The Osceola times., 1881-12-10
DIAMONDS AND THEIR wEARERS.
The Jewels of Some American Women
Favorites of Fortune.

1t is told by a prominent dealer in
| precious stones that most of our dia-
monds come from South Africa and
Brazil. In the latter place they were
discovered during the close of the last
century, negroes using them as counters
when playing cards The largest ever
found there is the "Star of The South"
which weighs l24 carats. In 1897 the
children of Dutch farmer were found
/ by a traveller playing with a shiny
stone" which he gave them sixpence for
and sold it in Paris afterward for $25 900
In this country diamonds have been
/ found only in Georgia, South Carolina,
| California and Arizona, but they are
small, and not Of the first water. My
| informant said it was great mistake to
supp Sc that diamonds sold according to
their size This only holds good up to
| the medium grade, above that the
diff ficulty finding purchasers increases,
and many deaier has found big dia-
mond an elephant on his hands and had
to sell it at a sacrifice. The handsomest
diamond have ever seen in this coun-
try belonged to that very thin-voiced
prima donna, Nine. Ombre, and once
| formed part of the crown Jewels of
Holland. A necklace was made Of
band of pliable gold, studded with large
stones. From it hung pendants of fol-
blown roses, rosebuds and leaves in
clusters; the flowers were incrussed with
diamonds and the leaves composed en-.
tirely of emeralds. From the-e depended
in turn a floral fringe in fine diamonds
and when worn the fairy-like splendor
of the ornament can scarcely be i'm
agined. No wonder the singer had two
policeman behind the scenes when she
had it on. The necklace the khedive of
Egypt sent Gen. Sherman's daughter on
her marriage could not be compared to
it, and though the papers estimated the
value of it at $250,0O0, custom-house
inspector told me that it was valued at
$4,000.
The handsomest necklace ever worn in
private life in this country belongs to
Mrs Leland Stamford of California. 1t
is made in the form OF Margusrites and
cost ss6 1000.
Mrs. j. g. Haggin has over $50 900
worth of diamonds and the superb ruby
that the famous Lola Montez was so fond
of wearing in her abundant hair. 1t is
now mounted as pin, and always
attracts much attention.
largest and most perfect emerald in the
world. 1t was bought at the sale of
Queen Isabela's Jewels in Paris, weighs
% carats, and is valued at $4,000. 1t is
set in broad band of Roman gold, stud
ded with twenty-four large diamonds
Apropos of our favorite contralto, she
has sold her house in Portland, and is
coming to New York to reside. She has
! CT, M har traacpru sl5O nOO
Mrs Bonanza Mackey claims to hvae
the largest sapphire in the world. 1t was
bought from Polish nobleman for 500
000f, is Of the most super blue, and over
an inch in diameter. She has also a set
of coral of the faint pink which resem-
bes opals 1t inclHdes sixteen pieces of
the toilet, and each piece is set in dia-
monds; the whole is valued at $685.
600.
Laura Fair, who has $4,000 of dia-
monds, wears a superb set OF blood-red
rubies; which, by the way, are only
saphires of another color. The largest
on record belong to the crown Jewels,
and among them is one that the dutchess
of Edinburg never fails TO wear on state
occasions.
Nine Elise, the famous bareback
rider of Paris, who is supposed to be a
daughter of the emperor of Austria,
rides in costume in which diamonds
take the place of spangles on her tarletan
skirts and an arch of these starry stones
bridges her dusky hair.
Janauschek has a wonderfully beauti-
full collection Of jewelry, including set
of torquois in which the stones number
over 5000, and a curious set of car
buncles given her by Turkish dignitary
who saw her play in Vienna. In the
role of Lady Dedlock she never wears
less than s75, 1000 worth of jewels.