Mother-of-pearl And Pearl Inlaying

Mother-of-pearl is chiefly obtained frora the pearl oyster which is found in tke Gulf of California, at Panama, Cubagua, Ceylon, Madagascar. Swan Itiver, Manila, and the Society Islands. The black-lipped shells from Manila are most highly prized. The Society Islands furnish thesilver-lipped sort.and Panama the "bullock" shells. The mother-of-pearl obtained from the pearl oyster is known as white pearl; that of Halwüis or seaear as aurora or ear shell; it is easily distinguished from the former by its prismatic colors and wrinkled appearance. The peculiar and varied tints exliibited by mother-of-pearl is due to the structure of its surface, which, owing to the great multitude of minute grooves upon it - often many thouands to thefnch - decompose the light which falls upon it and rellects different hues. In working up mother-of-pearl a shell is selected with a coating of the substance of a thickness as nearly as possible to suit the required purpose. Square or angular pieces are cut out witli a small circular or buck or fret saw to suit convenience, the piece being held and mampulated with the hand or clamped in a vise. Buttons and such circular pieces are cut with an annular or crown saw fixed upon a mandrel. All such tools used in cutting pearl mustie kept well moistened with water to prevent over-heating. The pieces are usually dressed upon a grindstone, tlie edge and face of which are grooved or ridged to prevent elogging. Tlie stone is kept wet when in use. When the pieces have heen properly shaped on the stone they are dressed with puniice stone and water. After the applicatioh of the stone line powdered pumice stone f ree f rom coarse grit, is applied witn a cork or cloth moistened with water. In the llnal polishing emery and rotten-stone are employed. Knife and razor handles of pearl, after having been roughed out, are drilled where the rivete are to be inserted, lightly riveted together, sliaped oh the stone, and finished as above described, the last finishing touch often being done by friction of the hand of the workman. Pearl is etched by a process very similar to tkat used in etching copper. The designs or patterns are drawn upon it with asphaltum varnish, and all parts not intended to be etclied having been similiarly protected, the picce is submitted to the action of nitric acid. When the parts unprotected have been sufliciently eaten away by the acid the piece is rinsed in cold water and the varnish washed off witli a little terpentine or benzine. The history of the postal card furnishes the advocates of a cheap postage with a strong argument for the reduet'on of the present rate. The postal cards came in use in this country in 1873. During the iirst year ending June 30, 1874, the Post-oflice department issued 91,079,000 cards. Since then the number has steadily increased, until for the past year, ending June 30, 1881, the aggregate was 308,996,000. The largest single day's delivery Wiis tliat of Mareh 14th, this year.when 5,968,000 was the iigure reached. For the year ending April 30th last the number of cards issued to the New office was 29,000,000; to Philadelphia, 14,176.000; to Chicago, 13,700,000; to Boston, 8,000,000; to St. Louis, 7,040,00J; Buffalo, 3,000,000. This branch of the postal service is also a source of revenue to the Government. For the two billions of cards to be furnished under the last four years contract the Government pays $1,088,600, while the expense of handling is estimated at $911,400. ïliia makes but $2,000,000 of cost to deduct from the $20,000,000 which the (overnment will receive for the two billions of cards, leaving an estimated proiit of $18,000,000. Palatino, N. Y., is the richest village of itsiza in the world. It has about five hundred inhabitants, and over thirty of them are worth from $5,000,000 to $20,000,000, whilesixaresaidto be worth over $20,000,000. The residents are not named, but are undoubtedly all retired plumbers, coal-dealers and