUID state, sometimes Of The consis-
tency Of soft putty, and again. chalk
like substance. That which Is more like
putty usually is to be relied on for max
ing the best market ambcrgris. and
gradually, as It dries. the only curing
process it 'undergoes, the unwholoeome
dark shade gradually turns to . soft
squirrel gray. The substance lightens
in weight and the fascinating odor de-
velops an. odor almost indescribable,
like the blending Of new-mown hay,
the damp woody fragrance OF fern
copse, and the faintcst possible per-
fume of the violet.
And to what rse IL ambergrh put :
Il 10 an indispensable article with hne
perfumers, as it il used to give Per-
manency and lasting qualities to very
heetinr scents. It Is q curious fact
that the keynote or basis OF nose
eays" or bouquets" a. handkerchief
odors are called, is not, ~ enc might
suppose, the altar OF garden howers'
nsither the penetrating balsams.
These are indispensable. but are not the
groundwork. That basis II always oa'e
OF the four animal odors, l.. C.. amber
eris musk, obtained from small musk
deer OF Asia; civet, from the civet cat
OF India, and castor. q secretion OF the
castor beaver, and now almost obsolete
in the perfume trade. The pure and
senarate tincture OF any one Of these
odors II too intense and powerful 70
be tolerated. Like all substances OF
these kinds, it must undergo . slow
decomposition. till the remainders pos
sess very little volatility. Even then
thev contain . virtue which ciings per
tinaciously to woven fabrics aud not
beiux soluble in weak alksasne lyes IL
still to be detected IN the material. after
passing through the severest lavatory
ordeal. They are, Therefore. OF great
value to the perfumer, and are the e.
sential foundation In almost every
formula.
Az ambergris II the most costly o.
the animal perfumes, the bouquets con-
tanning it are Of the most expensive
kinda. It ID used more in France than
IN this country, eivet being extensively
used Tor = retainer IN Aneriean-naAde
perfumes, Most Of the ambergris y
shipped, therefore, to France. where
e nnslssa ready dssnsad-- --st- Louis
Glohe-Demoerak a 9s
III one ouly wished to Be happy. this
eeald be easily Accouplish@ds bnt we
wish to be happier than other pespse'
and this is always difficult. tor - %
lieve dkheys to b hhppieg than fhey ~
~r.-A " aus.~&S @S.~Nnt~ - = ~+* ~~ ~ksS