Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1868 — How Mosaics are Made. [ARTICLE]

How Mosaics are Made.

A traveler, writing from tho Continent, says: The mosaics seem to absorb the moat time and money in tho least space, unless it lie the gold decorations. We saw a tabla last week less tliaft six feet in diameter, said to have cost two hundred thousand dollars, requiring the labor of a large number of men for fifteen years. On entering the hull where this kind of work is done, I could not doubt these enormous figures. Suppose, for instance; a thousand of tho hardest and most expensive stones which will take on a high polish, to bo cut into pieces three-eighths of an inch thick, i’heso pieces are cut the other way into small jiieces like shoe pegs, and whore the shading from one color to another is sudiKnTThcse pegs must not be larger than a needle. Now the artist cuts and puts in those little pieces elected according to their color, so as to give the coloring wanted by the workmen ns distinct as though painted. Those pieces or jiegs must be fitted so, closely that lines of separation will not show, and set upon end, side by side, like type. They claim that ten thousand shades. of color aro nccesaary; and in order to do. this kind of work a man must be skilled in., colors and shades as a painter, in order to. place the colors properly; then be the. most careful in order to place the pieces, and then he must have patience enough to work on tho cheapest and coarsest pictures one year, and upon a line one from ten to twenty years.—Scientific American.

At Bunkeb Hill, 111., last week, a novel case was tried. Mr. Sims, a colored man. brought suit egainst “an American citizen” for SGO. It appears that the colored man had taken the dnugl.tJr of the white man into his house and provided for her wants after she had been denied assistance by her father. Mr. Sims now brought suit against tho father for expenses incurred in taking care of the girl. A verdict for $42 and costs was rendered against the defendant.