Year: 1876

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After the visitor to the Main Exhibi-
tion building has looked at the Ameri'
can departments let him 60 to the Aus
Hungarian section and look at
the beautiful display Of opals from the
government mines in Hungary-the only
mines in the world, by the way, where
really fine opals are found. The collec'
tion of these singular jewels in the Hun
garian section is unique and one OF the
most notable exhibits in the building.
Several cases are filed with specimens
of these precious stones, no two OF
which are alike. in all conditions, from
the stone in the rough to two exquisite
cameo likenesses of the emperor and
empress of Austria. These latter speei-
mems are really triumphs of art, as it
was formerly deemed impossible to en-
grave successfully upon as soft stone
as the opal. The likeness Of the en-
peror is cut upon a fine opal, set in q
bracelet and surrounded with opals,
rubies and brilliants, representing the
national colors of Hungary. The en-
press face is engraved upon similar
jewel, set in locket. In both heads
the lines are as clearly cut as in the fin
est canoes. They were accomplished
after the greatest care and patience by
one of the best artists in Austria, who
occupied over two years in his task. I
can well believe what was told by the
officials, that these two engraved opals
are the finest specimens Of their kind
in the world. The largest opal known
is contained in another case. It weighs
six hundred and two carats and is the
Koh-i-noor of opals, but, like the Kohl
moor, there are smaller gems that have
as much fire. There is also a gorgeous
collection of rough opals, unequaled in
any museum, in which the curious may
trace the formation of these wonderful
products of nature from their beginning,
up through their growth in crystal form
until the time when decay begins, Pc
Rod OF time covering myriads of years.
There are many other gems in this col
lection worth calling attention to; but
one must see this exhibit TO appreciate
it. It is becoming known as one of the
most interesting in the department.


The mines from which these jewels
come are in the Carpathian mountains,
in the most picturesque part OF Hun
gary, q region now $500 feet above
water level, but whose formation shows
it to have been thrown up from far be-
low the sea. The opal mines are from
six to eight miles in extent, and about
1000 feet deep at their greatest depth.
They are owned by the government and
have been workedfor five hundred years.
Their greatest yield has been within the
last thirty years or since they have been
under the direction of the family of
Libanka, Ludwig Ritter Goldschmidt
Won Libanka being at present in charge
of them.


The opal is q water product, but in
what manner and by what subtle alchemy
it's beautiful colors are developed is a
mystery that is one of natures secrets.
All that scientists can tell us is that the
water in which the opals form runs
through rocks holding gold, silver,
nickel, sulpher, iron, antimony, cinnabar
and other minerals. The getting out OF
he opals is performed by four hundred
men, laboring alternately day and night
under the superintendent Of Mr..
Iibanka. Like many other luxurious
and beautiful trinkets enjoyed by the
rich, the wearer little knows the patient
labor, the perils, the time and the re-
fined skill by the miner, the lapidary
and the engraver necessary to the
preparation of every single beautiful
stone before it is ready to be set by the
jeweler. Some curious things might be
written about the prejudice often enter
tanned against wearing opals by people
who ought to know better, but who be-
ieve in the superstition that they bring
i'll luck upon the wearer. This singular
notion is said to have originated in
Spain some twenty years ago and to have
eliminated in France under the last
Napoleon. It is a compliment to the
general intelligence of Americans to
know that it is not so often heard OF in
this country. This superstition, how
ever, must be dying out, as tho opal is
said to be the favorite jewel Of the Eng
lish court, Queen Victoria herself rarely
wearing other jewels in public. Eng
land is now the best market for the pro-
duct of the opal mines, next to which
arc Germany and Austria; and as the
demand is said to be increasing yearly,
while the supply is diminishing, the
mercantile value Of the jewels is on the