Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-16

! is used in making varnish. It seems

is used in making varnish. L seems
probable that all Jhe genuine amber
is directly or indirectly of European
origin; that there has been trade be-
tween east and west in all ages is
known from the finding of Chinese
Jade in the European tombs of the
Stone Age, and certainly in modern
times the Portuguese and Dutch have
traded amber for the products of
China and the Indies. The chief de-
posits of amber are on the shores of
the Baltic near konigsberg, the only
place in the world where the collect
ing and mining of the precious fossil
is an organized industry. From these
shores the Greeks and Romans OBJ
tanned their chief supply, and here it
is today worked into pipe mouth
pieces, or-most unworthy use of all
ground up to serve as a basis for var
nish. Another use of the powdered
amber is in Oriental temples, where
it is burned by Mohammedans and by
Buddhists as an incense.
1t is as a gem, however, that amber
is most attractive: and here the pale
yellow product of the north is sur
passed by the many-hued nuggets
fNN'-1NNN
which the streams and shores of Sicily
WELD Not only does yellow deepen
into orange and orange into dark
rust-red-it even occurs in greens and
mellow blues and is rendered more
lovely by the flourescence of its sur
face. causing shifting play of colors
with every change of light such
treasures. however. are rare, ana
DnGn0l4llX
with diamonds in value. The surface
of cut amber dries and darKens VIII
age. adding variety to the hues CD
ta:nable A wide variety OF opJec'9
has been found embedded IN afilpei.
and much interesting khowiease VI
oarlv insect-life has been optaineu NY
BIOLOGISTS from the specimens lnu'
immortaliZed--a farm OF lihiiioi la,'s
which has also provided favoflte hs
nra for the poetss Finally 1t may DC
noted as not the least interesting con-
tri,,tion of amber TO the world, thae
electrical phenomena were hrst op-
.or,,oa NV tic means, so that the very
word electricity which plays sucn :"
vast and increasing part IN our eiNi,'
cation. is derived from elektron' 'ne
Greek name for amber.
number of European museums
contain more or less notable coi,e.
t;nns of amber as it has been usea II,
tho manufacture of jewelry, ana siliai'
articles such as chess-men, cruciiAes'
rosaries and the like. ChieI OIL 'ne'o
;c tho collection in Dresden, oeneis d
- Mpnich. Cassel and Berlin, Niehi,"'
Florence, Naples and Paiernio'
! .o,;vre and the Mrsee Cluny IN "a
i and the British Museum. presuen'
however. is said to be. the ohiy oiia
which in size and quality SURPRISES
the Ruffum collection, now IN our wv Nv.
mnsenm of Fine Arts. This reilial
able assemhlage of jewel cashe',' 40
,ionaries. statuettes, caiueie
chess boards, drinking-cups anu 80.
objects dart was only mace os 81
Ell and devoted search on the pal.
the amateur, and one VINO uoss o,,
rae,iza the comparative rarity OF SUI -,
n;acos cannot appreciate how reiaa'
ah,o the little collection is for SIZE 49,. .,a
wau as quality. The study leu - ..The
nanction of volume entitieu
Fears of the Heliades; or. Ai'iue, dred
can,n which gathers into a hunoiee
as,ightful pages all that nis'oi ,' ne
s'aats and scientists can tell US y, ),
an;,in and use of "clotted suhsii''S'
-Boston Transcript.