Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-26
SINGERS AND DIAMONDS.
How Great singers and Actresses
Buy Their BriIllaRtS.
Doef


St. Louis POst,l
Mr.. Speyer, the well-known dia-
mond merchant of this city, gave
our reporter the following anecdotes
Of some great singers with whom he
has had transactions:
"Prima donne," said Mr.. Speyer,
care good judges generally of the
articles, and rarely buy a stone un-
less they think they can realize as
much for it as they paid, should
they want to dispose of it. Kellogg,
for instance, is a capital Judge Of
diamonds. If she looks at one and
says that stone has a flaw, it is
utterly useless to attempt to prove
that it has not. She is self-willed. Z"
Chow did you come to sell to SO
many PROFESSIONALS"
"Whenever ] got anything good
in the way of diamonds, and heard
they were coming to st. Louis, l
would keep them and make it my
business to call on them. Every
artist of note that has visited St.
Louis | have sold to-"
"Can you name some Of the stars
whom you have suppliedF"
81 have sold diamonds to Chris
tine Nilsson, Parepa Rosa, Kellogg,
Cary, Mrs. Charles Moulton,
Capoul, Brignoli, Mrs. Seguin,
Nine. Vanzant, Caroline Richiugs;
also Adelaide Nelson, Janauschek,
Clara Morris, Fannie Davenport,
Lydia Thompson, Lolita, Edwin
Booth, Jefferson, Florence, Mckee
Rankin, Mas, Tom Karl, W. Carle-
ton and innumerable Others. Some
times, too, it was curious how | sold
them"
"Con you tell me few in
stances?"
"Well, | tried to cell Pauline
Lucca some, but she, smiling good
humoredly said "My dear child,
| have got more diamonds than l
know what to do with" When
Christine Nilsson was here l had a
splendid diamond weighing FIVE
and. a.half carats, which | was anK-
ions to sell her. She was in the
city for a week. On Tuesday !
showed her the diamond, but the
thing dragged along until Friday
came, and she was to leave on
Saturday night. 1 datermined, as
| was sitting in the store, 10 bring
the matter to a conclusion.
81 walked to the hotel; it was q
dull, dreary, rainy afternoon in
November; and when | arrived
there l thought if sent up my
card she might be in negligo and
not inclined to see me. So walked
mp to her room and knocked at the
door, when Come in was called.
Evidently she imagined it to be The
boy. l walked hurriedly to the
center of the room and the prima
dona was recliningin a calico wrap
per in deshabille on the sofa. Mrs.
Donaldson, her companion, was also
present. Iapologized for my IAtrH-
sion and came TO the purpose Of my
visit. She examined the stone at
tentively and then asked if she
might take it from the room. !
said yes, and she went out with it.
] then turned to Mrs. Donaldson
who had been examining q diamond
ring in my store, and delieately
told her ! Was anxious to sell to
Miss Nilsson for the sake Of the
advertisement, and il she would
use her influence in my behalf |
would present her with the ring.
Just then Henry Jarrett, her agent,
came in. l also secured his aid,
and he said: "Rely on me, my boy;
never mind the woman; I've the
influence" Nilsson returned and
Immediately they began talking in
French, ard it ended by her giving
me draft on August Belmont, Of
New York, FOR $4,000
When Adelaide Nelson was stop
ping at the Southern, with her hus-
band, Phil Lee, / went there to sell
her a pair of earrings for s5050. AS
| entered the hotel telegram came
for her. ] had presentiment that
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