Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-28
ARKANSAS PEARLS.
Frauds Tried on the Buyer of the Pro
ciouS Stones,

From the Arkansas Gazette
people, both fishers and buyers. have
learned a heap about pearls they didnt
know when the pearls were first found IN
ARKANSAS. said Oscar Belknap now of ST
Louis. formerly of this state. TT took
Doth sides some time to find out a good
many things. and they found out by that
best of teachers. experience 1 had mine.
l burned my fingers right smartIy a time Or
two. and although l did not keen away
from the fire. I approached it with more
caution afterward
In the early days there were pearla-s
who got fine prices for almost worthless
pearls. and again they got mighty little for
pearls of great price. SO, on the other
hand. many Of the buyers bought haphaz-
ard. and some lost their money and Others
made good. They tell of a pearl which was
originally bought for $50 was sold for S2H
by the first buyer. who thought he had
done well. but which afterward sold for
5000 in New York.
"On the other hand. l know of a pearl
which. bought for So. was sold for $50.
taken to New York. and after being peeled
proved TO be almost II not quite worthless.
That pearl was beauty In color large
and would have been round but for a lump.
In that kind of pearls chance Is taken
by the buyer. A pearl cannot be cut; 1t is
peeled like an onion. Take a pearl like the
oiiS ueSciioeu' anu tEe lump may d1Sap-
pear in the peeling If it does. leaving u
perfectly round pearl. it Is valuable. IT, as
happens more often than not the lump
runs almost to the heart of the pearl and
does not diminish proportionately, the pearl
IS worth little more than a slug
Slugs, as they are called are irregular
In shape-jewelers call them barogue pearls
are often sold for a mere nothing but
among them a teweler may find an Odd
piece or such shape when mounted
makes beautiful and quaint setting for
the brooch or scarf pin. Such a piece may
form the wings or tail feathers Of dove.
the oeak OF an eagle. and when the artistic
touch of the ieweler Is added a very pretty
ornament results from a piece of pearl that
was valueless
Some pretty smart chaps got In their
work before the buyers got wise. 1 bought
the hinge OF a shell for n pearl once 1t
was nicely pared down. and I thought lad
good thing-till l found out differently
Many a man has bought carefully trimmed
buttons and beads for pearls and IL you
knew the man you bought the stuff from
and tried to get back. he could calmly tell
you he found It on the river bank or
bought 1t from fisher. and that person.
ally. he knew nothing about its value.
Even now buyers get bitten sometimes
don't mean by fraud. but on their judg-
ment Luster. color. shape and weight
all go to determine the commercial value
OF pearl. and very many buyers have not
the experience necessary to accurately
judge all these qualities. so that they give
more for pearls than they ever get back.
Individual buyerS-that is. people who take
a fancy to pearl and buy 1t to keep. hav-
ing II mounted to suit their ideas. often pay
much more for a pearl than they could buy
IL from a jeweler for. In this way, too.
pearl buyers often realize a profit by sell
ing at private sale. where they would have
loss If they sold to the trade