DIAMONDS AND DIAMOND CUTTING. 201 



the nature of the gems they seek. They do not 

 know that a diamond, like a horse or an oil painting, 

 is sold for its excellence or beauty. If a diamond is 

 " off color;" or even has slight flaws, they do not 

 detect the faults. If diamonds are sought, it is im- 

 portant that they should be purchased of honest 

 parties, and those who by experience are fully ac- 

 quainted with their character and value. 



It is certainly singular, that with the immensely 

 increased production the gems continue to increase 

 in price from year to year. The recent convulsions 

 in Europe, and our late civil war, in which thou- 

 sands of diamond owners were reduced to penury, 

 did not result, as one would suppose, in throwing 

 upon the market large quantities of diamonds. It 

 is probable a few changed hands, but not enough to 

 influence the price in the slightest degree. Large 

 numbers of the diamonds which have been dug from 

 the earth in the last two thousand years have been 

 hoarded, and are not often brought to the light. 

 They are left to dazzle unseen, in caskets and steel 

 safes, where they are almost forgotten. A dia- 

 mond worth 30,000, or 1150,000, has recently 

 been found in the African mines, and several others 

 of a size and brilliancy which render them nearly 

 as valuable are reported. It is highly probable that 

 diamonds in considerable quantities will be found in 

 the United States at no distant day. In the moun- 



