The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-10
OVER 5000 ROCKS
Large Mineral Collection Owned
by ]. C. Cooper.
Nephew of Peter Cooper, First
Locomotive Builder.
MANY RARE ONES.
Are Found Among Specimens OF
Topeka Man.
"FOOls' Gold" and Romance OF
Columbus Days.

A Topeka man has probably the
largest mineral collection in Kansas
and one which will compare favorably
with any private collection in the
United States. 1t consists of over
5000 specimens. including some of the
rarest known. 1t was originally larger
but about 5000 specimens are now in
the Washburn museum.
The owner is ]. c. Cooper, formerly
tax collector for the Rock Island, now
retired. He is the nephew of Peter
Cooper, the builder of the first loco
motive in America. and founder of the
famous Cooper Institute in New York
City.
The mineralogist in his apart
ments in the Heinz flats. 216 East
Eighth avenue, has over fifty-eight
cabinet drawers, two cases and fifty
two boxes filled with specimens. Be
sides these, there are some minerals
too large to be kept in an ordinary
ored, twin calcite, about two and one
half feet high and one foot thick at
the base. From this, the calcites,
which are feature of the collection.
numbering about 400. range in size
down to tiny crystals. Among them
is a magnificent amethystine calcite of
rich golden yellow.
From Lincolnville, Marion county,
Kansas, come a number of curious
octhaedral speciments of iron ore or
neutrality-suspicious. morph after magne
tite-at least that's what the label
calls them. From Cove county are a
number of nodular iron pyrites. found
in a certain shale along the Republi-
can river. Brown county has sent a
quantity of beautiful red celestites.
And the colors of the other different
minerals-not to mention the glitter
ing precious stones, together with the
gold, silver and copper ores. all taste
fully arranged by Mr.. Cooper so as to
brin~ out contrasts the best. present
a sight long to be remembered. There
is the bright green of the malachite,
or copper carbonate, in striking and
pleasing contrast to the brilliant scar
let of the sphalerite or ruby zinc
zinc sulphide the Washburn chemist
would call it. Then, perhaps, in the
next shelf or drawer will be the dull
blue and gold CLEAN of iron pyrites
How the Don Was Done.
This substance is often called fools
gold" because often mistaken for gold
ore. A romance is connected with it
In the days of Columbus, Don De
Broke, or Don De Something, loved
the daughter of Spanish hidalgo
mandolins). But the hidalgo had
high falutin' notions as to what his
son-in-law must be. The lover was
poor, although as honest as dons go
$50 his heart was sore distressed" as
Bertha M. Clay might say
He sought his fortune in America
Here he was captured by the Indians
(Cymbal and drums, initiating bar.
barrie strains.) Then he flirted with
an Indianess-a princess, of course
named "Girl-Who- Chases- Boys G
w. G. B. became "smitten'' on the
captive and helped him escape after
telling him by signs and in fragment:
of the Spanish tongue which she HAD
picked up when no one was looking
of place where great quantities o.
yellow rock might be found. Thithel
the Spaniard made his way, leavins
the Indianess with her tribe. Aftel
series of hardships he returned r.