The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-17
A BONANZA QUEENS JEWELS.
Mrs. Bells $3.50, 900 of Glittering Gems
i'm a Maiden Lane Firms Vaults.
New York Sun.]


A few days ago the Sun printed an account,
taken from the San Francisco Chronicle, Of
the regal wardrobe prepared by Worth, of
Paris, for bonanza queen from the Pacific
coast who is about to visit Europe for an ex-
tended tour. The wardrobe is the finest own
cd by any lady on the American continent
and cost fabulous sum OF money The lady
referred to is Mrs. r. P Bell, of San Fran
cisco. She is native Of Boston, about twen-
ty-eight years OF age, and the wife of Mr..
Bell, one OF the directors of the Bank of Cal
ifornia. He is also largely interested insil-
yer mines with Flood O'Brien, Mackey and
others, and is said to have an income of $780,
600 week; Mrs. Bell is now at the Hoffman
about the first of April. She appeared at the
charity ball, flashing with diamonds from the
crown Of her head to the buckles on her
shoes, and created an immense sensation
Few knew who she was, and fewer still the
value OF the gems she displayed. Her jewels
flrm Tor safe Keeping, and to undergo some
alterations before her departure for the,lt,ld
World. A reporter of the Sun was permitted
an inspection OF this glittering array yester-
est and most costly collection of gems owned
by any one lady in the United States.
There is stomacher and chatelaine of dia-
monds that is perfectly bewildering to look
upon; In the golden belt alone are $50 dia-
monds. The chatelaine is composed of stars
and crescents OF exquisite workmanship, de-
scending to the bottom of the skirt. It con-
tains 1878 diamonds. A tiara of diamonds is
fashioned into crosses with one huge block
pearl IN the center that alone cost $1,000.
There are two armlets, with star pendants Of
diamonds to match the stomacher, each con-
tanning fifty large stones. Two bracelets
matching the last named article contain gems
Of the purest water, weig ching from two to
and star pendants cost $4,000 The central
spark weighs ten carats, and other stones
weigh from three to eight carats each. None
are OF less weight than three carats. There
are just 240 diamonds in this trifing article of
adornment.
large emerald and diamond necklace of
magnificent workmanship has $50 large dia-
monds and an equal number of emeraIds.
There are large diamond and emerald ear
drops to match the above. Bracelets of en-
article OF adornment that would make half of
Murray Hill sigh with envy is coral and
diamond necklace. The coral is of fine pink
hue, and the diamonds are Of large size and
great; brllliancy, attaining striking and
Dazzling contrast. Ear-drops and two brace
lets OF the same complete the set. A butter
fly hair ornament has the body of the insect
composed OF a tine large pearl Of yelIowish
white Pearls. sapphires, rubies and emeralds
compose the wings. There is a second but
terfy hair ornament. A fine large opal, of
magnificent 20 colors, composes the body, while
the wings are made of diamonds pearls and
rubies, arranged to represent the national
colors. A vinaigrette Of solid Roman gold
has a. solitaire diamond in the centre re-
sembling a fair-sized calcium light In this
superb collection are such trifies as two soil
taire diamond ear-drops, weighing eleven and
a half carats each, which cost $4,000; cha
telaine watch set in gold with turquoise dia-
monds and rubies; four magnificent dia-
and sapphire rings; and two large diamond
mond shoe buckles to match the necklace.
The total value of this fortune in Jewels is
$25o,0OO. It is to be expected that this pro-
duct OF the American bonanza era will make
effete monarchies of the other side, but
in the English and French capitals as we'll
1t is understood that she will endeavor to
make life endurableabroad by the aid of
such acces series as a 100000 letter of credit,
maids, nurses, and so on.