The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-31
COSTLY GEMS.
GLlTTERuNG ORNAMENTS OF SOCIETY
LADIES IN CALIFORNIA.
American Dissemination Contracted with
the Tasteful simplicity Of The
European Arist0cracy.
From the San Francisco Chronicle.I

From the Ban Francisco Chronicle1
The annual meeting Of a popular society was
held q day or two since, and In the interim,
before the meeting was called to order, dis
cussion Of some interest occurred. Said one
Of the gentlemen present: You talk about
hard times in California; there has never been
year when the purchase OF costly jewelry
and diamonds exceeded that OF the present
year"
well, the purchase OF diamonds is just the
same as permanent investment without in
terest. Diamonds can be realized on their
standard value at any time"
"But look at the risk; a fortune invested In
diamonds is liable to be swept away In q mo-
ment by fire or by thievery"
"Of course, there is risk but why are dia-
monds valuable9 1t Is simply for display.
diamonds, almost equaiing In value the hotels
themselves. Why, there is lady stopping at
one of our leading hotels who never appears
In the dining-room with less than $4,000 to
So, 900 worth OF diamonds"
This OstentatiOus display of wealth Is pecu-
liar to the American people alone, and is based
on the fIct that In this country wealth is the
only stepping stone to social distinction, while
In Europe lineage Is paramount to all none
tary considerations"
BEAUTY UNADoRNED,
"Yes, the European aristocracy observe
much more simplicity In the matter of per-
sonal adornment. l have been present at
court receptions at ST. James, Paris, Berlin,
Vienna and other capitals OF Europe, and
never saw such an ostentatious exhibit Of
Jewelry as have witnessed In San Francisco.
In fact, among the German arstocracy,
display OF costly jewelry, except on proper
occasions, Is considered odd, and the person Is
Immediately marked as one whose claims to
social recognition require to be investigated.
have often seen the Austrian Empress riding
In the park. She Is well advanced In years,
but still vigorous and yivacious white rose
In the coil OF her hair Is her only attempt at
adOrnment, but 1t is effective. That rose and
the sweet, kind face of the Empress are beau
tiful. 1t was just the same with the late
Princess Alice. | saw her often on public oc-
casions. A simple flower was her only orna-
ment On only one occasion, that OF the visit
Of the King Of Bavaria, did l ever see her
the magnificent gems detraeted from her
own transcendent charms. She wore the
glittering bauble OF the English Garter,
the Star OF India and at least half dozen
orders in addition to her private jewels
But | only saw and admired the beauti-
full Princess Alice. Go where you will In
European aristocracy, you will notice an
absence of ostentatious display. Even the
Empress Eugene, who was the dictator OF
our fashions for nearly two decades, made the
very fatteriDg to our shOddy aristocracy:
Who are the Americans? Their coinage does
not bear the shamrock nor the emblems OF
the the island hI .. cannibals They are dressed in
well, our wealth in diamonds is pretty
well distributed. There are no historic gems
Of great value In this country"
AFoRTUNE IN EARRINGS.
"Don't you believe it. Why there is lady
now stopping at one OF our large hotels who
wears pair OF solitaire earrings worth
$4,000. They belonged to the Collection Of
purchased at the time when that deposed
monarch sold a portion Of her valuables at
auction In Paris. These two stones were
bought for $4,000. They are twenty-one
pronounced the finest gems In the United
states. Tiffany q Co., in New York, place
their market value at $50, 000."
1T seems to me that it Is rather valuable
load for lady to be carrying about In care
1T Is 80, and 1t furnishes strong incentive
to crime. Why, there is Mrs. -, who
never comes down stairs with less than
$4,000 or $4,000 worth OF gems on her per-
sson-tnat lady who wears the brooch in the
hundred diamonds"
| IT Is great wonder that robberies are not
VI more frequent occurrence in this city, con-
sia nWag the careless display Of valuables."
wen, SO lar as the hotels are concerned, it
ls probably owing to the perfect system of es-
pionage which is feature Of them. 1t would
De almost impossible for professional thief
70 o6Ialn admission to the house, and ali the
onn,.oyoco dic instructed to be on their guard
against sneak thieves. But some thieves did
OBTAIN access to lady's room In one of our
nOteiS ABOUT Two weeks ago while madame
and her husband were at dinner. They over
hauled trunks and drawers. and obtained a
watch ana chain ia n and some coin, but madame
happened 70 ne In inli regalia at the time, and
Of her diamonds 'AAs noiu
A CUNNING DEVICE.
UThern IL one lady stnnnin1 a. 49, -
hotel who knows point. She has m aone
ticent pair Of pendants valued at $50, 1000, that