This vintage book contains an interesting and practical study of the identification of gemstones, pearls, and ornamental minerals. A comprehensive and profusely-illustrated handbook for both novice and experienced practitioners, this volume is not to be missed by anyone with a keen interest in the subject. The chapters of this book include: “Crystallography”, “Physical Properties”, “Specific Gravity”, “Light”, “Measurement of Refractive Index”, “Colour in Gem Distinction”, “The Microscope”...

A funeral director reveals why anyone would want to hang out with dead bodies and other curiosities of a life spent inside a mortuary.With unusual anecdotes and unbelievable truth, funeral director and embalmer Robert Webster shares empathetic yet entertainingly quirky stories about the funeral business. He answers those embarrassing questions foremost in our minds and provides readers with behind-the scenes stories of what really goes on after you're dead with bot...

Robert Webster Jones invites you on a whimsical journey beyond the grave — in “Light Interviews with Shades”, the ethereal voices of longdead legends converse with the living, revealing witty confessions, hidden truths and mordant humor from the beyond. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}Imagine sitting down with the ghost of Bluebeard, Queen Elizabeth I, Hippocrates, Don Quixote, or even King Solomon — hearing them speak candidly about their liv...

A witty and imaginative series of fictional interviews with historical and literary figures from beyond the grave.

In "Light Interviews with Shades," Robert Webster Jones crafts a mesmerizing tapestry of poetic discourse that explores the ephemeral nature of existence and the interplay between light and shadow. Through a series of intimate dialogues with personified shades, Jones delves into themes of memory, identity, and the passage of time, utilizing a lyrical style rich in metaphor and imagery. The work stands at the intersection of modernist and postmodernist literature, offering a complex yet acc...

Letters to Guy by Lady Barker is a charming and insightful collection of personal letters that offer a vivid glimpse into Victorian society, family life, and the author’s experiences within the British colonial world. Written with warmth, wit, and keen observation, these letters capture everyday events, social customs, travel impressions, and reflections on culture and character. Lady Barker’s engaging narrative voice transforms ordinary correspondence into lively social commentary, reveal...

Henry D. Rack is one of the most profound historians of the Methodist movement in modern times. He has spent a lifetime researching and writing about the rise and significance of John Wesley and his Methodist followers in the eighteenth century and has also uncovered the historical significance of the Methodist Church in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Collected here in this volume are thirteen essays honoring the life and scholarship of Dr. Rack from a host of international schola...

When a new influenza virus emerges that is able to be transmitted between humans, it spreads globally as a pandemic, often with high mortality. Enormous social disruption and substantial economic cost can result. The 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic was undoubtedly the most devastating influenza pandemic to date, and it has been Webster's life's work to figure out how and why. In so doing he has made a remarkable contribution to our understanding of the evolution of influenza viruses and ho...

"Hello my young friends.My name is Storyteller Pearl.Here are some of my Amazing tales for you to enjoy.The first story is called Jasmine and William's Enchanted Adventure, which takes two children to a mystical land that is not too far away.Our second story is a limerick. A short poem about a little girl and her best friend called Ziggy.Follow the adventures of Percy on our third tale about a lost pigeon, and his incredible journey to find his way h...

When the oft-golden box containing the dental remains of the Buddha gets stolen... again; the last surviving warrior monk and his hapless English friends pursue the suspect to an underground citadel in Cambodia.Following an exhaustive search and injecting chaos into every situation along the way, they discover a family of scientists had the box stolen to use the Buddha’s remains in an experiment that would not only have severe ramifications should they succeed, but change our lovea...

Thousands of years ago, the land that would become Northern Kentucky emerged above sea level when a large portion of the continental plate bulged upward. Today, the region rests on the crest of that uplift, known as the Cincinnati Arch. And just like the fascinating geology of this region, Northern Kentucky continues to grow and develop. From the arrival of the Native Americans, to the first European settlers in the late 1700s, to the building of Ark Encounter at Williamstown in 2016, Nort...

Hello, my young friends. My name is Story Teller Pearl.Here are some of my Amazing tales for you to enjoy.Our first story, Jasmine and William’s Enchanted Adventure, takes you to a mystical land, not far away.Our second story is a limerick. A short poem about a little girl and her best friend, a hungry GeckoOur Third tale follows the adventures of Percy, a lost pigeon, and his journey to find his way home.Our final tale is from the case files of Worl...