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Ch. 6: Pearls

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PART VI.
Pearl. Coral. Amber. Jet.-
" The sea-born shell conceals the unio round— Called by this name as always single found. One in one shell, for ne'er a larger race Within their pearly walls the valves embrace. At certain seasons do the oysters lie With valves wide gaping towards the teeming sky, And seize the falling dews, and pregnant breed The shining globules of til' ethereal seed."
The pearl is an animal product secreted by cer­tain shell mollusca, of which one kind live in the sea, and the others in fresh water. Pearls are quite common, but those which have considerable dimen­sions, joined to a regular form and beautiful reflec­tions, are rare and of high price.
Formed almost exclusively of lime and of an organic matter, the pearl is very easily acted on; as regards resistance, it has nothing in common with precious stones, even those most easily destroyed.
The pearl was dedicated to Venus. It is sacred to love and beauty. In the " marriage of Cupid and Psyche "—a fine engraving upon sardonyx, wherein the figures are enveloped in transparent veils, a
Ch. 5: Malachite Page of 296 Ch. 6: Pearls
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