120 PEARLS [CH. 



Only this Christmas (1912 — 13) there appeared in 

 the press a story of the "dying" of pearls. Many 

 similar stories have appeared from time to time, all 

 more or less sentimental. As, however, pearls do 

 not live, they cannot die. Moreover, pearls well 

 treated practically do not change in appearance. As 

 a matter of fact, the gem is at its very best when 

 it is first abstracted from the shellfish in which it 

 has been formed. Pearls are sometimes stained 

 yellow by exudations from the skin, especially if 

 the latter is unhealthy. The same staining efiect is 

 produced by sulphurous or other polluted atmospheres. 



This change in colour, or lustre, may sentimentally 

 be described as " death," but the statement certainly 

 has no real meaning. There seems also to be a 

 strange lack of evidence supporting the common 

 belief that some individuals can restore the lustre 

 of pearls by wearing them. 



There are, of course, various methods of cleaning 

 pearls and restoring them, but perhaps it will be 

 advisable to refrain from giving them here. Good 

 pearls require careful handling and had better be 

 left in the care of specialists. 



This little book would be incomplete if no mention 

 were made of some of the famous pearls in the world's 

 history, and probably first in this respect must be 

 placed the gems worn by Cleopatra. 



Almost everyone has read or heard of the wager 



