THE RUBY. 155
slices
it can be employed in the polariscope for analysing the optical
properties of other minerals. The two extremities of the Tourmaline
crystal frequently terminate in a different manner; which occurrence is
quite rare in other crystals. All mineral members of the Tourmaline
group contain Fluorine, and water : some are further in possession of
Boracic acid. The " currant-red" Tourmaline, of India, and Ceylon, is "
Rubelite."
The Rock of Rubies; and the Quarry of Pearls.
" Some asked me where the Rubies grew; And nothing I did say, But with my finger pointed to
The lips of Julia. Some ask'd how Pearls do grow, and where ?
Then spake I to my girl— *
To " part her lips " ; and show'd them there The quarrelets of Pearl."
Herrick.
A
recent triumph of modern constructive chemistry is the making of Rubies
(out of genuine Ruby dust) from the real Rubies which come too small
from the mine for any purposes of the jeweller ; as well as from the
chips, and dust produced when the actual Rubies are cut. Some clever
chemists of to-day have perfected a process by which these genuine tiny
mites may be fused, and recut; when they flash with a fire, and a
brilliancy found to equal those of the natural gem. The only
difference between the natural stones, and these reconstructed stones
(being cut), requires a microscope to discern it. When viewed through
that instrument the reconstructed stone shows a wavy line instead of
the straight cleavage line of nature. In all other respects the two stones are identically the same ;
