The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-03-04
Seteft Gale.
HISTORY OF A FAMOUS PERIL.

A little white room with gilt cornices
in the Tuileries is the council chamber
of that celebrated conclave, consisting of
her Majesty, Madame dc Morny, Alaaame
lie Gailhict, Madafie de Persigny and
Madame Drouyn de LhuJs, who dictate
to the world the wherew thal that they
shall be clothed. a few weeks ago the
fiat went forth that all who were to be
present at certain soiree must abandon
all other jewels than pearls. But when
the evening came the MIST magnificent
potres were not beheld in her Maiesty's
parure, which caused the greatest amaze
ment among connoisseurs for twas gene
rally imagined that the earrings, consist
ing of two pear-shaped pearls-worn by
Henri HI, and immortalized by the pic
ture of that monarch by Porbios, wherein
these pearls form on especial feature
were regarded as the finest among the col
lection belonging to the French Crown
Henri III, bestowed them upon his mig
non Guelns, and, from a descendant Of
that family, they were purchased by the
Dauphin to adorn the marriage corbiUe of
Marie Antoinette.
The wearer of the most magnificent
pearl at this ''feast of pearls" was a GER
tain Polish lady, who is remarkable for
the wealth and beauty which first caused
her to be received among the intimates
of the Tuileries, and the wit, talent, and
accomplishments which have caused her to
keep the position, in spite of the object
ions raised by those who knew her in a
more humble state of life, before marriage
with one of the first authorities of the
Russian Empire had raised her to cem-
panionship with the highest representa-
tiEes of the aristocracy and power of
France.
The pearl above mentioned hangs as a
drop to a breast-piR, of quaint and curious
fashion, which the fair owner has had the
good taste not to alter or amend according
to the change in fashion. The shape is
regular as though turned by hand; the
reflex colors on the surface are brilliant
as the varied hues of the rainbow; and
it is considered unique by the dealers
(by whom it is well known all through
Europe), from the curious manner In
which it gradually deepens in tone and
vel, for which Prince d ,midoff has offered
to barter the finest of his diamonds--for
which the Duke of Brunswick would at
one time have exchanged even his great
ruby-is rudely attached to the ring
whence it depends by simple thread of
gold passed through the narrow end; it
hangs thus free and full upon a bar of
gold placed across circle of dark blue
enamel, npon which appear cabalistic
characters, supposed by the sauan, who
have never yet been able to deeipher them
TO be the magical letters Of the Chaldees. |
The manner in which the lovely Count
ess-- the present owner, becam: pos
sessed OF this rare treasure, is in itself a
romance. Her father, who belonged to
the middle class of Warsaw, having been
led to try his fortune at Moscow, had VEN
tured upon setting up a first rate cafe in |
city, and was succeeding tolerably. we'll
when Prince Kourakin suggested that /
were the attributes of gambling house
added to these of the more innoxieus, in
nocent cafe, with its domnoes and billiard
balls, a fortune might be made easily enough.
At Moscow, all the public establishments,
no matter how they begin, are sure to end
in gambling houses, and thus was it with
thecefa in question. 1t prospered and