POISONED NECKLACES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 33, 16 August 1890, Page 11

POISONED NECKLACES.

In the time of Louis XIV. there was a maker of pearl rosaries and necklaces who was famous for the exquisite beauty that he gave them. The ladies came from far and near to buy these wondrous beads, for from no one else could they begotten. Vainly did his rivals try to imitate the perfect whiteness ami polish of the beads manufactured by him. With all his prosperity he was very unhappy, and dreaded to sell his necklaces because of the poison (said to be mercury) with which he used to give them their great beauty. One day his son was astonished to hear him say, as he sold a particularly beautiful pearl rosary, 1 Infamous man that I am ! May this crime be my last !’ Soon after war was declared between France and Flanders, and the old man was very happy because be thought no more necklaces would be ordered. His only son was about to be married, and the girl whom he had chosen so pleased the father that he said : ‘ Ask of me anything, for I am glad to have so sweet a daughter.’ With great glee she answered : ‘ Oh, father, make for me one of those beautiful necklaces such as only yon can make.’ The unhappy man was speechless with horror and wandered through the woods all night, wondering what in the world he would do. When thedaytimecamehe threw himself on a bank beside the water to rest, and there, floating on the top, was an iridescent substance at which he could not help but look, it seemed so like his own pearls. He searched for it and found that the effect was caused by the scales of a small white fish. He collected some, experimented with them, and succeeded in producing with them the whiteness and polish for which be hail formerly been forced to use the poison, and on the weddingday he clasped around the neck of the beautiful bride the handsomest string of pearls that he had ever made, and as he kissed her sweet, red lips he knew that lie could be happy, for there was not a particle of poison in them. The truth of thestoryliesinthe fact that to this day the method of making pearl beads discovered by Martin Jacquin is still the only one.