TREATMENT AND CARE OF PEARLS 397
they
are affected by the wearer having exudations from the skin induced by
some disease or else by acids which pass out through the pores with the
perspiration. A smoky atmosphere in which a sulphuric acid is present
owing to sulphur in the coal, violent usage such as knocking severely,
or dropping—all of these will in time cause more or less injury to a
pearl, more especially to one of the whiter varieties ; but it is
believed that those of a yellowish cast are not so susceptible. Diderot
mentioned this as early as 1765.
The
"life" of a pearl is said to be fifty, one hundred, and perhaps even
one hundred and fifty years ; they certainly last for several
generations. It has been asserted, without any particular authority,
that pearls from the Pacific Ocean and those from Mexico do not last as
long as those from the Orient, but this statement is questionable.
If
there be any foundation for the belief that it is not well to lock
pearls in a safe-deposit box, this is probably owing to the fact that
the absolute exclusion from the air may cause the drying out of the
organic constituent of the pearl. This may be obviated by putting the
pearls in a piece of linen absolutely free from any chemical, at the
same time placing with them a bit of blotting-paper or fiber-paper
saturated with water; the whole should then be wrapped up in paraffin
paper, which will prevent the evaporation of the moisture.
Many
sentimental recitals have appeared in the press during the last ten
years in regard to the dying of pearls. In connection with this there
is a beautiful though mythical story to the effect that Carlotta, wife
of the ill-fated Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, was the possessor of a
large collection of pearls which had died, and that these pearls had
been placed in a casket and sunk in the depths of the Adriatic,
opposite the beautiful but unhappy palace home, Miramar, in the hope
that the salt water would revive and restore their original luster.
When, however, the time came to bring up the pearls from the sea, it
was found that the casket had, in some way, broken loose from the
chains, and all trace of it was lost. It is needless to state that
there was absolutely no foundation for this romantic tale; indeed,
these very pearls were afterward sold. Furthermore, pearls have never
lived, and hence they can never die. They do, however, decay, if
exposed to influences which destroy either the calcareous or the animal
layer of the pearl itself. This is due to many causes: first,
overheating, sometimes through the inexperience of a pearl driller;
secondly, undue exposure to heat in the washing of a pearl necklace ;
thirdly, exposure to acids or acid fumes. Apparently there seems to be
some foundation for the belief that if they are confined in
safe-deposit boxes, probably in contact with wool or with the colored
velvets of jewel-cases, the skin of the pearl may be more or less af-
