BEAD

(bēde). Syn. Glob′ulus, sphær′ula , ., L.; Grain (de collier), ., Fr.; Be the , Perle , ., Ger. A little ball or spheroid pierced for stringing; any very small globular body‡; a bubble (‡ or tech.). A number of the first mounted on a thread or ribbon form a ‘string of beads’ or ‘chaplet.’ Materials, Manufac., . Beads are often formed of coral, gems, jet, pearls, porcelain, rock-crystal, .; but much more frequently of white and coloured gla . The mode in which these last are produced is as follows:—Gla tubes, appropriately ornamented by colour, reticulation, ., are drawn out in various sizes, and from 100 to 200 feet in length. These tubes are cut into two-feet lengths, and then, by means of a steel knife, divided into pieces having, as nearly as po ible, the same length as diameter. The resulting small fragments or cylinders are next well stirred with a mixture of sand and wood ashes, in order to prevent the closure of the perforations and their adhering together during the subsequent part of the proce . They are then placed in a revolving cylinder and gradually heated until they become sufficiently spherical. They are next sifted from the sand and ashes, sorted into sizes, first by means of sieves, and afterwards by hand, and are lastly either put up in weighed parcels or strung by women and children for the market. The manufacture of coral, gems, jet, and minerals generally, into beads, belongs to the lapidary. Uses. Chiefly to form necklaces, bracelets, and other articles of personal ornament; by milliners to decorate head-dre es, .; and for other like purposes. They are also employed among Catholic and Mohammedan nations for devotional purposes; and among savage tribes in lieu of money. They are still sometimes worn as amulets. See Bugle , Coral , Gla , Paste , Pearls , .