The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-04

 ran with it to the office of the com- pany and gave it to Mir. Cullinan. It was weighed and pulled the beam at 3,025 carats. MT. Cullinan told me that they sent the diamond to Europe through the mails. It was sent reg istered and arrived safely. Just a month or so after I left Pretoria, General Botha induced the Transvaal government to buy the jewel and give it to Edward VII. who was then on the throne in token of the loyalty of the South African people.
 The next thing in order was the cutting of the huge stone. This was done here at Amsterdam by the firm of I. J. Asscher & Co.,, who have, per- haps, the largest and best known diamond factory of the world. They received the crystal in 1908 and it was on February 10 of that year that it was split into two large and sew eral smaller stones The process of polishing the largest stone was be- gun the next month. and from then the work went steadily on, the sev- eral pieces being ground and polished and sawed into the shapes they now hold in the crown of old England.
 In Great Diamond Factory Through letters of introduction from the United States consul at Amsterdam, MT. Frank w Mahin, I have been able to meet MT. Joseph Asscher, the man who split the Culli- nan diamond and cut and polished the gems which came from it. The work was all done in the famous Asscher factory. The splitting was performed by Joseph Asscher him. self. It was with brother of Joseph Asscher that l went through the es- tablishment today and saw scores of experts at work transforming rough stones into gems for the market. Be- fore starting l was shown a model of the Cullinan diamond as it came from South Africa. The stone was as big as the fist of Chief Justice Taft. or about the size of large dinner gob- let. It was of the color of frosted glass, and had rather greasy, ap- pearance; but MT. Asscher said that one could see the fire shining out through the rough surface. He says the model is fair representation of the diamond when found.
 Saving Diamonds Like Wood
 It seems strange to think of saw ing and splitting diamonds like so much stove wood. But that is what they really do here in this, .sscher factory. At least they saw and split the rough stones, which all agree are the hardest things known to man l watched the whole process today from the making of the saws and axes to cutting diamonds The saw is circular in shape. It is a disk as thick as playing card and about four inches in diameter. The metal is phosphorbronze and looks just like copper. This thin saw is fastened between two round metal plates beyond which the disk extends perhaps one-fourth of an inch all around. There is hole in the center of the saw and when put on the wheel it flies around at the rate of over three thousand revolu- tions minute and more than fifty times in a watch tick.
 But only a diamond will cut a diamond, It is the prince of gems. and can be cut only by a member of it's own royal family. One must have diamond saw to cut a dia. mond, and the bronze disc must have diamond edge before it can cut This is put on by dipping 1t into diamond dust mixed with oil. The diamond to be sawed embedded in wax on the end of a stick as thick as broom handle is then pushed | against the revolving cutting edge until the saw gradually works it's way through. This may take hours, or even several days, depending on the size of the stone | saw the saws working. They went so fast that I could see no motion what ever, and was tempted to touch one to see if it was actually moving. MT. Asscher warned me, however, that if carried out the inclination it would result in, the loss my finger.
 Always Split With the Grain
 It surprises me to learn that dia- monds are like wood in that the grain runs but one way, and that the saving is done across the grain and the splitting is done with the grain. Any boy who has had to split kindlng for the family fire knows what splitting with the grain means Diamonds. as they come from the mine, are more or less irregular in shape. They often have flaws, and must be divided into two or more parts to make the beautiful. regu- larly shaped gems sold by the trade. It is. necessary first to study the diamonds, to see how each can be cut to the greatest advantage. The stone must be divided at the flaws so that they may be cut out. After shaped and polished. It may be "a gain sawed or cleft. The artist who studies the stone draws the dividing