The Indiana State sentinel., 1879-02-05
COSTLY GEMS.
Glittering Ornaments Of Society La
dies in California.
American OstentaffOn COntrasted with,
rhe Tasteful Simplicity of the
European ArfstOcracy.
Isan Francisco Chronicle.l ]

was held day or two since, and In the IN
term. before the meeting was called to or
der, a discussion 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 iswelry and diamonds exceeded that
of ths present year"
well, the purchase of diamonds is just
the same as permanent investment without
interest Diamonds can be realized on their
standard value at any time
'But look at the risk; fortune invested
in diamonds is liable to be swept away in a
moment by fire or by thievery.'
"Of course there is risk, but why are
diamonds valuable? 1t is simply for dis
play Some of our leading hotels are chock
full of diamonds, almost equaling in value
the hotels themselves. Why, there is lady
stopping at one of our leading hotels who
never appears in dining-room with less
than $25, 900 or 500, COO worth of diamonds"
This ostentatious display of wealth is pc
culiar to the American people alone, and is
based on the fact that in this country wealth
is the only stepping stone to social dis
tinctlon. while in Europe lineage is para
mount to all monetary consideration"
Yes, the European aristocracy observe
sal7lch more simplicity in the matter of per-
S24l adornment. | 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 Francis
co. In fact, among the German aristocracy
a display of costly jewelry, except on prop
er occasions, is considered odd, and the per-
son is Immediately marked as one whose
claims to social recognition require to be in
vestigated. l have often seen the Austrian
on,n N mar hn fc xr-olt
advanced in years, but still vigorous and
viyacious. A white rose in the coil of her
hair is the only attempt at adornment,
but it is effective. That rose and the
sweet. kind face of the empress are beauti-
full. 1t was just the same with the late
public occasions. A simple flower was her
only a6ornment On only one occasion, that
of the visit of the king of Bavaria, did
ever see her decorated with iewelry. l actu-
ally think that the magnificent gems de-
tracted from her own transcendent charms.
She wore the glitteriDg bauble Of the Eng
lish garter, the star of India, and at least half
dozen orders in addition to her private
jewelry. But 1 only saw and admired the
beautiful Princess Alice. Go where you will
in European aristocracy you will notice an
absence of ostentatious display. Even the
Empress Eugenie, who was the dictator of
our fashions for nearly two decades, made
the remark. as reported by Victor Hugo, not
very fiattering to our shoddy aristocracy:
Who are the Americans? Their coinage
does not bear the shamrock, nor the EN- blems
of the island csnnibals. They are dressed in
diamonds"
well, our wealth in diamonds is pretty
we'll distributed. There are no historic
gems of great value IN this country"
Don't you believe it. Why, there is a
lady now stopping at one of our large hotels
who wears pair of solitaire earrings worth
$50, 900. They belonged to the collection of
jewels Of Queen Isabella of Spain. and were
purchased at the time when that deposed
monarch sold portion of her valuables at
auction in Paris. These two stones were
bought for $24. 600 each. They are 2l carats
each, beautifully matched. and are pro-
nounced the finest gems in the United
States. Tiffany d Co., in New York, place
their market value at 50,000."
"It seems to me that it is rather valuable
load for lady to be carrying about in a
careless way
1T is so, and it furnishes a strong incen-
tive to crime. Why, there is Mrs. -, who
never comes down stairs with less than $15,-
600 or $40, 900 worth of gems on her person
that lady who wears the brooch in the form
of a fern leaf, glittering with fifty or hun
dred diamonds"
at is great wonder that robberies are not
of more frequent occurrence in this city,
considering the careless display of valua-
bles"
1t is probably owing to the perfect system of
espionage which is a feature of them. 1t
would be almost impossible for professional
thief to obtain admission TO the house, and
all the employees are instructed to be on their
guard against sneak thieves. But some
thieves did obtain access to lady's room in
one of our hotels about two weeks ago, while
madame and her husband were at dinner.
| They overhauled trunks and drawers, and
obtained a watch and chain and some coin.
but madame happened to be In full regalla
at the time, and the thieves were dlsappoint-
ed in getting hold of her diamonds"
| There is one lady stopping at the same
| hotel who knows point. She has a mag
nifcent pair of pendants valued at $4,000
that were purchased from the Empress
! EugenIe's jewel casket. These diamonds are
| encased in gold and her earrings are appar-
! emily nothing more than ordinary ear-drops.
But, when occasion requires, she simply
unclasps the cases and exposes the magnif-
cent gems. From the ordinary appearance
OF the earrings one would not consider them
| of much value"
Gentlemen, our conversation has taken a
rather curious but instructive turn. l was
not before aware of the fact that San Fran
| cisco was such diamond field. To be con.
| sistent San Franciseans we must feel proud
| of our collective wealth, and as individuals
we can solace ourselves with the semi-scrip-
tural quotation, Blessed are the poor, foi
they have no fear of robbers
A Pfmpie ON the Nose.