obtained from Stoneham, Maine, which, cut as a brilliant,
weighs one hundred thirty-three and three-fourths carats.
With the exception of a few hair-like striations in the interior
of the stone, it is of a perfect bluish green color.
This variety of the beryl has been employed both in ancient
and modern times for engraving. A famous intaglio cut from
this gem, presented to the Abbey of Saint Denis by Charlemagne, and employed to adorn a gold reliquary, now deposited
in the National Library of Paris, is engraved with the portrait
of Julia, the daughter of the Emperor Titus.
Emerald. — Probably no other precious stone has been the
subject of so much exaggeration, especially among early writers,
as the emerald, and none has been more highly prized, both in
ancient and modern times, for its beauty and excellence as a
gem-stone. Its pure tint is unsurpassed by that of any other
object in nature, and when transparent and entirely free from
blemishes, it constitutes one of the most desirable ornamental
stones known to the lapidary.
This gem has generally been selected to represent marine
subjects, both in art and literature, a use which has, perhaps,
some connection with its ancient names " smaragdos," Greek,
"smaragdus" Latin, and "marakata" Sanskrit,—all having
some reference to the sea.
The composition is nearly identical with that of the beryl, —
silica, alumina, and glucina, — but different from the corundum
variety which is pure alumina ; its lustre has been compared to
the sheen of olive-oil. If held so as to reflect the light, it
appears to be silvered on the back, and its green color will
disappear when the plane is brought to a particular angle, a
peculiarity not observable in any other gem. When struck by a
hammer, the crystals will break across the prism, yielding
slices with smooth and brilliant faces ; many of the oriental
