CHAPTER III. 

 THE HISTORY OF THE PEARL. 



IN turning the pages of ancient, medieval and modern 

 history we find recorded the deeds of the people 

 of all nations, and always, even as far back as the 

 earliest dawn of civilization we can see the tender light 

 of the lustrous pearl shining softly and radiantly, from 

 the crowns of kings in nearly all lands. 



The glimmering, shimmering light of the wondrous 

 pearl has attracted and charmed the rulers and people of 

 all nations. Chinese, Japanese, Hindu, Egyptian, Ro- 

 man, Greek, Macedonian, Italian, Persia, Austrian, 

 German, French, English, Spanish, Australian, Polyne- 

 sian, African, Turk, Arab, Indian, American and many 

 others have been won by the subdued splendor of this 

 precious gem. 



About 350 B. C. a writer of Myteline, in the Island 

 of Lesbos, mentioned pearls that were found in the oys- 

 ters near the shores of Armenia, Persia, Susiana, and 

 Babylonia. This was just before Alexander the Great 

 crossed the Hellespont with his magnificent Macedonian 

 army and won his triumphant victories in Persia. Then 

 the store houses and treasures of Babylon and Susa were 

 opened to him. It is also recorded that pearls were 

 found in Egypt and, as that country had been under 



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