The Washington herald., 1909-06-13
By RUpoLPH DE zAPP.

Not even excepting the diamond. Is
there a jewel SO spoken OF IN history.
sacred or profane. 90 treated Of IN history
tutelary gem for June. and denotes pur-
ity. IN sacred writs We have frequent
mention OF the pearl. and many OF the
ancient writer's speak in glowing terms
Of its beauty. Next indeed, to the dia-
mand. the pearl IS known most familiar
" 10 the eye and ear. and has invari-
ably held high rank IN the estimation Of
all. particularly with the brunette. who
viii always look upon the pearl as the
natural ornament Of her style It has
always been the type OF purity. and the
word has from time immemorial been
used 70 illustrate whatever was pure and
beautiful
As Ear back as We have history for any
gems. we have pleasant record OF pearls.
They are frequently mentioned in the
Roman period. more especially IN connec-
ton with rings Pliny asserted that the
oysters rise TO the surface in the night
to feed upon the dews Of heaven. which
the suns rays upon the water nourish
into pearls. At this day. In the far East.
the belief exists that these gems are the
drops Of rain which. as they fall into
the sea. become pearls. and in that state
are swallowed by the oyster For long
time it was supposed the mother-of-
pearl was the only pearl-bearing oyster,
but it has been shown that pearls have
been found in almost every species Of
oyster known in our waters The older
the oyster the larger the pearl. The
pearl fishers do not look for nor expect
them from the smooth-shelled oyster: the
more aged and distorted the shell. the
greater the probability OF pearls At one
time 1t was believed that the pearl pro-
ceeded from some outward wound on the
shell of the oyster. but a series Of ex-
periments proved unsuccessful
Many extraordinary trials have been
made with the pearl-bearing oyster by
the Chinese and japanese. and they have
succeeded IN forcing the oyster to pro-
duce pearls Of an inferior quality China
was the first 70 bring the ingenuity OF
her people into play and grow artificial
pearls. the first Of this work being done
more than two centuries ago. In all these
years almost the same methods as used
az first have been followed, and some Of
the pearls thus grown are almost perfect.
causing customs appraisers no end Of
trouble in determining the good from the
bogus.
Both the Chinese and japanese make a
bead closely resembling the real article
from a mixture Of ground glass or spar
varnish. or something turned or cut from
mother Of pearl. These are placed on a
string. and after the oyster is removed
from the bed the string OF beads iss placed
within the shell by prying the mouth OF
the bivalve open gently. After the mouth
closes the oyster is placed back IN the
water. where It is left undisturbed four
or FIVE years. when Il is taken out, and
the beads are found heavily coated with
the peariy substance.
There are two towns In China. IN the
northern part Of the province of Chlh-
Ki-Ang, where there are large pearl
manufactures, more than 100, 900 oysters
being forced 20 produce pearls annually.
The work OF "doctortng'' or planting
the oysters is done IN May or June, at
which season II is said the mouth Of the
oyster opens more readily than az any
other time. Skilled operators are re-
qulred and large wages paid The ripe"
oysters are gathered IN January and Feb
ruary and the pearls taken out.