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has not mounted some fine examples of the former, if merely as an experiment perhaps it 

 would be considered too common ; but what can be too common which is of so great and such 

 simple beauty? 



It appears to me that some portions of the delicate pink parts of the shell of the large 

 strombus might be used also in a similar manner the colour much resembling pink coral 

 perhaps it may be. So far as I know, no one has yet been able to make any artificial substance 

 which will produce the play of colour of the opal, or even of mother-of-pearl, in consequence 

 there could be no doubt of ornaments made of either substance being genuine. This much 

 cannot be said of diamonds, emeralds, and some other valuable stones, which are copied so 

 exactly as often to have to be tested by artificial means to prove their reality. Even pearls 

 are so easily and so well copied it is sometimes difficult to know the difference between the 

 real one and the substitute, excepting that the real pearls often seem to be of rather irregular 

 shape. Notwithstanding the facinating lovliness of a fine opal why was the substance of which 

 it was composed, like some form of metals, apparently in a fused state merely used to fill up 

 the crevices in the rocks ? Perhaps purposely for its hidden beauty to be discovered by man, and 

 to be held in estimation by him when found, to encourage him in his searches after Nature's 

 treasures. 



I can imagine a lovely necklace, made of choice pieces of flat mother-of-pearl, and fit to adorn 

 the neck of the fairest of gentlewomen, if cunningly and artistically devised by a skilful 

 hand : the very shape of the shell seems as if made for the purpose, and, the material not 

 being very costly, it might be cut to waste, which is not the case with more expensive substances. 



