the
icy cold shower. Some day she will discover to her horror that a few of
the largest and almost priceless beads are showing signs of senile
decay, when with ordinary fair treatment they might in time have gone
to her granddaughter as whole as she once received them at the hands of
a doting and generous husband.
If
you are so lucky as to be in the position to buy a pearl necklace, here
are a few hints that will be useful. If you are not, remember that
amazingly few connoisseurs and critics of art possess great works of
their own, and that possession is not necessary for the best kind of
enjoyment.
The
would-be buyer, of course, must bear in mind first of all for whom the
pearls are intended. A string of white pearls looks well around the
neck of a blonde. It suits the Slav, the Teutonic, and Scandinavian
types. A cream or white rosee becomes most Englishwomen well and
blends excellently with their good complexions. But if worn by a
Spanish or Italian lady, such shades contrast too unfavorably with
their darker skins. The warmer colors, the slightly yellow, brown,
yellow rosee, brown rosee, are more suitable for them. South American
women can also wear these darker colors to advantage.
That
point being decided upon, attention should now be paid to the size and
aggregate weight of the pearls. An important necklace, one consisting,
that is, of large beads throughout, is as unsuited to a young slim girl
as a row of seed-pearls would be on a prima donna.
The
rows submitted for inspection should now be held at arm's length in
good daylight, so that a general impression can be obtained. Next each
string should be laid against some dark material, a piece of black
velvet perhaps or the dark sleeve of a coat or dress.
If your heart goes out to it spontaneously, or as the French say, "S'il vous sourit," then
is the time to examine the necklace critically, pearl by pearl, for
blemishes and other imperfections. But if you do not take to the
necklace as a whole, don't consider it. It will never satisfy you.
The center pearl is of the utmost importance. She is to the
