New-York tribune., 1899-07-14
STORIES OFFAMOUS PEARLS
FATE OF GEMS THAT ONCE BELONGED
TO CROWNED HEADS
THE QUEEN OF THESE JEWELS FOUND IN A
NEw-JERsEY MoLLUsK-DUCHEss OF MAHL-

THE QUEEN OF THESE JEWELS FOUND IN
NEw-yERsEY Mo1LusK-pUCHEss OF MARL-
BoRouGH's COSTLY NECKLACE.
Pearls are found IN both salt and fresh water.
and II Is said that they belt the earth. including
all OF the tropical portion and part OF tne temper
ate zones. It seems odd 10 the average New
Yorker. who scornfuly aludes TO the State across
the ferry as Jersey" that the great Queen Pearl
vas found in Paterson. y. j., in 1851 1t was sold
70 the Empress Eugenie OF France. and Is valued
to-day AT $4,000
Mr.. Kunz OF Tifany's. states In pamphlet on
pearls that the gem which would probably have
been the finest Of modern times was ruined by
the boiling Of the mousk which had 10 be done In
order to open the shell. Wisconsin. Arkansas.
Kansas. Tennessee Florida and Connecticut nave
produced pearls OF great value. II Is SAID that
the fresh water pearls more apt to be oeaut-
fully tinted than those found in the pearl oysters
Of the Pacific and Indian oceans Pearls are round
in nearly all the tints OF the rainbow, including
pink yellow brown. green. red rose color, steel
blue and cream. Their shapes are round, pear.
elongated and malletke
One OF the most interesting pearls recorded in
history was presented TO Louis XIV Of France by
Gianetino semeria Genoese. 1t weighed
hundred grains and came from the indies. It's
strangeness lay principally in Its form. IL was
perfect torso OF man from the neck to the knees.
Semeria had 1t mounted as warrior the head
and arms being made or hammered Boiu anu '"ShVu
10 the pearl by gold nails The casque and pIunes
were made OF gold set with diamonds Inc sash
and cloak were Of the same meta, enamelled in
blue with gold feur de lis sprinkled over H. Inc
legs and lance OF gold. the latter having
diamond solitaire shaped TO form the point
Trophies set with diamonds lay on the pedestal
An angel OF hammered god carried a trumpet IN
one hand and a big feur de lis In the otner. Ihe
pedestal was supported by four gold sphin&es.
Probably no pearl has ever had so remarKah!e
setting since.
Gems are said to be subject 10 diseases oone-
times these prove fatal. and the Jewe. dies some
gems lose color gradually. others crack without
any apparent cause Pearls are subject TO all
sorts OF reaction Handling will sometimes cause
them TO lose their ustre. The acid In the perspl-
ration OF the skin has been known 10 destroy then
The famous pearl necklace which the Emperor
OF Austria presented 10 the late Empress upon the
christening Of the Crown Prince Rudolph has been
left to the young Archduchess Elizabeth
Lady Londonderry. who Is considered one OF me
most beautiful women in England prefers pears
TO all other gems and seldom wears anything else
except diamonds. and these are almost always COM
bined with pearls. ,. l., ,1
The costlest string OF pearls In England Is said
10 belong to the Duchess OF Marlborough ~ was
a wedding gift from her mother. and was originally
among the crown jewels Of France The gems are
Of enormous size. and separated by Wneeis OF
diamonds The rope reaches from her throat 20
her waist