The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-07
THE COLLECTIONS or 4 CARDINAL.
some Of the Gems Of Antoneiips Cabinets of
Jewels pnd Marbles.

Frofp the I0ndon Times.
Cardinal Antonelli has left his collection
OF precious stones and rare marbles, about which
80 much haze been said hat which so few have
seen. 10 his nephew Agostino. instead Of to the
Vatican Museum. lie had formed collection,
as complete az N has ever been In the power of
man to D,ina tose her, of every kind OF stone
the clobe contains, from the diamond to the
comtnonest pnmice. sandstone, or tttfo.
when the fancy IRA took the Cardinal can-
not tell, tut those opp1rtuniuos at his COM
M md, which few but Cardinal Secretary Of
state would he likely to possess. Antonclli used
In order to enrich his collection from every part
Of the world. TO whatever distant lands the
Roman Church extended her dioceses and mis-
sions, there was somebody acquainted with the
fact that mineraugical ana geological speci
mems, costing nothing but the breaking OF,
would DO gratefully received nv the Cardinal
Secretary, and little Nv little his collection In
ere sed, until the specimens sent him were but
additional examples of what he had received
before. remember having occasion to see MIN
to spend holiday In Ireland. Can | bring
yG,ur Eminsncss" asked any exam , Of the
lieve nave a specimen Of every stone found In
the island. even to a niece OF the Giants CIuse-
way 10 fact, am often amused at seeing how
SURPRISED some OF my lrisll friends are when
show them the number md beauty of the many
marbles found In their country"
Manv who nave eniUyed the opportunity OF
seeing the collection viii remember that they
were shown into IA richly furnished DIR wing
room. to the LETT OF that great ante room where
all was blacx except the scarlet pcretta on the
table. The first tning that struck Won was the
softness of the sofas. and the multitlicit Of
embroidered cushions, gus evidently from the
lair workers. for they were as varied IA they
were numerous. The Cardinal entered with "A
somewhat quick stoD. very Ciderent rom his
majestic movement wnen In public. You were
presented. and, placing YOU beside hin on Il
sofa, he would, aftcF few OF the ordinary
phrases of tue day. turn the conversation up
ON his collection Then. taking small
Key from his breast pocket, he would rise and
lead the Wy through series OF rooms,
round which were a hummer of hand.
la the fu ther room were the precious stones,
ana the rock crystals In which tine collection w
especially rich. RANGED IN gIisa cabin IL. These
he would unlock, aud show you some OF the
more remarkable spccimeus; and then. sending
Tor ms mlncraUeical secretary. n curious little
specialized parsonage. wonderfully learned on
the subject, would place YOU under his charge.
Inc COLLECTION was not to ne seen in all hour.
Two or three we're barely sufficient to glance at
the conteuts Ot the many ers they were
pulled out one after the other. hey were shall
pw aud divided INTO compartments, each con
tanning an example OF stone or marble cut IN
the torn Of a large PLAYING card. These were
classified with minute exactness.
W lille the poor priehLs IN distant countries
thought Of the Cardinal, and broke of otis OF
rock u send To MIN, princes ana pOtentdtes
made v.luaDle presents to the Cardinal Secre-
tary OF State uuuer the guisc Of contributions
~ his cole O. ion. Among these were remark
hbls black diamond Of gre value, some beau
tiiul PINK Le rls Of considerable size. "a large
Triangular brilliant presented 10y the Empress ~
Russia. ana set = "a ring IN tue orn of Carat.
mars nat. OF when the cords and tal sells formed
the circle, All enormous yellow sappuite given to
hin ly tie Marquis LOlenLdna, aud other jewels
OF siuilar naturc. Many Of tne rock cfyetas,
crosses and other OBJ cts. The CdrSinal ros
se-seu. also, some handsome Dresden china, but
nothing IN the way Of pictures or statuary of
any particular value.