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FACTS AND FANCIES
extent
by the acidity of the excretions of the human skin, sufficiently in
some cases to destroy, or at any rate dim, their luster.
Gases
in the atmosphere, sudden changes in temperature, heat, and various
other influences operate more or less in the same direction. The
chemical changes thus produced might with poetic license be called the
death of the pearl and in a sense the term would be true were the whole
pearl involved, but as a rule these misfortunes affect the outer skin
of the pearl only, so if that dies death is but skin deep, a live pearl
remaining beneath it.
As
life and death means the segregation of particles into a compact
individuality and their final dissolution, pearls like all other things
in the restless economy of nature live and die, but the loss of some of
its native charms by the gem is not more a sign of death than the
rougher cuticle of a weather beaten sailor with which exposure has
replaced the smooth skin of the boy.
Nevertheless the idea of death coming to the
pearl fascinates and enterprising writers succeed
in frequently placing very interesting and
readable articles before the public which incite
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