A $50,000 LUMP
FIVE POUNDS OF flLUK CLAY ALL
STUDDED WITH DIAMONDS.
It Wan HmtiKftled Out of the Ktinber
ley Diamond Mined Jv a Kntllr,
nd Brought to This
C'ountrjr.J
TAKE good-sized Inmp'of
bluish putty, knead it into
tongh truuoated pyramid,
tick small bits of white and
yellow and pale bine glass into the
surface at raudora and leave the pntty
to harden, and when it ia hardened
the result will be a very fair imitation
of the in or t extraordinary specimen of
diamonriiferous earth ever brought to
thia oonntry. This specimen is now
in the possession of Benjamin V.
Levy, a diamond dealer of this city,
who bought it in aud brought it from
80 nth Africa. The illustration shows
the exaot size of the Inmp of earth.
On the surface of this lump of earth,
whioh is called blue mass, are forty
five diamonds of good size, while
many other smaller ones can be seen
glinting through it thin encrustation.
Blue mais is the regular diamond
matrix, the earth of all the Kimberley
mines of South Africa. It dissolves
like lime tinder 210 pounds pressure
in water. On an average this earth
yields abont $12 worth of diamonds to
the ton. If it were all as rioh in dia
monds as this lump supposably is,
reckoning from what appears on the
surface of it, the yield would be some
think like six million dollars a ton.
Mr. Levy lays that until he finds an
X ray that will show np the interior
of the specimen he can't tell tbe com
mercial value of his prize. As a curi
osity he considers it worth about
(50,000.
Of the diamonds on the surface of
the piece of earth the largest is reck
oned to weigh about sixteen or seven
teen carats. This one is nearly round,
and almost completely encrusted with
the blue mass. It is not of very good
-quality. The bent of tbe stones ap
pears to be of about four carats
weight. Several of tbe diamonds are
almost perfect ootohedrocs, while oth
ers show almost equal geometrical
regularity, but lets complexity. The
owner thinks that the surface value is
about f12U0. Undoubtedly there are
other diamonds inside the mass, and
what the entire value of the diamond
yield would be cud only be guessed at.
Mr. Levy refuses to say what he paid
for the specimen, but he states that,
in addition to the money, it cost him
great deal of worry and anxiety to
get it ont of Africa, as only gems
brought through the regular channels
ACTUAL SIZE OF THE 80,000 LUMP OP CLAY.
1 i .
MmMmmyMmM
THE PARTY THAT GOT THE DIAMOND CLAY FROM THE KAFFIR,
an be taken out through Capetown,
the customs ofHoials seizing all oth
ers. This little bunch of gems was
not bronght through the regular chan
nels. It wss bought from a Kaffir
who was murdered shortly after tbe
ale, presumably because the murder
era expeotod to find the proceeds of
the sale npon him, in which tbey were
probably disappointed. Kaffirs do
dot earry large sums of gold abont
with them. Here is the story of the
Mae mass so far as Mr. Levy chooses
to tell it:
"It was found," said Mr. Levy to a
805 reporter to whom he was show
ing the speoimen, "in 1891, in one of
the Kimberley mines, 1800 feet below
ibe earth's surface. A Kaffir picked
up just as it is thero. How he man
ged to get it to tbe surfaoe of tbe
earth ia beyond my power to tell ; al
most bevoud it to imagine. Only one
- who knows of th'e rigorous watch kept
by the overseers npon the Kaffirs who
work the mines can comprehend the
enormons difficulties of getting out
such a lump of earth as that. Why.
about the only way they can get single
stones Is by swallowing them.
"Let me digress a moment to tell
you something abont the mine work.
All the diggers are natives, mostly
Kaffirs. They come from their own
land four days on foot to work in the
mine, and get enough money to go
home and buy a wife from thnir Ring.
All the women are owned by the King,
who sells them to the men. That's the
way the royal exchequer is kept op,
A wife represents a very long term of
labor in the mines, to the Kalllr is not
above decreasing his period of service
by secreting o few diamonds about
him if he can. To keep the men from
getting awny with all the diamonds.
the company hns an overseer for every
six or eight workers. As the Kaffirs
work with no oloMimg other than nn
extremely small breech clout, oppor
tunities lor external oonoealment ere
very small. Every one of them is
carefully searched every day before
he leaves the mine. There are three
punishments for Kaffirs oaught stealing
diamonds. One is whipping; and it
is no joke the way it is done there.
The second is imprisonment, which is
likely to inolude whipping, and the
third is beiug oommited to the break
water to break stones. In spite of
nil these precautions there are many
diamonds stolen yearly.
"Well, to come back to tbe subject,
it is almost inexplicable bow a live
pound lump of diamond earth could
be brought out without disoovery.
Possibly the finder of it may have kept
it concealed for months in the mine
before he could get it np; and un
doubtedly there was concerted action
on the part of several men. They
generally work together. Any way,
brought out it was, and by this fel
low." Mr. Levy put his finger on (be figure
in the photograph, on the far left,
then he chauged it to the figure in the
background on the left.
"And that ohap was my scout," said
be. "I had employed him before
when I was in South Africa, and be
told me of this wonderful lump of
earth which a fellow tribesman of his
bad buried. It was in Christiania, up
north of Kimberley. I had gone there
by ox wagon with my brother and
three other white mon. We bad about
thirty boys Knflirs and Zulus, that
is, they're always called boys with
the party. The KsfUr who had the
diamonds was to meet my scout and
complete the deal, tbe price having
already been set and accepted. None
of us whites figured in the transaction
as principals. My soout took out the
money and brought back the chunk of
blue mass, and that is all there was to
it, Tbe other Kaffir it's inconvenl-
T"
ent not to have any name to call him
by, but the only name any of them
have ia just 'boy,' so far as their em
ployers are concerned the other Kaffir
joined our party for a time, rle told
me that he had been whipped for some
act of bis in tbe mines, and be felt
very revengeful over it. The picture
in which you see him was taken ontside
of Cbristian'a just before that 'boy'
left us. On bis way baok to the mines
he was murdered, bnt it isn't likely
that the murderers got any money, for
those fellows bury their stall. Tbey
work in combinations, ten or a dozen
to a combination, and pool their in
terests. All that they get is burled in
some seoret spot, aud they take turns
in guarding it. I have never beard of
one of them playing tbe others faltie,
although they are tricky enough in
their dealings with the whites. Of
eonrse, the faot that death in some
terrible form wonld be the punish
ment of any breach of faith acts as a
deterrent.
"Having got our diamond?, the next
thing to do was to get them ont of the
country. If yon go ont by the south
ern const you have to show a bill of
sale for every gem in your possession,
and you are searched pretty carefully,
too. That is the sort of protection
the compnny gets from the Govern
ment. Of course I couldn't show any
bill of sale or my purchase. The
thing to do was to get ont of the coun
try some other way. We struck across
country with our ox wagons nntil we
came to the river, and than traveled
by water to the coast. On the way we
bad some great hunting. The animals
yon see in the picture are wild beasts
shot near Christiania.
"If I were a writer," concluded Mr.
Levy, "I could write a book worth
reading abont the diamond trade of
the Katlirs down there; bnt the most
interesting chapter I'd have to leave
out because I won't ever know the
truth of it ; bow that boy got the five
pound lump of dirt and diamonds,
from the shelf, 1800 feat down, up to
the earth's surface in the fane of the
most perfect inspection syatein in the
world." New York Hun.
W0.VE 1.1 1IIU1I HATS.
la Baden Hats Are Always High and
the Fashion Never Changes.
It is commonly believed that the
high hat is a very modern thing. In
fact, the centenary is said to be due
in 1807. Hut there is a country in
Germany where it has been worn for
hundreds of years, and, curiously
enough, the wearers are of the female
sex. The women of Elzthn), Scbonacu
and other neighboring valleys in the
Grand Duchy of Baden wear high
hats as part of their best olothes.
The hat is slightly higher than the
kind usually worn by men of this and
other highly civilized parts of the
world. Ihe sides are perfectly
straight, a fashion which has prevailed
among American and English men,
but has not been soon for several
years. It is, in fact, of the variety
which bns been called the "stove
pipe." In the happy and antiquated
community of Elztbat the fashions do
not change perceptibly in the eonrso
of a hundred years. A girl is happy in
the possession of one, or at most two
high hats, and her father or husband
should be happy in the knowledge
that she does not want more.
When it comes to the brim there is
some difference between the Elzthal
woman's hat and that of conventional
man. The brim turns down slightly
at the sides, and two ribbons are at
tached here, which pass under the chin
and hold the hat on the head. Even
in primitive Elathal woman does not
go the length of wearing hat large
enough to fit her. It must perch
lightly on top of her hair, and be se
cured by something more than its own
weight.
These high hats are often handed
down from mother and daughter, and
are a souroe of much pride. Although
FASHIONABLE LADIES OF BADBN.
they are in many cases very old, they
are kept in excellent condition, and
sbow less damage than three
months-old spring net as worn by an
American woman. They are made ot
felt just stiff enoueh to hold its shape.
The hats are reputed by anoient tra
dition to be very healthy to wear, lie
cause they Interpose an air obamber
between the heat or the oold and the
top of the head. The women of Elz
thai and Sohonaoh do not suffer from
baldness, a misfortune whioh is sup
posed to be produoed among men by
the use of the high hat.
Amerlom Snake With Three Ileal.
Dr. Shaffer, a noted Iowa naturalist.
reoontly added to his collection of
serpents a remarkable throe hoailod
snake. The reptile, the first ot its
kind ever discovered, is perfeotly
formed. Its three heads are of exactly
the same size and shape. Its various
neoks are joined at the same place to
its body.
This remarkable reptile was dis
covered by William Price, a farmer,
about three miles from Elizabeth,
Penn. While Prioe was repairing
fenoe be found a snake's nest, filled
with eggs. He broke the eggs. To
his amazement, snake with three
distinct heads crawled from one of tba
shells, Prioe killed the snako and
carried it home. It was afterwards
exhibited for several days in dbaler's
drug store at Elizabeth before beiny
sent to Shaffer's brother, the Iowa
uaturalist.
The ugliest man in England ia said
to be Sir Kioherd Temple, ex-memoes
of Parliament for tba Kingston divis
Ion of Surrey.
TIN SHAKl WITH TURK! READS.
PRTS OP A LITTLE QUEEN.
The present' of the Queen Regent
of Holland to (jueon Williolmina, on
her sixteenth birthday, was a beauti
ful team of four horses. Tbe little
(Jueen is devoted to riding and driv
ing.so that Lor delight at bcr mother's
present can bo well imagined. All
her life her greatest pleasure lmsieen
her pets pigeons, dogs, cnts, ponies
and poultry having all interested her.
She is also extremely fond of flowers,
and has a fair knowledge of garden
ing. Her Majesty is sturdy in figure,
and has a sweet, serious face, stumped
with good sense.
CHILEAN WOMEN WHO WODK.
Tho brunette is the more common
type of beauty in Cuilo, though a
magnificent type ot bloudo is not un
common. The brunettes have clear,
olive skins, their features aro lluely
obiseled and their eyes, big and black,
are lovely beyond description. In both
Valparaiso aud Santiago women act as
conductors ou the street cars. The
oars aro double-decked, and the con
ductor, who wears a smart uniform,
has a seat ou tho rear platform. There
she sits and oolleots the fares of the
passengers ns they get on, aud she
riugs tbe register, wiyi whioh all the
curs are fitted, without leaving her
seat. She is affable, polite, even tem
pered and accommodating to every
one 8OMB TOILET NOVELTIES.
Unless you have a bit ot Bohemian
glass on your toilet table you have no
right to flatter yourself that you are
up to date.
There are any number of odd
shaped Bohemian glass salve boxes, pin
trays and buirpin-cuses, but as yet the
brush with a glass baok has not been
seen.
Ivory toilet articles decorated with
gold aro much in favor with those
who oau afford them. ' Upon a highly
polished mahogany table they look
very beautiful,
Tbe Bohemian glass puff boxes are
exquisite affairs, and much loss ex
pensive than tbe gold or silver ones.
The puff looks very pretty, showing
through the glass box.
Toilet articles of this delicately ool
ored glass are one of the present fuels
of the sooiety woman. It is not the
plain Bohemian glass that she favors,
but the glass that is studded with imi
tation jewels nnd wrought with gilt
designs.
FOB WINTER COSTUMES.
There is every indication that fine
qualities of French and Gorman broad
oloth aud Venetian aud Indies' cloth
will be in great use during the winter
for entire costumos, princesse dresses
redingotes, capes and jackets. The
finish of tbeso textiles this year is the
finest that has evor boen produced.
Amazon cloth is anotbor fashionable
material. These goods differ from
broadcloth in having a somi-twillud
surfuoe which is not distinct,
and whioh does not permit of tho
lustrous, finish characteristic of the
high-grade broadcloths. They are
from fifty to fifty-four inches wido,
aud cost roui $1.40 to $1.75 a yard.
Tho taste for soft, delicate woollens
like India caslunore and Henrietta
cloth is never wholly lost, although
their attractions may be temporarily
obsoured by the moro pronounced
novelty of rough shaggy, crinkled, or
repped goods, uot a few of whioh are
rather deouptive as to durability, as
many have discovered. The refine
ment that is characteristic of these
soft woolleus now murks the' fashion
able dyes among textiles noted above.
New York Post.
TUB NEW TIGHT SLEEVE.
A favorite sleeve for the plain oloth
gown whioh admits ot little garniture
has the arm fitted quite suugly almost
to the shoulder, narrowing down to
absolute tightness at tho wrist where
it spreads ovor the bund in two
deep poiuts. The only fullness of this
sleeve puffs out at tbe shoulder, smartly,
not at all iu a drooping way, but
aggressively stiff, as if making up for
the luok of quantity. Often this style
of sleeve is mude np In velvet for a
oloth gown, aud finished at the
wrist by - a soft frill of yl
low lnco. A fur moro dresy sleeve is
shown in a stylo suitable for a hand
some diuuor or reoeptioti gown, whero
more or less elaborateness is em
ployed. Over a tight lining of silk is
puckered thin moiissoline do sole in
black or whito from tho puff whioh
tops the shoulder to the frill finishing
the wrist The puff is made of the
dress material, aud is made to stand
out as stiffly as possible, finished odd
ly with a huge loop and long end of
the silk stuff caught at the top of tho
shonlder by a fancy button, and al
lowed to flutter away at the back.
Twists of Velvet, fastened with fancy
buttons, finish the bottom of the
shoulder puff and tbe wrist.
THE Pt'EIlt.O WOMEN.
"The Pueblo-Indian women nro often
very pretty as girls,and some of them
make stately young mothers," writes
Hamlin Garland in tho Ladies' Home
Journal. "They work geuerally in
groups of three or four, cooking,
whitewashing, weaving or painting
pottery. They seem to have a good
deal to cbatter about, and their smil
ing faces are very agreeable. They
have most excellent whito teeth. Their
ceremonial dress is very picturesque,
especially the costume of the Acoma
and Isleta girls. All burdens are car
ried by the women of Acoma, Isleta
and Lngiina upon the head, and they
have, in consequence, a magnificent
carriage, even late in life. The old
women of Walpi, on the contrary,
are bent and down-looking. They
carry their burdens on their backs
slung in a blanket. The girls of Isleta
wear a light cloth over their heads
Spanish fnshion, and iii inaga it with
flue grace and coquotry. The every
day dress 'of tho Hopi women con
sists of a sort of kilt, whioh is
wrapped around tho hips and fastened
with a belt (a modification of tiie
blauket of wolf-skin) ; abovo this a
sort of chemise covers tho bosom.
Their hair is carefully tended, but is
worn in an ungraceful mode by some
of the women. Tho women of llano
out tho hair in front square across
about to the lino of the lips, while tho
back hair is gathered into a sort of
billet. The front hair hangs down
over the fuce, often concealing one
eye. The unmarried womon in Walpi
wear their hair in a strange wayi
They coil it into two big disks just
nbovo tho cars 'The intent being to
symbolize their youth nnd promise by
imitating the squash flowor. The
matrons correspondingly dress their
hair to symbolize the riponcd squash.'
Some of the maidens were wonderful
ly Japuuese iu appearauoe."
FASHION NOTES.
A new French collet bus two yokes.
Pearl gray is the correct color for
new stationery.
The stiff collars and cuff are to be
with ns all wiutor.
Frog groen is tba lutoat tone in
leather curd cases and purses.
Swiss embroideries possess an
nppealiug prettiuesa irresistible to
womankind.
How much less one fuels in doubt
to owo ouo big bill rather than a soore
of little ones.
Tuoiigu it is predicted that tho
quiet colors will bo the leaders, tbe
plaids in the windows are sufUoiently
guy to make one doubt the statement.
Silk handkerchiefs in subdued blue,
green uud red tints are used ax 'vests
in tho new Louis Suiza coats, the
pointed euds ot whioh, laoe trimmed,
full bolow the wido belt ot black satin.
Most of this sensju's ooats are
braided, as well as tbe capes. A blank
broadcloth ooat shown tbe other day
bad a buck of three box plaits failing
from a braided yoke.
The whole tendency in this season's
dress materials is something trauspar.
ent enough to necessitate a silk lining
whioh, whether shot or ohameleon
gives tbe desired effeot of brillluut
coloring.
Tho new qpats have loose backs and
fronts. A Paris model in a leading
shop was of brown broadcloth, em
broidered baok and front with ap
pliqued blaok brondolotb. The co lar
was in the new slashed effect, and the
sUcto were rather mall.
I OR THE HOUSEWIFE.
DELICIOUS ORANGE DESSERT.
Shred half a dozen juicy oranges,
leaving all the pulp. Pile these small
pieces np in a china bowl. Make
rich syrup by boiling a pound of cut
sugar in wator and a little lemon
juice. Pour this syrup over the
oranges and set away in a cool place,
Before aorving spread over the top
small quantity of whipped cream.
This makes a delicious dessert fof
either luncheon or dinner. Ladies'
Home Jonrnal.
MUTTON SOUP.
Two pounds of coarse, lcan,clioppod
mutton (the scrag makes good soup
and costs little) J half an onion, sliced
ono enpf nl of milk, half a cupful of
raw rice, two quarts of cold water,one
teaspoouful of salt. Put tbe meat
into eobl water with the onion, aud
simmer four hours; when nearly done
add the salt, set away until cold, then
skim nnd strain ; return to tho pot
with tho rice, which has been soaked
for three hours, simmer half an hoar,
turn in the milk, which has been
heated, stir and serve.
TUP. BERT BLEND OF COFFER
One of the best blends of coffee if
one-bnlf Mocha nnd one-half Java.
Tbe coffeo should be bought in the
berry, and not only ground, but, if
possible, also roasted at home. As a
rule, coffee is over-roasted. The mo
ment the berries acquire golden
brown tiut and oily stuins appear
they should be taken from the oven,
and a little piece of butter melted
over them adds to the richness of the
berry. If they are left nntil dark
brown, tbe oil, which oontnins the
aroma of the coffee, evaporates, . and
the dark liquid whioh is the result of
eoffee-mnking . with burned berries ia
devoid of perfume and flavor.
TO MAKE DARIOLES.
Savory darioles are suitable either
for luncheon or supper and may be
made with boiled or roast beef, veal
or chicken. Mince the meat, season
it with salt, pepper and a little nut
meg ; add a small quantity of grated
bam (potted bain will answer the pur
pose) and a few shreds of red pickled
oabbage chopped up aud moistened
sufficiently to form into a paste with .
some liquid aspio jelly. Fill some in
dividual molds with the mixture, and
when set tnru out and place each on a
rather thick slice of tomato 'r serve
around a pilo of finely shredded let
tuce dressed with mayonnaise. Al
most any kind of flaky fili can be
used in tbe same way for filling dari
ole molds, but when this is done a
hard-boiled egg should be added' in
place of the bam and the aspio should
be whisked until frothy with a small
quantity of mayonnaise, before beiug
mixed with the fish. Philadelphia
Public Ledger.
HOUSEHOLD HINTS.
Use bits of stale bread for croutons.
Cut thorn in small dioe and brown in
the oven. Servo hot with soup. ,
All bread crumbs whioh may be in
the bread jar should be dried, rolled
fine and plaoed in a jar or osrt ready
to nsetin esoal loping meats fish, oys
ters, vegetables, o'r as thiokening.
For poison by poison oak or ivy,
lake a handful of quicklime, dissolve
in water, then paint the poisoned part
with it. Two or three applications
will ordinarily care tbe most stubborn
cases.
The foliage of homo plants should
never be allowed to accumulate, dust.
Dust chokei the plant, and elean
leaves are brighter as well ss healthier.
Plants should bo washed at least once
in two weeks.
Fowls which have long since aobieved
their majority may renew their youth
and wiu encomiums as "roast chicken"
by being stnffod, seasoned, steamed
until tender, then roasted a delioate
golden brown.
To keep tho varnished wood or
furniture looking fresb and bright it
should be rubbod thoroughly with oil.
from time to time. Only a little oil
should be used, and that carefully
rubbed in with a flauuel nntil it seems
to buvtf all gone; otherwise it will
catoh the dust, nnd the wood will look
worse than if it hud been left aloue.
Linoleum floor covering may b
made to look bright aud uew by rab
biug it with equal purU of salad oil
aud vinegar. Ruh thoroughly with a
Qanuul oloth and d. uot usu to.u loach
1 f tho mixture uor allow any oi it to
remain on the surfaoe of th linoleum.
It vory lunoii soiled, oieua the cover
ing by wiping with a oloth wet with
soap aud water before, Using tba oil
laud vluegir.