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ity only 2.9. In hardness the nephritoids run from 6.5 to 7.5, specific gravity from 2.9 to 3.18, lustre vitreous. Californite, a compact massive variety of Vesuvianite, of various shades of green, is much like jade in hardness (6.5), composition and appearance, and can be used much the same way. The Bishop collection of jade at the Metropolitan Art Museum is known the world over. Mr. Heber R. Bishop was engaged in mercantile pursuits, principally sugar-refining in Cuba. During the revolution of 1873, he foresaw endless trouble, and closed out his business for far less than its value. He returned to New York, never- theless, with a considerable fortune, and settled down at Irvingtonon-Hudson, dying December 10, 1902. Not only did he present the Museum with his remarkable collection of jade, the result of a lifetime of search, together with a book describing it worth itself $100, published privately and given away to various public institutions in limited quantities, but he gave the Museum $55,000, to cover the cost of finishing the Bishop room as he desired. It is the finest Louis Quinze room to be seen anywhere, foreign artists pronouncing it the most magnificent in existence, excepting those in the palace at Potsdam and Versailles. Moreover it is a reproduction of the donor's own ball-room. 82
SPHENE. Sphene, or titanite, is a mineral from the ore of the metal titanium. The gem, generally a yellowish-brown mineral, the dark more valued than the light, is found in wedge-shaped crystals, whence its name from the Greek sphen. It occurs in Switzerland, sometimes Brazil, infrequently in Vermont and New Hampshire, in long needles enclosed in masses of transparent quartz. The sphene is soft, only 5 to 5.5, lustre adamantine to resinous, and cuts with difficulty, but a successful brilliant is so unique and scarce that even if very small it commands a good price, say $50 a karat. It is the fine rare flower, blooming at long intervals, of a common ore, which in one form, rutile, resembles coal, and when cut suggests the black diamond. Titanic ore is fairly plentiful in mass, but seldom gives birth to a crystal of gem quality. Intensely dichroic, the sphene's coloring is peculiarly mixed, red or green flashing with diamond-like quickness and brilliance from the yellow-brown body. While not really like any other stone, it yet slightly suggests the brown diamond. The body of the sphene is less brilliant, but the scintillating colors are more rich and rare. Yet its softness, notwithstanding its lustre, which resembles that of the green garnet, forbids hard usage.
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GEMS - BY- Helen Bartlett Bridgman
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To Zona Gale Lover of Gems in Earth
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since it never can be wrested from
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tion of the three species of Hyacin
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CARVED GEMS. For nearly three thous
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He must be able not only to judge t
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they plainly represent the owner's
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special significance and power. Kin
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He putteth his hand upon the rock;
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The following are all the voice of
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FAMOUS JEWELS. The finding of the C
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and the Great Mogul are identical,
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in gems Mrs. Edward B. McLean of Wa
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of Russia. Besides these diamonds t
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But for these invaders of the deser
Page 38 and 39: appears. As Cattelle : says "Gem co
Page 40 and 41: white diamond results from further
Page 42 and 43: lacking in reserve power. One of th
Page 44 and 45: negative little woman it is not in
Page 46 and 47: takes a hand here, too, in the boug
Page 48 and 49: SAPPHIRE. Hyacinthus was the ancien
Page 50 and 51: ing five karats in weight are excee
Page 52 and 53: cave, and thus Nero may have discov
Page 54 and 55: CHRYSOBERYL. Chrysoberyl, though ha
Page 56 and 57: every year. Moreover, it is the onl
Page 58 and 59: that again a fourth, with the commo
Page 60 and 61: fainter tinge of blue which was the
Page 62 and 63: OPAL. No wonder that in the absence
Page 64 and 65: cold has a repressive eftect. Alway
Page 66 and 67: TOPAZ. Attention was first called t
Page 68 and 69: a crucible, with powdered charcoal,
Page 70 and 71: at Mt. Mica, bringing in during the
Page 72 and 73: cients, in a crude way, what fine i
Page 74 and 75: GARNET. The garnet has been known f
Page 76 and 77: instead of merely tapped by the ent
Page 78 and 79: HYACINTH. Three various kinds the s
Page 80 and 81: for January, but it is not without
Page 82 and 83: practice obtains even to the presen
Page 84 and 85: SPODUMENE. Spodumene or triphane, b
Page 86 and 87: JADE. The word jade is magical in i
Page 90 and 91: TURQUOISE. The turquoise is exquisi
Page 92 and 93: est color by a surface application
Page 94 and 95: The agate is the birthstone for Jun
Page 96 and 97: LAPIS LAZULI. Lapis lazuli is a mag
Page 98 and 99: PEARL, CORAL, AMBER, JET. The above
Page 100 and 101: AMBER. Amber, prized less as an orn
Page 102 and 103: jeweler and traveler Tavernier, in
Page 104 and 105: of the most exquisite ornaments in
Page 106 and 107: white satin or black velvet; pearl
Page 108 and 109: atmosphere. Always in storage a dam
Page 110 and 111: ARTIFICIAL REPRODUCTION. The diamon
Page 112 and 113: Burmese gem, though the price of th
Page 114 and 115: METHODS OF TESTING STONES. Hardness
Page 116 and 117: Why did not somebody teach me the C
Page 118 and 119: Pole, while Polaris is practically
Page 120 and 121: I have seen the mysterious shores,
Page 122 and 123: You know how, in and for themselves
Page 131: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 39
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