Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-09-19
"THE DIAMOND NECKLACE"
MONTREAL, August %, 1888

To Tie Editor Of The New York Star
SIR:-I noticed " an article" in several OF the
papers in your city, in relation to-" a diamond nec6-
lace worn by a young lady daughter OF Mr.. VIM.
Swain, the inventor and proprietor OF the celebra'
ted Panacea) at a ball at the United States Hotel,
at Saratoga Springs, and specializing on how many
bottles of that "remedy" must have been poured
down "the public throat" to have purchas I'd "he
precious 6riAiants," estimated, according TO ru-
NOR, at $50, 900!
Visiting at Saratoga at the time, and the subject
being one, of general conversation, there Is a httle
history connected with those Jetceks which VIII
give. as it was related to me. do not vouch for its
positive accuracy, but merely mention 1t as a pas
sing " on dit" which demonstrates that there are
two sides to a question, however inslgn'iicant-here
it is:
A few years ago Mr.. Swain received a request
from one Of the %rcigning monarchs, through The me-
dunn of a Minister Plenipoteniiary, or an " Envoy
Extraordinary, - 10 proceed Immediately to Europe,
for the purpose of administering his personal adj
vice, in relation TO an aggravated case 81 ScrcJu-
la, with which a prominent member OF the royal
family was afflicted. Mr.. Swain, considering II
| important TO test the facts of his remedy IN so high
a quarter. preparatory to its Introduction IN similar
| cases, over the whole continent Of Europe, sailed
without delay in The packet ship Susquehannah,
| from Philadelphia.
The case ia question, although it had btfiled the
science and the skill of the attending faculty."
was but an ordinary one to him. and he had The
| good fortune Of s~ubduing the disease, and OF reslo'
ring the royal sufferer to perfect health, IN about
three or four months.
Mr.. Swain was requested to name his reward.
He declined accepting any other. however, than
simply he royal autograph affixed TO an instru-
ment acknowledging the cure.
There is . deiicacy probably n proper one) with
Imperitl families in such matters, implying Gas u
docs) an infrmity Of nature at variance with the
omnipoience and The i~nfaHibiiay Of Kings, and
the request was positively but politely objected TO,
and Mr.. Swain consented 10 consider the matter
as confidential with himself and the few members
of The ROYAL household who were privy 10 IL.
Whether or not this occurred at the palace OF st.
James. of St. Peiersburgh, or ST. Clond, or any 9th
or of the European courts, | could not ascertain -
The result, however, was, that previously 10 his de
psrtnre. a string OF diamonds was presented TO him.
an behalf of the sovereign. the centre one OF which
alone is valued al $50. 000-and there are at least
twenty-five brilliants altogether; the smallest ones
are estimated at ST 900 each. A magnificent pre-
sent il is True, but what is that in comparison 10
the jewtl Of health, when weighed in "tAe 6aianee
Of hJe"
This bauble. which obtrusively dazzled the eyes
,f so many admirers, cost Mr.. Swain precisely %
bottles OF the celebrated Panacea, and his inclden-
tai EXPENSES. This little aDeedote may convince
The public that there are TWO sides TO every ques-
ton, and thai there are lights and shadows IN Amer
lean life worthy OF note