SMITHSONITE. 



Smithsonite is a carbonate of zinc 

 mined extensively as an ore of that metal 

 and sometimes possessing sufficient trans- 

 lucency and beauty of color to make it 

 prized as an ornamental stone. This is 

 especially true of that obtained at Lau- 

 rium, Greece, the colors exhibited being 

 usually shades of blue and green and the 

 luster of a somewhat velvety character. 

 While the use of this is not extensive the 

 effects which it gives are often quite 

 pleasing. 



Smithsonite does not have sufficient 

 hardness to resist scratches, but it is 

 harder than alabaster or satin spar. An 

 interesting fact regarding the mines at 

 Laurmm is that they were worked by 

 the Romans. The smithsonite obtained 

 at various localities in our own country 

 is usually dull white in color and hence 

 of no value for ornamental purposes, but 

 a variety obtained near Joplin, Missouri, 

 is colored deep yellow by cadmium and 

 is quite ornamental. 



Oliver Cummings Farrington. 



AN OCTOBER SNOW SQUALL. 



With a whirl and a scud from the windy north 



Come the snowflakes thick and fast. 

 The air is alive with white, fluttering forms 



Borne on by the wintry blast. 

 And a whitish-gfay curtain whose warp and woof 



Are the mingled snowflakes small 

 Reaches down from the sky, and sways in the wind, 



Concealing and darkening all. 



Now more swiftly and wildly the snowflakes whirl, 



More fiercely the wind sweeps by ; 

 Snow-white is the roof of the cottager's house, 



Gray streaks on the brown fields lie. 

 But look ! The wind drives the thick curtain away. 



The white hills come into view ; 

 And the sky appears with its dun, ragged clouds, 



And its one bright spot of blue. 



— Mary M. Currier. 



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