68 THE HALL OF SHELLS. 



used in decorating her statue in the Parthe- 

 non. 



" Nevertheless the dissolving and drinking 

 of such a costly draught would scarcely have 

 surpassed the extravagancies indulged in by 

 the ancient nations of wealth. Fabulous sums 

 were paid for pearls, and they were used with 

 greatest prodigality. Whole crowns were made 

 of them ; idols and images were studded and 

 encrusted with them ; and they were wrought 

 into the most delicate and beautiful of fabrics. 

 The earliest records concerning the use of 

 gems among the ancient Babylonians, Egyp- 

 tians, and Persians show that pearls were re- 

 garded as among the richest gifts of Nature. 

 By the Romans the mania for their possession 

 was even greater. 



" Mithradates, the formidable opponent of 

 the Romans, as you were reading this morning, 

 was also not only a lover of wars, but a con- 

 siderable lover of the arts as well. When he 

 was conquered by Pompey and his magnificent 

 collection, of gems was taken, quantities of 

 pearls were found, some of them wrought into 

 most exquisite and elaborate designs. Among 

 them was a portrait of the Idug himself cun- 

 ningly fashioned entirely of pearls in mosaic. 



"The settings of your ring. Undine," said 



