The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-01-11

absolutely perfect that the slightest flaw
cannot be discovered in either bv the
aid OF the most powerful magnilving.
glass They are alike beastilully pro-
portioned, and the peculiar shade of
blue is precisely the same in each. In
all respects the quality of the two is
identical. The early history of the
twin diamonds is wrapped in mystery
That they are very old can not be doubt
ed, as stones OF their size have not been
mined in India for two centuries. They
were undoubtedly royal treasures, and
it is said that they passed into the pos
session of Warren Hastings when he
was Governor-Gen of India They
returned to native ownership, and came
TO light again at the time of the Indian
mutinY.
They were then carried to Europe,
where they were bought by Russian
nobleman, who had the gems recut in
Amsterdam, greatly increls NO their
lusterand beauty. They attracted great
attention among diamond dealers. and
oilers were ma to purchase them for
the Gar, but the owner refuse TO part
with them. Getting into political
trouble in Russia the nobleman LETT the
empire, taking his jewels with him. AT
the gaming tables of Monaco he played
high and lost heav ~. lie staked and
lost one of his blue diamonds. which
passed into the hands OF M. Blanc, the
note gaming-house proprietor. whose
daughter was married two wears ago TO
Prince Roland Bonaparte The Rus
sian nobleman's other blue diamond
found its way into the hands of Paris
jeweler. After while efforts were
made to find its mate, but all c!ew to
the other stone had been lost. The
Paris stone was bought by the Duke of
Brunswick, who, unable to find the twin
gem, sold itagain. Its counterpart had
all this time been in possession of the
Blanc family, and about year ago it
was sold with other Jewels belonging to
Nine. Blanc, and wa bought for large
sum by the agent of the New York dia-
mond merchant. Some years before
this the Paris stone-the one which had
been owned by the Duke of Brunswick
had in its turn disappeare !, vanish
ing completely from the bnowledge of
the.t ade. 1t is supposed that it share
the fate of many other noted gems and
wa stolen.
The purchaser of the Blanc diamond
had no hope Of discoveringit its mate. but
held it on its individual merits. He was
not in any hurry to sell it, and after the
habit of diamond-dealers with the finest
stones, kept it very close from inspec-
ton. About two months ago member
of his firm ma le business trip to the
Western States, in the course of which
he visited Chicago. BY mere accident
he encountered there certain wealthy
pork-packer, and with mingled feelings
of amaze ent, hope and eight, saw
cleaning on his shrt-front a large blue
diamond, which seemed to be wonder
full match for the rare stone locked up
in the home Office. He telegraphed inn
II ediately to his partners here, and aft
er the G change Of few dispatches a
trusted clerk fastened from this city to
Chicago, bearing with him the Blanc
diamond for the purpose of comparison
! he matter was SO important and deli
cate, however. that the clerk was not
informed of the true obie of Ii mis-
sion, but believed that the diamond was
sent on to be sold. When the travel
ing p rtner received it he compared
it furtively with the pork packers
stud, and saw that, beyond
doubt, the latter was its lon
missing mate. He telegraphed the
fact to the head of his firm, and re-
| ceived prompt instructions to secure
the pork packers gem at any price
Concealing his eagerness, he entered
into negot!at ons for its purchase, and
finally became its possessor for sum
which, though large was much below
its value as one OF the remarkable pair
The por&-packer had worn his amond
for several years in entire i norance
of its history and of the fact
that its exact duplicate had ever ex-
listed. Dur ng visit to England he
had bought it from Hebrew diamond
dealer in London. For obvious reasons
the prices which the stones have fetched
singly at different times are not n en-
toned by the persons who have been
most interested in tracing their history
As pair it would be very difficult to
estimate their value. and no price has
been named for them by their present
owners. The news of their reunion has
excited some diamond merchants in
Paris, who are very anxious to secure
the gems, and they have been send ng
cable messages on the subject for the
past few days, but it is not believed that
the glitter ng au les will be permitted
to leave this country NJ Y. Cor. Chi.
cago NetCs.