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while
these hereditary diamonds recall whole generations of stately
beauties." With equal, or perhaps with even more truth, may this be
said of Pearls. The Pearls which we are about to describe have been
possessed by some of the most eminent historical personages, and have
been prized for personal decoration by the most admired beauties of all
ages. The subject is one of peculiar fascination, but it is to
be regretted that in many cases, the information that has come down to
us from antiquity, respecting those exceptional Pearls, is only of a
meagre character. In the following descriptions an attempt is made to
arrange them roughly in chronological sequence, but it will be
understood that many of the dates are mere approximations. The most
ancient Pearl of which we have found any record may be termed the
"Servilia Pearl."
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The Servilia Pearl—circa B.C. 44.
After
the Roman conquests in the East, particularly when Mithridates, the
great king of Pontus, distinguished for his knowledge of languages and
far-reaching schemes of policy, had been overthrown by Lucullus and
Pompey—the Pearl became highly valued, not only in Rome, but throughout
the Roman empire. The ladies wore them in profusion, as
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