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THE PEARL
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limitations,
we find big and little, fine and ordinary, in about the same
proportions as they occurred thousands of years ago; the fish that made
them then makes them now, in the same kind of a narrow workshop and
within the bounds of a life whose duration has not changed.
Of
very ancient historic pearls, the only one of which we have reliable
and expert knowledge, is that of the Shah of Persia seen by Ta
vernier. This and La Peregrina are supposed to be still in existence.
Of the very large pearls generally mentioned by writers, three
undoubtedly exist, viz., La Pellegrina, the Beresford Hope and one of
medium quality in the Austrian Crown weighing about twelve hundred
grains.
It
is probable that very many pearls have been found, which if generally
known would have become celebrated, but of those chronicled, most have
passed out of public knowledge. It is probable that some of those about
which much has been written were not as beautiful as others which have
escaped notoriety. The writer's habit of drawing upon the past to
illustrate a subject, has narrowed the literature
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