pieces
by Mr. Asscher in such a way that a defective spot in the diamond was
exactly in the centre, leaving a part of it on each piece of the stone.
Subsequently the larger of these two pieces was split.
The
United States consul at Amsterdam, Mr. Henry H. Morgan, forwarded to
Washington the best account of the splitting operation that the author
has read. After emphasising the delicacy of the work Mr. Morgan
described the making of an incision in the stone with a
diamond-cutting saw at the point where the stone was to be cleaved
and, following the line of cleavage, to a depth of nearly three
quarters of an inch. Before the operator were crystal models, cleaved
to represent the effect upon the diamond so far as could be indicated
in such a manner. In the incision made by the diamond saw a specially
made steel knife, comb shaped, without a handle, was inserted; then,
while the supervisors and several members of the house of Asscher
intently and breathlessly looked on, Mr. Asscher struck the blade on
its back with a steel rod and, with the success of the operation still
in doubt, all saw the steel knife break against the adamant; again the
stroke and with a chorus of sighs of relief the
