Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 April 1880 — About Precious Stones.. [ARTICLE]

About Precious Stones..

Mr. WATHJSBBTON, an eminent London jeweler, gave an interesting lecture lately on gems and precious stones. He said that, with the exception of the diamond in the glass-cutter's hand, they are intrinsically worthless, their high estimation in olden times having been due to their use as magical charms against evil, while in later times they have been prized as concentrated expressions of wealth and splendor. He said that the Braganza, ioelonging to the crown of Portugal, ahd still in the rough, is the largest diamond. It weighs 1,680. and the Koh-i-noor, before being cut, weighed 787 carats. There are cruel allegations against the Braganza, to the effect that it is only a white topaz. In this case a diamond belonging to the Rajah of Matan comes to the top. A Governor of Batavia offered 92, 560,000 for it/ but the Rajah refused the offer, saying that his diamond was a talisman upon whose poesession depended not only his own happiness and success, bat that of his whole family. Of rabies scarcely more than two can be deemed historical. The first and most famous is that in Victoria’s cross. It is believed, on tolerably good authority, to have been worn jn front of the helmet of Henrv V. at Agincourt. J ■—... ..I. » a MnrxKsoTA bears the p aim in the matter of the production of twins, last year there having been no less than 540 of them ushered into existence.