Morning journal and courier., 1884-08-02
FRENCH GROWN JEWELS.
G6rgeous Baubles of Kings and Elm. - Perors Now For Sale In Paris. - ---n ! [Frona the Paris GaElois | .. -..E.

Gorgeous Baubles of Kings and Elm. Perors Now For Sale i'm Paris.
 - 'H From the Paris Gaulois - r-iE5a Just now, when the crown diamonds of France are to be scattered, it may be inter esting so know what parts they played in the toilet of queens oand expresses. We have therefore, questioned several ladies who for merly moved in court circles, and the, jewel lers specially attached to the court, and the
 following is the aesult of these inquiries Ac-
 cording to these competent authorities, the
 sale will be not only crime but also a mis- take for certain stones have acquired great value by their connection with their fellow
 gems Here is an example of this '.r-
 The seven historical stones known as the
 'EMazarin" diamonds, which are among the
 first stones cut into bri1liants, which were
 bought in Italy by Mazarin and formed part of the ornaments of Louis XIV. s crown, may
 be estimated to be worth, the whole seven,
 about 1,200, ,000 francs. Our refined rulers
 have decided to keep one "Mazarin" as
 sample and to sell the others. Which one
 will they keep? Will it be the pink ''Maza-
 rin'' or the one so pure that gazing at it steadily for a little while gives you a sort of
 vertigo? We do not know. What is certain
 is that the reserved 'tMazarin" will be of no
 historical value without it's brothers, and, be- sides, the six latter will not sell well with
 out it. -r. -.-.. -.-f. -s .......s s..- -
 These considerations are the same for each
 lot into which the stones may be divided.
 But let us pass to the notes and recollections
 of the court ladies' Queen Marie -Antoinette
 wore the crown diamonds only ill big tassel-
 knots or in rows, set round or square, which
 she formed into necklaces or bracelets or
 wore around her waist The wonderful tas-
 os.a1 c1na
 times as trimming for her corsage, sometimes
 as fringe tips. She had splendid aigrettes
 which she wore in her hair, and magnificent
 clasps More diamond pins to pin up her
 train and large number of diamond bouquets
 which were sewn to her robes; but these lat
 ter ornaments, as also the magnificent ear rings she always wore, were her own property,
 and portion of them passed to the Duchess dAngouleme; the other portion was distrib- uted as souvenirs of affection and gratitude.
 The Queen did not like the shape of dia- dem and frequently contented herself with coronet, that is to say, the little crown which sovereigns wear on the back of their heads
 Empress Josephine preferred tinted stones.
 She asserted that diamonds darkened her complexion. As many of the ceremonies under the Empire took place in the daytime, she wore mostly sapphires and rubies. She used to say that rubies were the rouge for brunettes. Nevertheless, the head-dress which Empress Josephine oftenest wore was rows of fiat pearls on her forehead, head dress which Empress Borghese, Napoleon's beautiful sister, also wore. Empress Marie Louise, ,swho had not the same reasons as her predecessor, since she was white skinned and blonde in complexion, courageously wore many diamonds and sapphires. The mag nifcent diadem of sapphires just now on ex- hibition, and which contains stones incom- parable in size and tint, was worn by Elm press Marie Louise, and the coronet which completes the head-dress is of exquisite workmanship. Empress Eugenie was, with out contradiction, the sovereign who most frequently used the crown jewels. She had completed that matehless string of pearls which contains unique pearls This fourfold string formed a magnificent trimming for corsage and skirt. The Empress, who for a long time did not want to wear ornaments which heightened the forehead, had that pretty Russian diadem made, which is cem- paratively low and which open forms charming necklace. She had pearl and dia- mond combs. One of these combs contains pink diamond which, it is said, has not it's equal. .. ...
 She afterwards wore in her hair diamond stars and crosses, and finally, viewing with favor ornaments reared on the forehead, she put on the diadems to which she now took a definite liking. She most frequently wore the one of diamonds and turquoises which is on exhibition under a glass-case often, also, diadem of emeralds and brilliants which, being her own private property, has been sold by her, as also the string of pearls l called pigeon eggs on account of their size, and which was bought by the late Mime. de Paiva ,.--....
 Go in peace, jewels of France, since you are no longer appreciatedl You will not find more saintly, brave, pious and charitable | sovereigns than those whom you have l adorned.