The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-05-24
VOGUE CT sEMI-PREcIoUS STONES
Chrysopase and TOurmalines the Favor
ites-Discovery of Indian Children.
LNnn 1 Gill

Chrysopase and TOurmalines the Favor
ites-Disc"very of Indian Children.
Fashion in jewelry is tickle. 1t does
not depend upon the value OF the
jewel itself, because semiprecious
stones, whose value is not to be COM
pared with that of the great standard
jewels, nave been and still are re-
markably fashionable. The diamond,
| ruby, sapphire, emerald and pearl
will never be deposed. They are not
dependent upon fashion Pearls were
quite as much in vogue that eventful
day Cleopatra dissolved one in vine
gar as they are today.
1t is the semi-precious stones that
have to receive the approval of Dame
Fashion before they have any great
amount of value. Just now chryso-S
phrase and the tourmalines are in
high favor, and they appeal to mas
culine as well as feminine fancy.
The matrices of these stones are also
extremely popular since great vari-
ETY. is possible, and no two specimens
are anywhere near alike. Turquoise
has had its day, or is rapidly having
it. and this may be due to the. fact
that it is SO readily initiated or doc
tored." There is an enamel which
cannot be distinguished from genuine
turquoise save by those familiar with
semi-precious stones.
Chrysophrase has been called the
American emerald, although it Is
translucent and not transparent. It
occurs in emerald and apple green,
and is capable of the highest polish.
Green is considered very decorative
color; this may account for the use
of chrysophrase. The stone is used
in what is known as cabochon form;
that is, cut with rounded surface, with
out facets. In many instances the
engraver's art is called into requisi.
ton and the chrysophrase is cut in the
shape of a head or bust or often the
form of the Egyptian scarab. Either
engraved or polished plain, the stones
are frequently used for lorgnette
chains, for bracelets, fobs and the
tops of salts bottles and vinaigrettes.
stone 1t occurs in various IGolors,
red, blue, pink, yellow, green, fown,
and olive-green. This stone is cut
with facets as the diamond is cut, and
in its blue form may readily be con-
founded with the sapphire. Journal.
ines are also engraved or cut cabo-
chon style, and are remarkable for
their lustre and singularly fresh look.
There are some especially fine speci.
mems of tourmalines, cut and uncut,
in this city. In a small room Of
Nassau street Office building there Is
a staff of several persons engaged in
the examining and sorting Of the
stones. In front of a window at the |
rear of the room is lapidary, whose
wheel is whirring all day long. cut
ting, engraving and polishing the
stones.
According to legend, about twenty
five years ago, little party of In
dian children were playing in the dirt
near their camp several miles north
west of what is now Mesa Grande
Post-office. One of them found a new
stone six-sided, shiny "stone,"
two or three inches long, and about
the diameter of lead pencil. When |
the new stone was rubbed it was
found to be of remarkable transpar-
ent blue. It seemed to be an enor- |
nous sapphire; the children did not |
know what it was, but it was proba- |
bly, the first tourmaline found in San |
DieI county. Many years elapsed |
belize the character of the stones |
becs.me known. Now the land in |
which they are found has been bought |
up, and thousands of dollars worth |
of crystals are Skipped to New York
every month.