The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1879-10-22
A Pearl of Great Price.

About year ago says London evening con-
temporary, aud iIl-clothed and needy-looking
Jew went into jewelers. shop in the Herren-
gasse, at Pestb, drew smulr paper parcel from
his pocket unfolGed it carefully, and took from
it little blHck object. Holding it up before
the jeweer. he asked "What is that worth p
After scrutinizIng it very closely for some time.
the jeweer replied THAT is worth great deal
it is a black pearl, one of the greatest rarites.
i have seen many gray one, bat never before
black one. 1t has one fault small breach,
which shows that it was formerly in a setting
but its value is very great. Where did you buy
it?' The Jew answered, "a gentleman wishes
TO leave it with me 10 pawn and | want to know
what it is worth" The jeweer said be could
not exactly tell, the thing being such rarity.
May | lend 200 CULLEN upon it p asked the
Jew. Three times as much at the very least,"
replied the other. will you not buy the pearl ?"
NO. indeed" said the shopkeep; there Is but
one firm in the Monarchy which would have an
opportunity Of selling it again that is the
Court jeweler. Rierdermann, at Vienna" The
Jew left with the pearl. Next day he appeared
at BerdermaDns shop. Bierdermann, however,
made short process with bis would be custom
er. He had no sooner seen the black pearl than
he sent for the police, and had the Jew arrested
upon the spot. AZ the hearing of his case, the
Jew said his name was Isaac Roth, and that be
was the owner of a pawnshop in Grosswardein.
One day he saw great stir going on outside the
house of a neighbor and co-reigionist, Herr
Gyur Upon enquiry he found that poor Gyuri
was IN trouble for on-payment of taxes and
that the local officer was selzng his furniture.
Roth paid the needed sum, twenty CULLEN, out of
his own pocket, and Gyuri, out of gratitude, pre-
senled him with the pearl, of whose immense
value he had no conception. The story was
confirmed by witnesses from Grosswarden
Gyuri. as it seems, had been the confidential
servant of a renowned man, Count Louis Batthy-
ami and when Batthyani died be presented
his servant with his breast-pin, as a memorial
Gyuri, under the pressure of want. had already
sold the gold in which the pearl was set, but he
would not part with the jewel. partly out of es-
TEEN for his late master, and partly from no.
ton that it was oil no great worth. The pearl,
as the Court eweler, Bierdermann, at once per-
ceived, must have been stolen property at some
period in its adventures. Being an authority in
the history Of famous jewels, be recollected that
three black pearls had formerly adorned the Eng
fish Grown. and that they were stolen from that
important symbol about two centuries ago. They
were renowned as the only black pearls in the
world, according to the belief of that time. The
English Government. as Herr Bierdermann stat
ed, advertised for them in vain. How Count
BatthyanI got hold oil the pearl nobody knows,
but it is conjeciured that he must have bought
it at one of the old curiosity shops. places in
which he delighted to rummage while it is GER
tain that be was ignorant of its value. or he
would scarcely have hequeathed it to a servant,
without any hint OF the greatness of the bequest.
The jew of Grosswardein, according to the story
current in Vienna. is now thanking the black
pearl for the foundation of his fortune since the
English Government hearing of its discovery.
have bought it from him for the sum of 20 goo
CULLEN.