The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-05-02
VOGUE OF ssmtPREclous STONES.
Chrysopase and TOurmalines the FavOr-
ties Discovery of Indian Children.

Chrysopase and TOurmaIines tho FRvOr-
itos-Discovery of Indian Children.
Fashion in jewelry is tickle. It does
not depend upon the value Of the
jewel itself, because semi-precious
stones, whose value is not to be com
pared with that of the great standard
jewels, nave been and stin are re-
markably fashionable. The diamond,
ruby, sapphire, emerald and pearl
win never be deposed. They are not
dependent upon fashion. Pearls We're
quite as much in vogue that eventful
day Cleopatra dissolved one in vine
gar as they are today.
It is the semiprecious stones that
have to receive the approval of Dame
Fashion before they have any great
amount Of value. Just now chryso-
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 a 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 tle
American emerald, although it is
translucent and not transparent 1t
occurs in emerald and apple green,
and is capable of the highest polish.
Green is considered a 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
engravers art is called into requisi-
ton and the chrysophrase Is cut in the
shape of head or bust or often the
form of the Egyptian scarab. Either
| engraved or polished plain, the stones
are frequently used for lorgnatte
chains, for bracelets, fobs and the
tops of salts bottles and vinaigrettes.
Tourmaline is a sort of wizard
stone. 1t occurs in various colors,
red, blue, pink, yellow, green, brown,
ana 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 a
/ 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 a lapidary, whose
wheel is whirring all day long. cut
ting, engraving and polishing the
stones.
According to legend, about twenty
five years ago, a 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-ofice. One of them found new
"stone," a siX-sided, shiny "stone, :"
two or three inches long, and about
the diameter Of a lead pencil. When
the new stone was rubbed it was
found to be of a 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
Diego county. Many years elapsed
before the character Of the stones
became known. Now the land in
which they are found has been bought
up, and thousands of dollars worth
of crystals are shipped to New York
/ nVnrV month