A LITTLE-KNOWN GEM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 109, 31 January 1908, Page 8

A LITTLE-KNOWN GEM.

Tlic new floral jewellery, which is oue nf the novelties of this winter, has brought into favour a gem which has hitherto been little known. It is called the peridot, and is a transparent variety of the olivine.' "The'namp of the peridot has given rise to much speculation," n. representative of Messrs. .Benson's, the well-known jewellers, said with regard to it. "Soiuo people attribute it to Greek origin, and some to Arabic. "The gem is found deposited in olmne rock, and, curiously enough, it-lias .sometimes, been discovered in fragments of moteoric matter which have fallen to the earth from space/' Ihe peridot is a delicate pale greeu in colour, and is generally set wilh pearls. It hns been made up in the form of mistletoe, daisies, or lilio<s-of-thc-valley in "the shape of pendants, riug6, brooehce, and bracelets.

Tho death is reported of Mr. W. J. Smith, parish clerk of St. Michael Royal, who had lived in tho City of London for 80 years. lln hold tho post in succession to his father and grandfather, and it lias been retained by tho family lor over a century. It is possible ovents in Morocco may take a turn lor tho bettor, but international diplomacy meantime lias every reason to (levoto its undivided attention to affairs in tho Sliereefian Empire' and to make all its preparations well in advance, iii order that' emergencies may not catch it unawares.—"Borseu .Courier, Berlin,