XIV TREATMENT AND CARE OF PEARLS
T
HE pearl is at the
height of its perfection when taken from the shell; from that moment it
never improves. When it is drawn from the depths of the ocean by the
hand of man and given to the charmed gaze of the world, it is as
complete and perfect in its way as the most beautiful work of art, and,
whether as tiny as the point of a pin or as large as a marble, it is
always a perfect, fully formed individual ; it is always in its
maturity.
Who
found the first pearl? When did he discover it, and what were his
emotions? Was it found by primitive man? Very likely it was discovered
by chance in a mother-of-pearl shell cast up by the sea, or perhaps in
a mussel in a brook. If this happened in an oriental country, the
native must have already seen many equally remarkable objects, endowed
with life, while the pearl could charm him only by its luster and
purity. But, besides the impression produced by its beauty, it must
have aroused in the soul of the discoverer the sensation of wonder
which every new and lovely object excites when seen for the first time.
That primitive man appreciated the pearl is evidenced by the fact that
it is found in the mounds and graves of the American continent, from
the State of Ohio to Peru in South America.
Almost
all pearls are in perfect condition for setting when they are found ;
all that needs to be done is to rub them with a damp or moist cloth or
with a powder of finely pulverized small or broken pearls, and they are
then ready for the succeeding processes. If there are any blemishes,
these can be removed by peeling or "faking," although few fine pearls
require any such treatment; and then the gems may be drilled, strung,
and set, and all that is necessary for their preservation is due care
and attention.
Pearls
are frequently injured in opening the shells or in removal of the outer
layers around the true pearly nacre. Both the Chinese and the Sulu
fishermen are very clever in the art of pearl peeling and pearl
improving. This method is called "faking," although it is a perfectly
legitimate operation. All it requires is a very sharp knife, a set of files, and a powder obtained by grinding pearls or pearl shells. This
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