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The Seaforth News, 1952-02-07, Page 7Diamonds Retain Sliy-High Prestige Back ill 1884 --just seventeen years after one of the children of Vrouw Jacobs picked up a pretty white pebble on the bank of the (]range River at Hope •Pawn atm thereby started the South African diamond industry --J oris Karl IIu- ysmans, the French novelist, predic- ted the end of the diamond as a precious stone. They were, he said, becoming "notoriously common." Sixty-seven year later, diamonds are becoming commoner and coot- moner. the demand k rising, and so are the prices in 1950 the world sales of De Beers Consolidated Mines, Ltd., the great South Afri- can combine, amounted to nearly £51,000,000—an all -tithe record. The United States alone imported $103,300,000 in rough and cut gem diamonds. Last year De Beers sales and American imports were running well ahead of last. When the De- cember figures are in, all previous records will be topped. Just as a seasonal note, December—not June—is the big month for engage- ment rings. In tie jewelry busi- ness, this is known as knocking off two occasions with one stone. How is it that, in a world of in- constant fashion and changing val- ues, the diamond continues to be the most sought-after of precious stones and maintains its value un- impaired? Iiow is it that, after pro- ducing over 250,000,000 carats in the last ninety years, the diamond in- dustry today is still flourishing like the green bay tree?—inquires E. W, Kenworthy in The New York Sun- day Times, Meditating on these questions the other day, a venerable New York diamond merchant, a man of courtly, Old World manners and literary turn of phrase, with over fifty years' experience in the trade here and abroad, said: "I think you can set it down to this: First, the unstaled custom of love. Second, the manifold uses of industry. And finally, the sweetest, neatest, tightest monopoly the world has ever seen. In a nutshell, sentiment and industry demand the supply, and the diamond monopoly supplies the demand—np to a point and at controlled prices." To take up these matters in or- der, the business of love and dia- monds can be .dispatched quickly. The connection is a mystery, but it's a fact. "Wooten," said Barney Barnato, one-time head of the great London first of Barnato Brothers, "are born every day, and men will always buy diamonds for women." The soundness of this observa- tion is lyrically subscribed to by Miss Lorelei Lee, the philosopher of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." On a more prosaic—and less pro- fane—level, it is confirmed Iv the United States Census Bureau, which solemnly announced the other day that diamond imports bear a direct relation to marriage statistics. Mar- riage may be a "Devonshire lane" —TT, a "noose"—that is a matter of poetic judgement. What is not open to any male judgement is the determination of the female to go down one or stick her head in the other possessed of a diamond. But in addition to being the pen- ultimate symbol of victory in the war of the sexes, the diamond is also an essential of industry. Since only diamond cut diamond, it fol- lows that it cuts everything else. In oil well drilling, diamond -edged bits chew their way through as much as 20,500 feet of earth and rock, Set in steel saws, diamonds bite through granite or marble day and night for three and a half months and still arefresh for re- setting. A diamond die draws 8.000 miles of copper wire without vari- ation in gauge, Diamonds are used as bearings for the most delicate Navy chronometers. And the finest precision tools are trued on wheels impregnated with diamond dust. The diamonds used in industry are the "uncuttabtes"—stones of imper- fect crystal structure which will not let the fire through when pol- ished, and stones of brawn, gray, green or sickly yellow color --and bort, which is the name for low- grade "industrials" which are often pulverized and used irincipally for grinding. Fndustrials are really a by- product of diamond minim;-. Al- though they tnalce up two-thirds of production by weight, they account for only one-fourth of the value. It is the gent stone ---tile frozen love philter --that earries the industry. And gents support the industry be- cause the demand is always kept panting behind the supply. This is where the monopoly comms M. Ninety -live per cent of the World's diamonds conte from Afri- ea—the -Union of South Africa (in- cluding the former mandate of Southwest Africa), the Belgian Congo, :Portuguese Angola, French West and Equatorial Africa, the British Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Tanganyika. 'l'he other 5 per cent collies from South America— Brazil. Venezuela, British Guiana. In tering of quality, the Belgian Congo is the world's largest pro- ducer. In 1949 over 9,650,000 carats were taken from the alluvial sands of the Kasai River, a tributary of the Congo, But this production was 95 per cent crushing bort and worth only $11,800,000. In terms of value, South Africa —after nearly a century—still holds undisputed leadership, In 1949• it produced 1,254,000 carats, but these were worth—in the rough—almost $38,000,000. Most of the high-quality gems from South Africa come out of the famous old "pipe" mines—Wessel- ton, Dutoitspan, Bulfontein, Jagers- fonitein and Premier. The shafts of these mines are driven down beside the blue clay -cores of extinct vol- canoes. All of the big South African pipe mines are either owned outright, controlled, or leased by the De Betrothal Rumored—Buckingham Palace today kept mum when asked by reporters whether Princess Margaret would marry the Earl of Dalkeith, 28. The London press was convinced a royal betrothal was in the offing despite official silence. The princess is shown attending a recent ball above with the Earl and his mother, left, the Duchess of Buccleugh, Beers Consolidated Maines, Ltd., and six affiliated companies De Beers also holds the rights to dia- mond production along 300 miles of Atlantic coastline in South-west Africa. The only mines in South Africa of any consequence which are not controlled by De Beers are the state mines on the Namaqua- land coast, owned by the Union of South Africa, and the small alluvial diggings of prospectors on state lands in Namaqualand and along the rivers in the Transvaal and Cape Province, The total non -De Beers production amounts to about 300,- 000 carats a year. TABLE T Jar Andre-ws A whole dinner 011 one platter is possible when you make a noodle -carrot ring and fill it with creamed tuna, chicken, or any mild leftover meat or fish. To make this in a hurry, you just combine about a cup of chicken or fish with 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 2 table- spoons cream, and. % can sliced, stuffed olives. Heat thoroughly in top of double boiler and fill the ring with it. Carrot -Noodle Ring 4 ounces medium noodles 2 eggs 1 cup milk 2 tablespoons melted butter or. margarine 14 teaspoon salt Dash pepper 1 cup cooked carrots, riced 1 small onion, chopped Cook, drain, and rinse noodles. Beat eggs, stir in niillc and butter, and add seasonings. Fold in noodles, carrots, and onion and mix thoroughly. Pour into well greased 8 -inch ring mold. Set in shallow pan of hot water 15 inch deep and bake at 350 degrees F. about 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand a few minutes. Loosen edges and invert on hot plate. A casserole of spaghetti noodles, or macaroni is given new interest by the addition of olives, and here is a recipe—it's pretty served in in- dividual casseroles — where the sauce is made as the dish bakes, be- cause then the cheese melts and blends with other ingredients. Olive Noodle Casserole 8 ounces egg noodles 11/2 cups evaporated milk 3 tablespoons grated onion 1.4 teaspoon prepared mustard 1/2 cup chopped ripe olives teaspoon salt 1/2 pound grated Canadian cheese Cook and drain noodles. Com- bine milk, onion, mustard, olives, Nwi Slain—Sister Anthony, 52 -year-old American nun, was shot through the heart as she stood en the steps of a convent in lamella, Egypt. She was born Bridget Ann Timbers at Groton -on. Hudson, The slaying was blamed en Egyptian terrorists. salt and cheese and mix well. Add to noodles and inix well but lightly, Pour into 4 individual casseroles, decorate with additional olives, and bake at 350 degrees F. for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned. * * A spaghetti dish that includes cottage cheese and sour cream offers a variation: Spaghetti IVlornay 1 cup elbow spaghetti 1 cup cottage cheese 1 cup sour cream 1 cup minced onion 1 clover garlic, minced tis teaspoon Tobasco sauce 1 teaspoon salt cup nippy cheese Cook, rinse, and drain spaghetti. Combine with all other ingredi- ents except the nippy cheese. Pour into greased, 2 -quart casserole and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake at 350 degrees F. about 40 minutes. An unusual soffe is made with noodles and chipped beef. When served .with mustard sauce, this becomes a dish for a special luncheon or Sunday evening sapper. A fruit salad, French-syle green beans, and hot, buttered crusty bread stake it festive. Chipped Beef Souffle 4 ounces noodles 3 tablespoons butter or margarine 3 tablespoons flour 1 cup milk 1 tablespoon chopped parsley 1 cup grated cheese 3 eggs, separated 1 cup chipped beef, rinsed Dash pepper Cook, drain, and rinse noodles, Melt butter, add flour and peppe, and unix well: Gradually add milk, stirring until thickened and add parsley and cheese. Heat just enough to melt cheese. Pour slowly over egg yolks. Mix well. Add heel and noodles and unix. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Pour into greas- ed casserole; izake at 325 degrees F, for 60 minutes. Sauce is made by combining 1 egg, 1 tablespoon sugar, I table spoon prepared mustard, 14 cup vinegar, 14 cup water and pinch of salt in top of double boiler and stirring until thickened MERRY Md\IA ERIE "Re's really quite precocious .. , asked fora sandbox on hts second birthday-" Getting Ready For That Painting Job If you happen to be planning or re -decorating your home, here are 4 few "do's" and "don'ts" that will help ' give the job a professional • loiik. Do be sure the walls are clean and smooth. Soap and water will banish grease. Sandpaper will smooth down bumps. And if there are cracks in the plaster, by all means fill them in arid cover ttie patch job with a primer coat in the finish color before applying the final coat. Also add these two items to your list of painting preparations: Remove all ha:dtcare ,. windows and walls, so they won't be splattered with paint: Or, cover the hardware with petroleum jelly and paint splatters will wipe r'.ght oft And don't forget to prepare win- dows for painting. Cover the panes with masking tape or a masking liquid which will peel right off when you're finished, In this way, you'll avoid the boring job of scrap- ing paint off the window panes, w•ccks after the painting's dune, Good brushes are important, too. - Buy cheap ones and bristles will fall out, Be sure you have the right size brush for the job. A large brush is ie,cal for open surfaces, while smaller sizes do well for wood- work and the like. As for painting technique, don't dip -a brush more than halfway into the paint can. And don't drag a brush against the side of the ran to remove excess paint. This will spoil the brush. Instead, tap the brush against the can riot. And don't be in too much of a hurry. Never paint on any surface which isn't dry. Painting the kitchen chairs? Have cracks and wobbling repaired before you attack the finish. Loose parts can be pinned in , place with screws. If trouble is in brace of chair leg, have husband chill a hole for screw shank and use a countersink bit to set the screwhead below the surface. Cover screwhead with wood putty. If joints of chair have just undergone a re -gluing. remember they should ser for about six hours before screws of any type are inserted, ' Don't he surprised to find a Gaas»Turbine Car The hover t.euzpatny.' f Binning - ham, England, first to produce a gas turbine- automobile, has built an improved model which reduces fuel consumption to about what it would be in a piston engine of coin - parable power. 'The ear runs equal- ly well on gasoline, kerosene and heavy oil. Fuel eonsmai tion is reduced by utilizing exhaust gases to heat the air and fuel fed to the engine. loose -sitting rung Mien you attempt to reset an old joint. !Woodshrink- age accounts for this in many in- stances and gine alone can't be ex- pected to hold Net solidly. To remedy; coat rung with glue, wind on .a layer of silk thread, then apply more glue. Tap rung into place, if this stilt doesn't supply a tight enough ,lit, apply another layer of silk thread and glue. Application of enamel itself re- quires more patience and care than skill for a durable, washable finish. Before you tackle any finish, look for splits, ail holes or open joints and use noneshrinking wood putty to butter -toles slightly more than full. After tiller has dried, sand smooth. Iinless yon repair all such cracks, you'll litsd finish will emphasize rather than conceal these imperfections. Surfaves are sanded with No. U sandpaper and sharp corners are rounded slightly so not to chip. Sanding, of course, is done with wood's grain; cross -grain sanding scratches. Turpentine -soaked cloth will remove all dust particles. Enamel undercoat is high in hid- ing power so brush out thoroughly, avoid a heavy, gummy coat. Don't overload brush and brush out runs and sags before they harden. Start painting at the top, with the exception of chairs which are turned upside down and painted rungs and legs first. Undercoat should be thoroughly dried, then sanded, very lightly with 000 sand- paper, but care should be taken as it's easy to cut through soft under- coat. Apply enamel in small squares and smooth with light cross brush- ing, working rapidly all the time, but don't overbrush. Brush marks will show if enamel starts to set before you're finished brushing. Dip only half of brush and apply with light touch using only tip of bristles. Don't Re Reckless With New Drugs At the first sign of what may be es rr,Yct, influenza, grippe or a boil on the neck the average citizen is nicely to buy serine antibiotic at the corner e run store and swallow it in hap - Inward doses. Sometimes unexpect- ed complications follow this reek. • Less practice and cause no end of trouble. 'I'liis is especially true of aureomycin, t e r rata, yC e in and cliloromycetin. Dr. Sylvan IJ, Man - beim discusses thew three in the New York State icon -nal of Mesli- cine..lecording to him, self-dnctor- int; with tate three bias brought ah o u t ":urorectal complications which in some instances were Severe enough to requite surgical interven. • tion." 11is findings confirm those ptablishc1 last year by other physicians. • Dr. Manbeint reports that the. rectaland anal troubles which in his - experience follow the swallowing of aureomycin, 1erraunycin or chloro- mycetin constitute a distinct. disease entity. The -re are pains, itching. burning • sensations, bleeding. Dr. Manheim's cases included children 6 years old and men over .70. Males were more frequent suffers than females in the hundred cases that he has collected and analyzed. In four eases operations had to be performed. Out of the 100 cases, sixty-nine had been treat- ed with aureomycin, twenty-one with terranrycin, four with chloro- mycetin, four. with a combination of aureomycin and terranrycin, one with aureomycin and chloroniycetin and one with terranrycin and chloro- mycetin. Of the 100 cases fifty-nine had no history of anorectal troubles before the antibiotics were taken. Why the three antibiotics in quer tion should do the harm described is not clear. It may be that the normal microscopic organisms (flora) of the intestines are killed. Accepting this as a working hypothesis, Dr. hlanheim concluded that if any in- fections resist the antibiotics they were sure to find fertile ground in the anorectal region. Accordingly. he told his patients to drink fer- mented milk and buttermilk—Met- chnikoff's Method of correcting bacterial departures from the norm- al ounal in the intestinal tract. Real cures were effected. The usual ointments and powders were not so satis- factory. Elephants, Ostriches, Stags, Giraffes Matched In Mortal Combat Still another big Festival is in the making, or Rome now plans to highlight 1900 years of the Colos- seum, dating from the architect's plan. Not that the birthday show is likely to equal the inaugural spec- tacle of A.D. 80 which lasted 100 days and cost the lives of 5,000 wild beasts in front of a constant audience of 100,000. Yet even now t h e crumbling Colosseum has something to celebrate. It's half as large again as the Dome of Dis- covery in London and twice es high! 'Twelve thousand slaves lashed into forced labor, worked for over twelve years on tate building tasks. When the work was completed, in- stead of a bonus, some of them were flung to the lions. 1Viten the spectacle threatened to become monotonous, the arena was hooded to introduce novelty. Elephants, stags, even giraffes and ostriches were matched in combat. Yet time brought revenge. Abet 500 years the (toles which disfigure the arcades in this day were made by a minor Hitler in attempting to extract the valuable bronze of the awning supports. The gold leaf and silver were chipped away and in A.D. 1000 the Colosseum was being used as a fortress by bandits. People had even forgotten its original name, the Amphitheatre Flavian. An Englishman, the Ven- erable Tiede. impressed by its colos- sal size first christened it the Colos- seum. The Colosseum became a hospital, a silversmith factory, and then a quarry, Guardians of Roman Treasure? Thousands of workmen carted away its stones to help build the palaces of Rome and Venice. St. Peter's in Rome incorporated some .of the material. In all, two-thirds of the once mighty structure was carted away. That's why some views of the Colosseum present less than half a building. At one time 400 varieties of wild flowers thrived amid the stone benches, while the grassy arena be- came a weaving mill. Later, a tribe of wild cats infested the ruins and kept visitors away. Then ru- mor spread that the cats were guardians of a Roman treasure and eager fortune -bunters began to pull tip the very foundations. Fire, earthquakes and hurricanes increas- ed the havoc. Ice -Melting `Derby': LA Gets Cold, Cold Start It was a cold (42 -degrees), rainy day in Los Angeles, but that city plunged bravely into the ice -melting contest set up by the chal- lenge of Carlsbad, N.M., citizens, St. Petersburg, Fla., ("the Sun- shine City") and at least six other places also started entries in the race to see which could melt a one -ton block of ice in the shcrtest, natural time. At left, Hollywood beauty Corinne Calvet and weatherman A. K. Showalter officially "start" Los Angeles entry to melting. Below, Dorothy and Jean MacAlpine lounge beside St. Petersburg's frigid entry.