The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922, June 25, 1915, Image 6

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    THE 8EMI-WEEKLV TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
(-oruM)iAiay
if People v
"FIGHTING ARCHIE" HUNTER
ti i.i . .. .. nr. i iniimiiMiiMi -aau"x!2uai i
pearl-flshlng grounds known to man. f , H 2y?fa?
T For thousands of years thoy have 'I ft ?ff X? ffZ&r Z&iyJ
W sont forth tho choicest gems to add F 5 j 1 1
luster to tho crown of royal ruler or t 1 ' :l w j 1
W to ndorn tho bosom of tho fairest I ( W,! ! III X.
i jit -if i i:i J wmamzm i . . r i i s
VER In Coylon (ho loyal natives have
long called their beautiful Island
"Pearl-drop on tho brow of India."
A namo most appropriately be
stowed when wo recall that In Coy
Ion waters Ho probably tho oldest
pearl-flshlng grounds known to man.
Kni fllnllunndo ,t .1.... i
W W sont forth tho choicest gems to add
T V I llfafnt- .. . ...
i iu wiwwu hi royiu ruior or
to adorn tho bosom of tho fairest
OUeen of rn1hir niul mnniii,
Shortly after nightfall of a pleasant evening
our Httlo Btcamor sailed out of tho harbor 0f Co
lombo, bound for tho "pearly shores," for an
anchorage a few mlleB off tho port of Arlppu,
near which place tho poarl-fiahlng fleet was to bo
Bin operations at tho rising of tho sun. In Coy
Ion tho oyster hods aro undor government super
vision, and about March of each year a great
pearl-flshlng expedition hovers over the wators
of tho Quit of Mannar. Tho personnel of tho
loot Is made up of MalayB, Arabs, Indians, Slnga
icso. and those from various other branches of
India's teeming millions.
,.Z!'. oxpofIe"co of tho stranger with the unique
I,,"0, dlBnPl,0,Ilt,nB. ThO Bight Of thOU-
sandB of dlvera from hundreds of Httlo boats.
SS"g. ,Ht0 V;ater or rm"B downward
nhCaVy We,ghtB rls,n wl" "loir troas.
ahoi n,'r? returnln t0 tho- watery depths, tho
, Dtr,aiiBQ .voIcos combine to paint a pic
of So vlsUor. B ,mpr0flB,on uPn " n,lnd
aSlZ aJnd Coy,on nnd th08 of the
Gulf of California have tho richest pearl-produc
Hlto sides of tho earth, it Is Interesting to com
pare tho work of tho poarl hunters or divers, bo
far Boparatod, yot pursuing many mothods In
common In the search for precious goma beneath
tho wators. In Coylon upon a given signal tho
dlv lag boglns; the boats are Bmall and hold com
fortably eight or twelve persons. Tho men
wear few clothes, and each man takes a turn at
diving, for all of them appoar to bo exports. A
ropo with weight nttachod 1b thrown ovor tho
side of tho boat, tho diver attnchoB himself to
tho rope, and his assistant lowers him Into tho
water. Other dlvora plungo downward unassist
ed. Around tho diver hangs a bag, within which
ho places the oyatorB as rapidly aa ho can pick
thorn from tho soa bottom.
On tho Mexican coast, of which La Paz Is tho
gonoral rendoivous, tho mothod of poarllng is
much tho same as In Coylon. Many of the ves
nelB used aro largor, and tho modorn diving buU
Ib moro in ovldonco. Thoro is usually a large
Bftllboat callod tho "mother," and probably half a
do-aon smaller ones tormod "luggors." Tho lat
ter aro manned by a crow of six or eight men,
ouo or two of whom aro dlvors. Tho small boats
transfor their catchoB at froquont lutorvnla to
tho larger vessel standing by, whero tho shells
aro opened and carefully examined for poarls.
What Is a pearl? Before considering other
pearl-flshlng grounds, especially thoso of tho
Americas, It may bo of lntorost to know Just how
tho pearl is produced; that is, so fnr as tho scion
illio reader Is concornod. Ono of tho shortest
and most Btriklng definitions 1b that suggested
by a French scientist, who sayB "a pearl Is tho
brilliant sarcophagus of a worm." Others go
moro Into detail and declare that tho growth of
tho pearl is often associated with a posslblo de
gree of annoyance or pain. The tiny deposit that
tl'nds Itself within tho shell of a mollusk or oystor
may bo Introduced accidentally or purposoly, aa
wo shall soo lator. Tho foroign Bubstanco within
tho shell is believed to irritate tho oystor and
ho begins to covor It with a sorles of thin layers
of calcium carbonate. Llttlo by little thoso pe
culiar layers aro formed, and In a fow years n
bountiful pearl may bo tho result, or tho forma
tion may prove absolutely worthless.
Pcarl-formlug mollusks aro widoly distributed
over tho world, and thoy may bo univalves or
blyalvos; in tho formor shapo wo sometimes And
ttjem In conchs and lu tho latter classification in
clams and oysters. Tho subjoct In various rami
fications has proved Interesting and fascinating
to investigators; but this story is only a general
talk about the pearl, and tho sclontiflo dutulls are
left to thoso who mako a sorlouB Btudy of tho
nature of this famous and much-prlzod ornamont.
Salt-wator pearl fishing In tho Amorlcas bus
titen pursued from our earliest history, and whllo
those pcarllug waters may not bo ub undent as
r- r r,rr- , . .
tho flshorles of Ceylon or thoso of the Persian
gulf, Columbus and thoso who followed In his
wako often found uncivilized natlvos wearing
poarls of groat value. Indeed, so many pearls
were found off tho Venezuelan coast that early
explorers gave the namo of "El Gulfo do las
Perla3" to certain waters whore tho pearls ap
peared to bo plentiful.
Today the pearl fisheries of Margarita Island,
off tho Venezuelan coast, becomo active each au
tumn, when hundreds of small boats present a
scone not unllkg that of tho pearl season of Cali
fornia or Ceylon.
Many of tho export divers of Venezuola have
engaged themselves to an Ecuadorian compauy
which Is developing pearl fishing along tho coast
of that country. Near the little port of Manta
tho results havo proved quite satisfactory, and
during a recent year about $20,000 worth of
poarls wore shipped to European markets.
About tho shores of numerous Islands in the
Day of Panama thoro aro pearl flshorles. One of
thoso Islands, to which the namo of Pearl has
been glvon, haB long beon supplying pearls of
greater or loss value Tho work about this and
othor islands of Panama bay is carried on llko
that of Lower California. Ono of tho great diffi
culties encountorcd Is tho heavy tides of this
section of tho Pacific, which provent steady work.
Thoro aro various othor scctionn of the oceans
that supply lino pearls, such as tho shoro of
Queensland (Australia), tho Rod soa, Now Guinea
watora, about tho island of Madagascar, and
elsowhoro. Gouerally speaking, an ordinary fish
ing boat party oxpocts to securo several tons of
shells a day, and possibly ouo sholl In a thousand
contains a pearl. Tho Mexican wators In which
fishing Is dono nre from 30 to CO feet deep, and
tho fleot is active four to six months in tho yoar,
boglnning operations in tho autumn. A pearling
expedition bb equipped for tho Mexican watera
often costs $10,000 to $15,000 to outfit, and pos
sibly at tho ond of tho season tho catch may not
bo worth half tho amount expended. Dut if no
mishap ocours to any of tho llttlo vossels tho
supply of mother-of-pearl sholls obtained should
bo of sufllclont valuo to ropay tho gonoral out
fitting oxpensos.
One of tho allied industries of pearl fishing is
that of obtaining valuablo shells, which wo know
aa mothor-of-pearl. Tho latter aro found goner
ally along with tho pearl flshorles; and often
when no pearls oxtst within tho oyster tho shells
themsolvos may bo ot conBldorable valuo.
Mothor-of-poarl Is defined as tho "Internal na
creous lining of tho molluscan bIioII." This shell,
as is well known, Is in gonoral use In our hqmus,
whoro It 1b highly prized for toilet nrtlclos, for
handles to knives, for buttons, and countless
othor services whero u high polish nnd lasting
qualities aro desired. The monkB nnd other In
habitants of I3othlohom aro Bald to bo among tho
world's most sklllod workers In mothor-of-pearl
sholls; tho beautiful omnments that come from
that ancient city aro highly valued in leading
cities of Europe and Amorlca.
Penrla In tho Americas, as In other countries,
should now bo within tho roach of thoso of mod
est means. Today In world markets of London,
Bombay, ParlB or La Paz tho pearl 1b soiling for
about half Us ordinary valuo.
It is said that pearls from watora of tho Amor
lcas aro to be aeon In the crowns of roost Euro-
G&ZOV -
pean rulers. Ono of the most valuablo pearls
over obtained in Mexican fisheries was sent to
Paris and thoro sold to tho emporor of Austria
for $10,1)00. On another occasion the government
of Spain presented to Nnpoleon III a black Mex
ican poarl valued at $25,000. Tho combination
tints of black, bluo and green are quite rare, and
tho Mexican and Panama pearls often combine
these colorings, and apparently have reached
poarl perfection.
Tho Venezuelan fisheries produce annually
moro than half a million dollars' worth of pearls
Many of tho world's most beautiful gems havo
como from that country, and It is said that in
1679 King Philip of Spain obtained from near
Margarita island a pearl weighing 250 carats,
which was variously estimated to bo worth from
$40,000 to $100,000. The most perfect pearl in
tho world Is said to bo "La Pellegrlna," a raro
gom that is preserved in the Zoslma museum In
Moscow; it weighs 28 carats, is globular in form,
and originally came from Indian wators. The
world's largest poarl Is in tho Hope collection
In tho Victoria and Albert museum, London. It
weighs three ounces and has a circumference
of 4 inches.
Ono of tho world's leading authorities op pearls
Is Dr. Georgo F. Kunz. According to a recont
writer, tho former says that a pearl of tho finest
grado should havo "a perfect skin, fine orient
or dollcnto texturo, bo freo from specks or flaws,
and bo of translucent white color, with a sub
dued Iridescent sheen. It should bo perfectly
spherical, or if not, of symmetrical shape. White
or pink pearla aro tho finest, owing to their deli
cate sheen."
In China nnd Japan tlio mention of tho pearl
occurs In tho history of those countries as early
as 1000 B. C. Pearling Industry In both nations
has passed down through tho nges, and oven
today It gives employment to muny workers,
sklllod and unskilled. Vlsttora to Japan will bo
especially Interested In Mlklmoto's pearl farms
at Argo bay; they aro marvols of scientific ac
complishment in tho propagation of pearls. Tho
methods pursued are more or less as follows:
Tho young oysters aro brought from tho water,
a serum Ib Injoctod Into tho sholl; this substance
sots up irritation within, und tho oystor, It seems,
then begins to coat tho offonBlvo foreign mnttor
with layer after layer of calcareous deposits. A
fow years pass and tho same oyster Is fished
from tho waters and his poarl-maklng work ex
amined. Possibly a beautiful pearl may havo
been formed.
Many so-called pearls seen today nro but Imi
tations of tho genulno nrtlclo, and some of them
aro so cleverly constructed that a trained oyo
Is required to sco tho deception.
Rlvor or frcsh-wator pearls aro found quite
generally In tomperato climes of tho northern
hemisphere espoclally in tho British isles. Sax
ony, Bavaria, Bohemia, Canada, and In many
states of tho Union. In several of tho rivers of
Ohio, lu thoso of Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas,
Teunessee, Kentucky, Texas. Michigan and other
states, musselB havo beon found from time to
tlmo that contained coml rwnrin
Sir Archibald Hunter, whom
Lord Kitchener plnccd in command of
the third British army, has built up,
during his forty years of service, n
roputatlon for valor which tho most
seasoned campaigner might envy;
moreover, ho Ib loved and trusted by
his soldiers, who know him as "Fight
ing Archlo."
His brilliant career began with
tho Nllo expedition, and later In the
Sudan campaign ho was sovorely
wounded at GuIbb, and waa reward
for hla services with tho D. S. O.
In Egypt Sir Archibald Hunter was
Lord Kitchener's right-hand man, and
he commanded a division which was
present at K. of K.'s triumph at
Khartoum.
During a period of fifteen years'
almost continuous fighting Sir Archi
bald earned nineteen decorations and
orders, and created a record by be
ing promoted to tho rank of gcnoral
,, after only twonty-two years' service in
the army. If tho kaiser Is well acquainted with tho hiBtory of tho South
African war, ho will know that he has a dangerous antagonist in Sir Archi
bald Hunter, who will never admit defeat, and can bo rolled upon to find
his way out of tho tightest corner. For Sir Archibald played a conspicuous
part In the South African campaign, and at Its conclusion a public reception
was proposed to honor the famous soldier.
But "Fighting Archie" is more at home on the battlefield than on a
public platform, and ho modestly rofusod tho suggested ceremony.
JULES B0IS' TRAGIC ROMANCE
When Jules Bols, the distin
guished man of letters of France, was
In America last snrinc those who wern
familiar with his life recalled Mm
tragic romance of his early years thnt
accounts for his deeD Interest in the
advancement of woman
In his youih M. Bols fell In love
with a woman who, loving him In re
turn, was bound by n marrlaeo un
fortunate and at tho same time, un
der tho French law. indissoluble. Tho
woman died In reality of a broken
heart, and M. Bols, moved at once by
ner sad fato and his own sorrow,
vowed his lifo to tho cause of tho
emancipation of woman. It is from
this standpoint thnt he vlewp tho wnr
or tno nations, concerning which he
has tho Idea that tho outcome will
bo for the woman what the revolution
was for France. It is, he says, the
4l89 maternclle"-J-tho date of the
fights of mothers.
Government, lin rjivb lino lioon
maintained and operated by brute forco to no end but the incomparablo
BlaURhter Of human Hfn now cnlnp on. vhlf1i wrltna Jn lntni-a nf hlnnil
pago of political history that "it is not good for man to bo alono." It is aa
IfiXI. .1 . a . ...
muu gouu lor man 10 ne aiono m tne government of cities and of states as In
any other situation In life, therefore a new Eve Is to como the woman who
will take her place bcsldo man in nolltlcs emnowered with rlehtn nnmmon.
surato with her duties.
PEDDLER TO PROFESSOR
Leo Wiener, professor of Slavic
languages at Harvard university, fa
mous educator, author of numerous
philological and literary works and
fathor of tho boy prodigy, Norbort
Wiener, got his start as a teacher in
Kansas City, whero he once sold shoe
strings on the sheets. Tho Btory of
his eight years hero is a convincing
proof of the theory that tho success
ful man makes bis own opportunities.
When tho young Russian immi
grant first went to KansaB City, after
working on a Kansas farm, he was
penniless and friendless. His first
Job was as janitor of a dry goods
store. Then a French-Canadian ped
dler persuaded him to tako up his
own profession and supplied him with
25 ceuts capital. He started out with
a paper box full of shoestrings ami
other things, and more than quad
rupled his capital beforo evening. Ho
prospered greatly and soon became
known to tho wholesale houses as a
bold and shrewd purchaser of slightly damaged goods Then young Wiener
discovered the public library, and thenceforth devoted to traffic only enough
tlmo to provide himself with necessaries. The rest of the time ho spent in
Btudy In the library. Several years later ho obtained a position as teacher in
tho Central high school of Kansas City. From there ho went to the Uni
versity of Missouri, and thence to Harvard.
C
MILLIONAIRESS WHO WORKS
"I can't think of anything moro
stupid than days dovoted to brldgo
tournaments, to pink-tea gossip and
entertaining hosts of people in many
of whom you havo not tho slightest
Interest"
So says Miss Rosalie Jones, who
has gained national prominonco in
connection with tho suffrage move
ment, nnd, putting her Ideas into prac
tice, she has becomo an automobile
saleswoman in New York. This
would bo In no way remarkable wero
It not for tho fact that Miss Jones re
cently Inherited more than a million
dollars through tho death of her fa
ther, Oliver Livingston Jones. Tho
Jones mansion at Cold Spring Harbor,
L. I., Is ono of tho show places of a
section noted for its handsome estates
and overlooks 500 well-kept acres.
Rosalie's family havo closed their
town houso and taken up their all
year residence in tho country, but
Rosalie herself Is living in a modest
hotel In tho city and earning happiness and contentment as well as money.
No woman can bo self-respecting, sho believes, who Is dependent upon some
one for a livelihood.
Miss Jones denies that she has lost interest In woman suffrage, asserting
that, on the contrary, Bko is moro than ovor keenly allvo to tho need of tho
ballot for women.
ii mil Hi i miinniMWniw t nn J