Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-10-03
RoDcs Of Rare Pearls.

Thouth there arc many jewels, writes Paris
CORRESPONDENT, you must not be led to bolleVe
that the Queen sent the crown jewels here'asl
have seen asserted in some of your cotempo'
ra,ics. The crown Jewels are too precious
| collection to be permitted to take the chances
of Journey across the channel, subject to tho
dcxtcritics OF such cunning thieves as tho Eog.
lish provcrbial'y Lave. These jewels never
leave tho Iowcr Of London in bulk. The Queen
sometimes, on state occasions, adorns herselt 10
| ulilioa or two of dollars worth OF them, but
| it would take 4 good many queons to carry them
all at time. :,
The French hesitatcd long time before risk
iDg the State jewels within the walls OF the cx'
hibiton-but finally devised proper security
for their preservation. They are to be seen Oh
the edge Of the Prince of Wales domlnlon. TO-
closed iu pyramid Of glass. With strong iron
clamps for fastening thereof; then circular rail-
logs Ct iron at double arms leogth from inc
glass. This pinnacle OF crystal Is elevated on
two steps above tho floor; then inside the iron
rail, at regular Intervals, 'ro lour guards'
changed every two or three hours during the
exhibit. Then outside of these, and between
the crowd and the Jewels, another chain OF
guards 10 uniform, and then outside OF these
again and among the spectators, two other cor
dops of guards 10 civilians attire.
With all these particulars you would natu"
rsly suppose the treasures safe; the govern
meut evidently docs not, for the case-lt such
q rnouu!aia Of voIves and metal can DC called
cas,-is so arranged that 10 . moment any one
OF the four guards pressed between the rsis
and the case can, By lurnlrg sort or crank
cause the whole pyramid Oh which the jewels
rest to siok uto tho deep vault under tho pave
mcnt. Thsi what happens to tho COLLECTION
at the closing OF the exhibition nightly. 1he
pusrd turns his crank aud the Jewels disappear
into mysterious safe Of iron and masonry
The Jewels arc magnificent, beyond the
power OF nero words TO say. Ropes OF such
pearls as would bc called plloe!ess buckets
full of diamonds more elitellng than frost
drops in the sua, all manner OF stones kno%n
as prt ciou5, set IN the. most ccs!Iy and crafty
fashions. Girdl.s of rubles, cmeralds, sap
phires-most OF the great orders or European
nobility set 10 the most rcsDlendent snapts'
sHcri hills clustering and crusted 10 Je"e's
end gold; impclill dladems loaded with the
richest trophies of the worlds mlnts' !udeceu'
/ always think, on contemplating TINS moun
tain OF light, that the French people are 1907
;sl 70 invest q national debt II tGls f'salon.
The center Of the mass Of jewels is the great
diamond known rs the "kcseEtr" from lts pos
session by the dIssoute Duke OF Orleans. regent
Of France after Louis XIV. 1t ts diamond
large AS an ordinary walnut, and sllttorlng III
million starry beams. Though not qulte so
large As the kohinoor-mountsIn or llght--ln IN"
British jewels, it is hardly second IN real Vniue
or besuty. These jewels, which would HI
wash-.ub Golidly packed, were IN Inc possession
of tho Elm GROSS Eugenio whom tho Emperor leit
Paris and so soon as shcs saw tho inevitable fail
r,I,,