The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-04
Pearls Found in Oysters.

From the New Orleans Times-Democrat.
THE small white and black pellets
found in our ordinary oysters are not real
" pearls said a New Orleans jeweler,
land they have no value whatever. 1t is
the rarest thing in the world for true
pearl to be found in a shell from our
home reefs, and during the quarter CEN
fury l have been in business here 1 have
only known it to happen three or four
times Come to think about it, however"
the ieweler went on reminiscently, II
might add another instance, behind which
is a queer story A dozen or more years
ago~a good-natured but very excitable
old German had little oyster bar on the
other side of town, and among his Gus
toners was a young steamship agent
who was a most incorrigible practical
Joker. One day the steamship man was
putting away few choice bivalves at
the counter when he overheard a heated
argument between the proprietor and an
other patron as to the value of the So
called pearls occasionally discovered by
customers. The German, who had evil
IDENTIFY been posted on the subject by some
one who knew, insisted that none of the
muddy little globules were worth picking
up and finally succeeded in talking the
other fellow to a standstill. Meanwhile
the steamship man quietly pried a small
genuine pearl out of his scarfpin, dropped
it into the folds OF an oyster, and just
as the debate came TO an end, gave an
exclamation of surprise. why, here's
prize he said exhibiting the planted
gem to the others. This will pay my
checks here for quite a while Dots no
good said the proprietor scornfully; Ill
aindt worth a cent We'll, I'll bet you
bottle of wine that any jeweler in town
says it's worth at least slO,' retorted the
Joker The FISHERMAN took him up, and
they went to a nearby shop, where a gem
expert Immediately placed the pearl at
S1S L knew 1t was worth more than NO
said the humorist confidentially on the
way back, because / got SIS for the last
one found at your place, and It wasn't
quite so large The old man nearly faint
ed. for he had been in the habit OF throw
ina. away half a dozen or so pellets found
bv customers every day and left on the
counter; but after that he had an eagle
eve for all such discoveries. Whenever
he saw a man bite down on something
hard he was at his side in a twinkling
and he had many a row as 10 the lawful
ownership of the dingy globues. You
must think dot oyster was prize pack
age. eh?' he used to exclaim Indignantly,
and he put up a sign NO lagniappe behind
the counter One morning. after ne had
been collecting for about month, ne as
,oniehed me by coming into the store
with a ouinne bottle half full of the
mock pearls OF the kind have described
He wanted me to make him an offer, and
when ! suggested two bits ton he was
deeply offended. He made the rounds OF
every house in town and wound up firm
Nv persuaded that there was wholesale
conspiracy 10 get his pearls for nothing
The steamship man was grieved to think
the Joke had gone 80 far and tried 70 con-
Tess; but the old fellow wouldn't listen
4 think maybe you stand In NIT de jew
elry people, he said, and. upon my word
I believe the deluslon eventually drove
him out OF business. Az any rate, ne coon
shut 40 his little bar and j lost sight OF
him altogether. -Four or Ave years atter-
ward q young man dropped In and asked
me 10 price q dozen or 20 worthless oys-
Ter pearls. We Yell into conversation. and
he proved 10 be toe od Oysterman's son.
IIe said his father had recently died ana
a small bottle Of pearls vas found among
hs effects. lie had never l0st ialth ~
Ghelf value