THE MUSEUM.- 



73 



may yield a "gem" of price. A few 

 years ago an expert purchased for $20 

 an old gold brooch in a small German 

 town. In the centre was what looked 

 like a spherical piece of hematite. On 

 examination it proved to be a superb 

 black pearl, weighing seventy-seven 

 grains. The outer coat had become 

 faded by sunlight, but when it was re- 

 moved one of the most beautiful black 

 pearls known in modern times was ex- 

 posed. It is valued at $10,000. 

 "Faking" is practised to a consider- 

 able extent by the Chinese, who use 

 for the purpose a keen-edged knife, 

 files, some pearl powder, a scrap of 

 leather and, for the final polishing, a 

 leaf of a peculiar kind. Pearls are 

 dyed rose color or lilac or gray by 

 chemical means, and nitrate of silver 

 is employed to turn them black. On- 

 ly an expert can detect the cheat. 



The trouble with the fresh water 

 mussel fishery in the United States to- 

 day is that the mollusks have been 

 recklessly exterminated. Nobody has 

 thought of inspecting the bivalves af- 

 ter the method practised in Saxony, 

 returning the barren ones to the wa- 

 ter. Thus hundreds have been des- 

 troyed for every pearl found, and now 

 the species is getting quite scarce. In 

 1846 a very large pearl was found in a 

 brook near Notchbrook, N. J., and 

 sold to the French Empress Eugenie 

 for $2,500. Advertisement of the dis- 

 covery created a great excitement, 

 and for a while the remaining beds of 

 unios were recklessly attacked without 

 any very profitable result. Sugar 

 River, Wis., has3ieldeda number of 

 fine pearls recently, hovyever, and 

 some of fair s\zi have been obtained 

 from Fish Creek. Lewis County, N. 

 Y. Unio pearls are rarely spherical 

 or pear-shaped; they are most apt to 

 have the form of buttons and, while 

 usually pink, they are sometimes light 

 blue and occasionally white. 



The Taxidermist. 



From other men he staniis apart. 



\Vra|)peil ill the solitude of thought 



Where giil<l.v fancy enters not; 

 With .star-like purpose pressing on 

 Where Ag-assiz and Audubon 

 Labored, and sped that noble art 



Yet in its pristine dawn. 



Soiiielhing to conquer, to achieve. 



Makes life worth well the struggle hard 

 Its petty ills to disregard, 



Hindrance to battle day by day, 



With high incentive— that he may 



Somehow mankind the richer leave. 

 When he has passed away. 



Forest and field he treads alque, 

 Finding companionship in birds. 

 In reptiles, rodents, yea, in herds 



Of drowsy cattle, fat and sleek; 



For such to him a language speak 



To common multitudes unknown 

 As tones of classic Greek. 



Unthinking creatures, and untaught. 

 They to his nature answer back 

 Something his fellow-comrades lack. 



And oft educe from him a sigh 



That they unnoticed soon shall die, 



Leaving of their existence naught 

 To be remembered by. 



Man may aspire— though in the slough, 

 May dream of glory, strive for fame, 

 Thirst for the prestige of a name; 



And shall these friends that so invite 



The study of the erudite, 



Ever ;is he beholds them now 

 Perish like sparks of light? 



Ah, no! his project and design 



Wouhl keep them not like mummies old, 



Papyi'ii-*— mantled fold on fold. 

 But eli'pliaiit, or dove, or fawn 

 Its freshni'ss. hue. and raiment on. 

 In elligy of i)lumage tine 



Or skin its native tawu. 



'What God hath wrought," thus art shall tell. 

 And thus endowment rich and vast 

 Be rescuril from the burieii past; 



And r:ire rclicnies that never fade 



Be thus in manikin portray«d, 



'fill Taxiileimy witness well 

 The debt to science paid. 



Lo! one appear«th unforetold 



A re creator! yea of men 



Making liiiu fin-l as born agaiu, 

 VVhoUioketli up with reverent eyes 

 Through wonders that his sold surprise, 

 The great Creator to behold, 



All-powerful,— all-wise. 

 —Hattie Howard in Vniversily of Chicago' 

 Weekly. 



