The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-21

In history NJ we'll as In fiction, the
pearl has probably played more ro-
mantle parts than any other variety |
OF gem--perhaps than all other gems |
added together. 1t has been loved, |
caressed. trodden under foot. and !
spurned. Both men and women have !
sacrificed their lives, their honor and ,
their virtue for the attainment OF
single pearls, more often for ropes or
chain OF pearls.
On the other hand history relatee
that pearls have been cast away BY,
tho handful as worthless encum-
! brances. as the following incident
shows.
| When the army Of Galerius sacked
i the camp of the routed Persians a
/ bag Of shining leather filled with
| pearls fell into the hands Of priv
! ate soldier. but the latter. while care
! fully preserving the bag. threw away
! its contents under the impression that
anything that could not be used for
useful purposes had no other value!
/ in less scientific days than the pres
cnt. these gems OF the ea'' afforded
much food for speculation AZ to their
nature, origin. and significance. n
faeerite legendary belief was that
they were crystaiized drops of dew
or rain, mode OF origin with more
poetry In it then the more correct
and generally accepted theory that
the pearl IL the product Of disease,
and can be produced more or less Mt
| will by artificial damage inflicted on
the living substance of the young
oyster. But in spite OF their some
what morbid origin, there is plenty
of pleasure to be derived from the
possession or the contemplation of
these most beautiful of all games.
And. as have already said, the paths
OF history are strewn with refer
ence to the part which the pearl has
played in the affairs of man and OF
woman.
We read Of pearls-oyster pearls,
as they are called-in Chinese rec
ords dating back nearly 5000 years.
and Persian history and Persian
poetry abounds In mention Of the
pearl as "A symbol OF purity. and this,
association OF ideas has persisted UNI
til the preent day. But II is "A Curl
GUS fact that though We have read so
much about famous pearls when
have played great parts in history,
there Is hardly an authentic instance
Of any pearl being still In exfstences
which has any antiquity of It's own
or made history OF any Importance.
I This Is partly due to the fact That
valuable pearls were nearly always
stolen in the brave days or yore. ana
| their unldwfuls had good reason Tor
/ concealing their historical identity
Pearls seem to gather to tn .mseives
the vitality, the life, the electricity.
and the brilliance of those who make
! friends of them and wear them con.
stautiy on their person III tbs Ell
searching light of day anu sun. IL
| I, difficult to guess what has become
OF a,l these pearls which were usei
by the ancEef1fa for the. ornamental
I tton Of their temples. or for the glori-
! flcation Of their braZen images. What
has happened to those thousands 0.
reart~ which lay resple In 7he
aw,rthilts OF ancient Persian war;
riors?
| or late years the modern jeweler
| has realized in his wisdom that there
| are certain periods In history where
! In beauty Of workmanship and design
/ has left its eternal mark on It's con-
/, iemporaneous productions. and never
| in respect Of dress. jewel-work or
furniture, can French taste OF the
sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries be equaled. 1t is, perhaps.
the Louis XVI. design that lends IT.
self more admirably than that Of any
other period to the daintily simple
| setting OF pearls and diamonds that
In In vogue today. Tho beautiful
bow pattern Of lightest construction
appears especially designed for dia-
monds and pearls. What can be
more effective than the simple pen
dant which consists Of two pearls sus- /
pended on the slightest OF platinum /
chains, or single diamond treated In |
the me way and used as earrings? |
The latter. along with many another !
quaint conceit Of bysone days. are !
.eyived for tho edification OF those |
who possess the necessary elegance pf |
ear 10 wear them. Amidst be- /
wtidering display Of precious stones
meant firmly to abstain from men |
| tioning any other rival to the gems /
which 1.-The dark. unfathomed waves
OF ocean bear" for the story OF an
cisnt Oriental and ba.baric splendor
10 fully represented in the history
! OF the peari-the jeweler Of today /
Ia an artist; lei us hope that the !
woman who is lucky enough to oh !
I tain their exquisite ornaments and
/, designs may possess that innate jude-
/ ment which Ia SO essential for the /
/ wearing" Of the same. Jewels want
| dainty framing. and should be worn
| with discretion. lest the laws II af- I
! fniiy be outraged. Above all should
( woman ayoid the iamentablc fancy
I for niling on ma sses OF miscellaneous +
and comparatively yslueless trjnkets.4
t.. company with really good jewellery
] The successful mixing Of gems Is
only given 10 the few. and the de- /
itkh,.ul conceal Of matching gowns
and Jewels 10 ADVANTAGE. although
tn, ambition OF many. n eycI14ivei.-
the property a. g~uius,
~ III Il ~