THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
fitcrarir Histfllanii, 
MA.MIE GREY’S SAORIFIOE. 
BY M. U. C. 
Only a torn, soiled letter lying on the sand at 
her feet, a few faded water-stained lines, and yet 
as the sea breeze wafted It hither and thither, a 
gloomy sadness seemed to cloud that ralr young 
face. 
The whole landscape which, but a moment be¬ 
fore was lit wltli the resplendent glory of the de¬ 
parting rays or the sun, now appeared cold and 
grey to that lone watcher on the beach. 
A sorrow seemed pending over her, and for a 
little white in s:d thoughtfulness, she watched 
the fluttering p i per as If she could find some solu¬ 
tion of the strange mood that possessed her. 
Suddenly the breezes grew stronger, and the ne¬ 
glected scrap would liave been whirled away to 
And a resting place beneath the ocean’s waves, 
had not Mamie Gsey moved to rescue It from its 
Insecure resting place. Stretching out her hands, 
she raised the forsaken watt from tho sand, and 
shielding It from the pitiless wind, she glanced 
carelessly at It. A gleam of Interest awoke at 
the first glance; the penmanship was not familiar, 
but the words,—how strange I From t he broken, 
disjointed sentences, shegleanpd news of a mag¬ 
nificent bridal In the distant city of W-. The 
description was so vivid and glowing that In her 
eagerness to learn the names of the happy couple, 
she forgot the sad unrest that had brought a 
cloud to her brow but a moment before; but It 
was only for a brief space, and then she realized 
why slio had been so sad and lonesome all the 
long bright afternoon, 
Only one clause, one name, and yet It had power 
to drive every particle of Tcolor from the fair 
rounded cheek.—to seni a wild, frightened look 
into the sweet brown eyes, and to cause the ruby 
Ups to grow p ile and quiver with anguish. The 
whispering sea breezes little knew the sorrow 
they brought to Mamie’s loving heart, wheu they 
bore to her Wet this cruel bit of gossip; for It was 
news that would drain her life of all sweetness, 
and make the future a dreary burden. 
From the gossiping maiden’s letter, she learned 
of the marriage of one who was dearer to her 
than life Itself. Walter Grayson, the Idol of 
her summer's dream, was lost to her, and as she 
thought of all the long, long years to come du¬ 
ring which she must bear her sorrow alone. It 
cannot be wondered that she almost prayed for 
freedom from her suffering. One year before she 
was a merry-hearted maiden, living In her cot¬ 
tage home not far from where she now bemoaned 
her fate, with no thought of care, hut to-night, 
how sad the change I The glorious sunset, the 
glittering foam of the surf, all the beauties In na¬ 
ture were lost to her In contemplation of this one 
great sorrow of her life. She could not weep, so 
deep was her emotion; and, as she sat, there In 
mute anguish, gazing forth on the water, the ev¬ 
idence or the tumult raging within could be 
plainly traced on pallid brow and cheek. 
Oh, how short had been her dreams of happi¬ 
ness 1 II, was only in the early summer time, 
Walter Grayson first came to tho little country 
village for rest and a few months' Ashing. His 
fickle, unstable nature was soon attracted by the 
lovely grace and modesty which Mamie possessed; 
but no thought of more than merely relieving a 
fewer the tedious summer days ever entered hl3 
head. Was not his betrothed, Ida Payne, at 
some summer resort whiling away her time by 
flirting, and why should not he enjoy hlmseir as 
well? ir In the end Ida’s thousands came to re¬ 
plenish his pocket,it mattered not though a dozen 
country girls’ hearts were broken, If he only could 
enjoy himself. So, by all the arts In his power, 
he taught the tender, trusting heart to love the 
tall, handsome stranger who wished only to use 
her love as a pastime, and, then, when tired or it, 
to cast it aside, as a worthless bauble. 
lie succeeded well in bis intentions, and when 
the leaves were tinged with autumn’s mellow 
tints, he went away leaving Mamie miserable at 
hl3 cruel faithlessness. 
Id the early twilight she sat alone on the bar¬ 
ren shore, heedless of the cold, dark gloom that 
was gathering about her. 
A boat rounded a distant point, but, she heeded 
• It not, until a wild cry for help aroused her from 
the reverie Into which she had fallen, and caused 
her to think of sorrow other than her own. The 
occupants of the approaching boat were a man 
and woman, undoubtedly some of the city guests 
at the Hall, who had been to tho town below and 
were returning with the sail-boat; but what 
madness to think- of sailing, when tho sea Is so 
rough ! The slender craft was rocked to and fro 
by the cruel winds, and again that cry for aid 
rang out on the still evening air. The boat drift¬ 
ed nearer and nearer, why do they appear so 
helpless? can it be he has lost ids oars? it is 
so; the oar Is floating away on tho tide. 
Divesting herself of her outer wrap, Mamie 
hastened to the place where she thought the boat 
migbt drift to laud. She reached the spot just 
as the dainty craft was overturned, but living as 
she had from a ublld by the soft, she was an ex¬ 
pert swimmer, and plunging into the rolling 
waves 8bo struck out boldly for the place where 
she had last seeu the dark-blue boating dress of 
the woman. From the first the man had nobly 
struggled to rescue his companion, but the rude 
waves had torn them apart, and weak from his 
exertion he was simply drifting with the tide 
nearer the shore. 
Grasping llrmly the dress of the woman, as she 
roso for the second time, Mamie bravely sought 
to reach the sand ; but It was hard, breasting the 
waves cumbered as she was, and when she recog¬ 
nized In the handsome face of the man her raise 
lover, it was the last bitter drop In tho cup she 
was forced to drain, GlvlDg the form of her rtva 1 
a push forward, she lost control of her limbs and 
sank beneath the seething foam. The cruel 
waves bore the Insensible form of the wife to t he 
feet of her husband; hut Walter Grayson saw 
only the white face of the one ho had so cruelly 
deserted, upturned In the dusky twilight,, and 
then the returning wave swept It back In Its 
clutches. 
When the morning sunlight came, the lonely 
watchers collected on the beach, found the dead 
body of Mamie Grey. But the life thus sacrificed 
was not forgotten by one at least , during all the 
years of his future life. AH the dross was burned 
from Grayson’s life by this fearful lesson, and 
when he appears In society It Is hard to recog¬ 
nize btm in the silver-haired man whom nil de¬ 
light to trust and honor; and, I think, In her 
home on high, Mamie smiles her forgiveness 
down upon him, and In the glorious Hereafter 
all will be made right, 
. --— — — 
DIAMONDS. 
F. M. ENDLICH. 
As far as mir reliable records reach back Into 
the dim and mystic ages, we find the diamond oc¬ 
cupying a prominent position in t he estimation of 
nmn. Above all others of its qualities, wbich at, 
present determine its value, the superior hard¬ 
ness to all substances then known, seems to have 
impressed the ancient s. There appears to be but, 
lttHe doubt, that at very early ages the East In¬ 
dians and the original Inhabitants of the Chinese 
Empire knew the value of diamonds over all other 
gems, ft is supposable, too, that, the art of cut¬ 
ting was known to t hem, although It was not em¬ 
ployed In the western countries uutll many cen¬ 
turies later. 
of all the countries which have furnished dia¬ 
monds, India has been known as a prolific source 
for the longest period of time. Perhaps the most 
famous of diamond fields there are the Golconda 
Mines. Thousands of people have found and 
many do still find employment there, although 
much of the wealth has already been exhausted. 
During the reign of Louts XIV, Tavernier visited 
the Orient to collect diamonds and precious 
stones for his king. At Mint, time (about 1630) be 
found 60.000 parsons engaged In searching for 
diamonds In the mines of Ellore, In India. Next 
to India In importance ts South America. The 
mines in Braztl were opened In 1727, nDd tho best 
of them are sit uated north of the Rio Janeiro. 
On the lflo JequbInhnuha and Rio Pardo the 
most remunerative fields are found. Other pla¬ 
cers have yielded very good diamonds, however. 
On Borneo. In the Ural Mountains, and In Aus¬ 
tralia, diamonds havo been found. In the United 
States they havo been collected at several locali¬ 
ties, butonly in comparatively Isolated specimens. 
Diamonds have been obtained from North Caro¬ 
lina, Georgia, Virginia and California. Tho no¬ 
torious occurrence of these precious stones in 
what was termed tho " Arlzoua diamond Helds,” 
situated In the North-western Colorado, ts proba¬ 
bly still too fresh In the memory of everybody to 
require special mention. Diamonds were certain¬ 
ly found there, but, lo use a popular phrase, 
“they had not grown there." 
Recently discoveries of extensive diamond 
fields havo been made In Africa. They are situ¬ 
ated on and near the Orange and Vaal River?, 
and are being worked with energy. Although 
their discovery dates back but a comparatively 
short time, it appears that the existence "of dia¬ 
monds there was already kuowu during the last 
century. According to Dr. -J. W. Morton, the na¬ 
tives have for a long lime used diamonds from 
this locality to drill their stones, and formerly 
made periodical visits to replenish their supply of 
material. 
As is lrequently the case, the present Impetus 
in that region to mining operations was given by 
the accidental discovery of a diamond. It was 
found In the hands or some children who were 
playing with the pretty pebble. 
Wherever diamonds are found, they occur in re- 
deposited material. Rlvor-drlft or boulder-clay 
may contain them. No matrix for them has 
been recognized with certainty as yet, although 
ills claimed that the lfaeolumlte (flexible sand¬ 
stone) of Brazil contains them. This assertion Is 
scarcely proved, however, and even if It were so, 
this very ttacolumlte Is but the product of re-de- 
posttlon. It may be regarded as a significant fact, 
perhaps, that the localities of North Carolina and 
Georgia, where diamonds havo been found, are 
not far removed from occurrences of flexible 
sandstone. In the South African diamond fields 
the gems are contained In a conglomerltlc mass, 
ltlscomposed mainly of volcanic material, but bas 
evidently been deposited by water. In its gener¬ 
al, physical character it may bo compared to the 
'•t lue cement” of California, which la auriferous. 
Ot all these localities men Honed, India has pro¬ 
duced by far the greatest number or celebrated 
diamonds. The largest diamond of which wo 
have any knowledge, Is mentioned by Tavenior. 
It was found In 1550, was in the possession of tho 
Great Mogul at the time of Tavenler’s visit, and 
weighed 9Q0 carats. The present “ Great Mogul ” 
weighs 270 carats, and may be a portion of the 
original one. 
Among all materials the diamond Is by far the 
hardest. 
Physically, we may distinguish throe varieties 
of diamond; tho crystal, t he carbon and t he an¬ 
thracite diamond. ’The spaclilc gravity of dia¬ 
mond is S 52, while that of carbon Is 3.01 to 3,eo, 
and that of anthracite diamond only 1.66. They 
show slight Impurities, as compared with the 
crystals, but are chemically diamonds as also In 
their hardness. The carbon Is put to practical 
uses, on account of lln comparatively low price 
and great hardness, instead or being colorless 
It Is black, or gray, translucent only In very thin 
slabs. 
Chemically, the diamond Is carbon. ALahlgb 
temperature It will burn, and be completely 
consumed, glvlDg off carbonic acid gas. In an 
atmosphere of pure oxygen It will burn on. If 
once Ignited. Between carbon points of a heavy 
battery, the diamond will become spongy, and 
torn to coals. In 1604 the first experiments of 
burning It were made. This was accomplished 
by means of a very powerful lens, concentrating 
the sou’s rays. Much speculation became rife 
as to the behavior of diamonds under the action 
of great heat. Emperor Francis I, of Austria, 
conceived the brilliant Idea of converting or 
melting a number of small diamonds together 
into a large one. In 1750 he placed a quantity of 
them, and some rubles, in a crucible, and sub¬ 
jected them to intense heat for twenty-four 
hours. After cooling, the rubles were found to 
be Intact, but of the diamonds not. a trace re¬ 
mained. Ht>only before the French Revolution 
a Parisian Jeweller asserted tho possibility ot 
expostug diamonds to a very high degree of heat 
without Injuring them. He made his experi¬ 
ments before the famous chemist, Lavoisier. 
Malllard, the jeweller, had carefully surrounded 
his diamonds lo the crucible with pulverized 
charcoal, and they withstood the fire perfectly. 
So long as the oxygen ot the atmosphere can be 
excluded, the diamond cannot burn, and the only 
harm that might befall It would he a cracking 
from the heat. This however, occurs compara¬ 
tively rarely. Lavoisier, fully convinced by the 
demonstration, first offered a correct explana¬ 
tion of tho phenomenon. 
Impurities In diamonds are partly of a physical, 
partly of a chemical nature. Among the former 
must be classed cracks and cavities. The latter 
generally manifest themselves In discoloration, 
unequally distributed. 
Regarding the formation of diamonds much 
has been said and written, and many well con¬ 
ceived experiments have been made. More than 
any other agent, heat has been employed to re¬ 
produce these treasures of nature’s laboratory. 
Thus far all experiments hare failed to attain 
any available result. Some of the most eminent 
chemists of the present century have expressed 
the opinion that dlumondsowe their genesis not 
to the action ot heat, hut to an organic process. 
New ton,when studying the optical qualities of the 
diamond came to the conclusion that It must bo 
a “ coagulated oil.” By means of electricity very 
minut e crystals ot carbon have been obtained, 
but all efforts to reach greater size have been 
haflled. Liebig regarded the formation of dia¬ 
mond as the result of organic decomposition. 
Though tills vie w may not be perfectly tenable. 
It commends itself to the poetical intnd from its 
allusion to the rejuvenated phoenix rising from 
bis own ashes. With an ever-increasing know¬ 
ledge of chemistry and the constant improve¬ 
ment of mechanical appliances, we may yet, 
someday, be able to produce dlamouds that will 
compare favorably with those rashioned by the 
skillful hand of nature. 
Practical usbb ok Diamond.— Dependent upon 
Its physical properties, the diamond Is put to 
various uses. Perhaps the most prominent Is that 
of drilling. The comparative cheapness of “ car¬ 
bon" makes It pmjslble to utilize this material 
for such purpose*: Diamonds with sharp, cry¬ 
stallized edges, are used for cutting glass and 
small fragments, and splinters are used to arm 
graver's tools. Dust is employed In cutting other 
stones as well as'the diamond Itself. Wherever 
a substance of very great hardness Is required, 
diamond answers best. On account of Its high 
power of refraction, diamond-lenses were form¬ 
erly prepared, for the use of very btgh-power 
Instruments. The application of diamonds for 
purposes of personal or artistic ornamentation, 
may perhaps be considered a practical one In a 
certain sense. For aucb use tho total absence 
of color and the high degrees of refraction and 
dispersion of light, place the diamond In the 
most prominent position among all precious 
stones..—dm. Naturalist 
-- 
RECENT LITERATURE. 
How to Spend the Summer. Where To Go s 
How To Go. How To Save Money. 
“ Christian Union ” Print, 29 Park Place. Price 
25c. 
Do you contemplate a visit to the sea-shore ? 
Take our advice and before you go read what 
Frank I£. Converse has to say in The Sea-Girt 
Isle, of a charming spot on the coast of Maine, 
where for a moderate cost you may enjoy all the 
delights or Cape May and Long Branch, and more 
too, and where “dress parade” Is unknown. 
Perhaps camplng-out has charms for you, then 
you ought not fall to read what the pioneer 
camper, W. H. H. Murray, has to say. If you’ve 
a fancy for trout-fishing, Lalcus tells of Its mys¬ 
teries und fascinations, and—but space falls us to 
enumerate all the topics discoursed on In this 
modest little book, so we’ll say that whether your 
preference ts for mailing a European tour, “ do¬ 
ing” camp-meeting, spending your vacation on 
wheels or at a farm house, taking short trips 
around New York, or making yourself an amateur 
tramp, this book will be to you the best ot coun¬ 
sellors. Even those of us who belong to that 
much-to-be-commlserated class who must, remain 
in the dusty town are not forgotten—a chapter Is 
devoted to telling uh liow To Stay at. Home 
Without Grumbling. 
The Fall ol Damascus. A Hintorical Novel, 
liy Charles Wells Russell. Boston : Lee & 
Shepard. $1.50. 
It Is seldom that we read a story wherein the 
causes seem so inadequate to produce the results 
described and the results themselves are so un¬ 
satisfactory. The " Fall of Damascus ” Is a narra¬ 
tive ot a number of Inconsequent events with 
what is supposed to be a sketch, for a background, 
of the history of Damascus before and aftor Its 
seizure by the Mahommedans early In the CUrls- 
tian ora. The characters arc without Special at¬ 
tributes and are decidedly Insipid, with the ex¬ 
ception of one, the Lady Anna, who Is wicked, 
AU6. 3 
fitfully ambitious, daring, unscrupulous, and 
hopelessly In love with the hero, Jonas, whose 
affections have been enlisted by an exceedingly 
commonplace lierolue. Mysterious Incidents par¬ 
taking of the nature of the supernatural are In¬ 
troduced without any connection whatever with 
the plot, but with Intensely dramatic effect. 
Thus, a chapter full of exciting details Is closed 
with an interject tonal communion at midnight 
between Lady Anna and an apparition who rnis- 
tertously appears, professes a desperate pas¬ 
sion for her, and as mysteriously disappears. 
But the nature of the apparition, the cause of the 
visitation or the connection of cither with the 
story Is not made apparent, and one reads on to 
the end with a vain hope of having the enigma 
solved. Scenes of Eastern magnificence and la- 
clvlouaness are fervidly depleted. One must have 
a keen appreciation of the melodramatic in litera¬ 
ture to enjoy the " Fall of Damascus.” 
Poke O’ Moonshine, by Latham Cornell Strong. 
New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons. $1.00. 
The author claims there Is much of legendary 
lore still abounding In this comparatively new 
country, which the genius of Fenlmore Cooper 
and the other romancers has failed to discover 
and develop. He is Inspired to add bis tribute to 
the small store of American romance, by a legend 
of the La Mollle Valley, out of which he essays to 
weave a poem that shall perpetuate it. The 
story is of the loves or an exiled French maldon 
and a young French soldier engaged under Gen. 
Dieskau in 1757, in what are known as the French 
and Indian wars. Poke O’ Moonshine Is the name 
of a crevasse In amountaln, through which the 
rising moon casts Its light. The theme Is a som¬ 
bre one and calculated to Inspire the poet’s pen, 
but It owes nothing of embellishment to poetic 
Imagery .or lofty conception. One might cavil at 
the outset at the title, which, to say the least, is 
not poetical, and the meaning Is often obscured 
by the too apparent effort to effect the versifica¬ 
tion. 
Vovnwres nn«l Adventures of Vasco Da Gama 
by Geo. M. Towle. Boston : Leo & Shepard. 
The Voyages and Adventures of Da Gama Is 
the first of a series of books, called Heroes of His¬ 
tory, to be published for the benefit of the young 
people. f iz irro, we are .told. Is already In press 
and others are soon to follow. There Is no class 
of literature that can be read by the young folks 
with so much profit combined with entertain¬ 
ment, and we cordially commend this volume as 
an earnest of tho fund of amusement and Infor¬ 
mation the series will yield. The adventures of 
the great discoverer are told In a manner to fas¬ 
cinate the juvenile mind. 
Shuoting Stars us Observed From tlio 
“ Sixth Column” of the Times. By W. L. 
Alrlfiii. New York : G. P. Putnam’s Sons. 
This Is a collection of those articles which the 
regular readers of the N. Y. Times are wont to 
eagorly look for on the editorial page of that 
Journal. 
Mr. Alden oermlts his humor sometimes to run 
to coarseness ana not untrequently it hints of 
absoluto vulgarity, but In making this compila¬ 
tion the more objectionable articles have been 
omitted; and those who enjoy a hearty laugh 
will do well to lay In a stock of “ Shooting- 
Stars." 
Gnbrielle. By Henry Giieville. Philadelphia: 
X. B. PeterBon & Bio 
This lady works out a small part of the social 
problem with a very free hand, but her estimate 
of the correct morality of married life does not 
agree with that set forth by the Puritans as ob¬ 
taining in the best society. We are getting ed¬ 
ucated up to the French standard of morality by 
a series ot graduated examples, and we have no 
doubt that u the publishers persist, we will be 
able to take our Immorality without blushing, in 
the course ot time. We do not, at the present 
stage of our progression, consider this a good 
book for general circulation. 
Orville College, by Mrs. Henry Wood. T. B. 
Peterson & Bros. Phlla.: 50c. paper, 
Mrs. WooD’rt admirers will be glad to welcome 
the advent of Orville College. Though a most 
prolific writer, Mrs. Wood la strikingly original 
and there is an endless variety In her stories 
which will always commend them. The Lost 
Will Is uniform In binding and price with the 
above, and both stories conform In every respect 
to this popular writer’s known standard. 
Iioibwell. By the Author of That Husband of 
Mine. Boston: Lee & Shepard. 
Ttii3 book Is likely to build up for the author a 
more enduring fame than her earlier effort, al¬ 
though each In Its way gives proof of decided 
talent. She Is to be congratulated on her success 
In fields so widely diverse. 
■-- 
MAGAZINE NOTES. 
In accordance with a plan of the editor, formed 
a year ago, the Midsummor Holiday number of 
Scribner’s Monthly opens with a portrait of 
William Cullen Bryant, engraved by Cole from a 
crayou drawing by Wyatt Eaton, for which the 
poet gave repeated sittings during the past 
spring. The paper on Mr. Bryant’s file and nomes, 
which it was also planned to have with the por¬ 
trait, la by Rev. 11. N. Powers, and was written 
before the former’s Illness. The Illustrations are 
about twenty In number and chiefly represent 
points ot interest at or near the Cummtngton and 
Roslyn residences. Ur. Holland ulso wrltos edi¬ 
torially ot Mr. Bryant, and Tho Old Cabinet con¬ 
tains an estimate Ol Ills standing as a poet, and a 
reprint of tuo curious original version of Thana- 
topsis. The whole number is beautifully illus¬ 
trated, and tho stories are pleasant. 
The Atlantic opens with a very pretty story 
by Miss Olney, One Too Many; Moonshine, 
