Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1891 — Amber. [ARTICLE]

Amber.

Genuine amber is becoming-a scarce article. It is a fossil gum, formerly produced in large quantities by trees having a resinous sap, which flowed down the trunks and collected in masses at the root. It is found in the ground of marshes and other places where forests flourished in former times, and is alsoobtained by dredging. The German Ocean, Baltic and Black Seas formerly produced it in considerable quantities,, but the supply is constantly decreasing, and unless other fields are discovered, real amber will soon be scarce and costly. There is some satisfaction in knowing that the imitation is just as good in every way, so that even if the real amber gives out there need be no diminution in the number of holders for cigars or mouthpieces for pipes. In this country comparatively little is used save for these purposes; but in India and China large lumps are in great demand; for, from some cause, an amber idol is far more highly esteemed than even a image, and so the best amber all goes to the East to be made into gods for the pagans.