The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-02-25
HlsroRloAL GEMS.
h French Crown Jewels and Thsir
Probable Fate.

The French Crown Jewels and Their
robab Fats.
The gems andjewels OF France have
been famousfor generations, and inter-
est in them is revived by the report that
the Chamber of Deputies have agreed
that they should be sold to provide
funds for aged workmen." The rich
ness and value of this great regalia have
been prominent in literature and poll
tics ever since the remarkable report
made concerning them to the French
Assembly in 1871. In the list then
made there were carefully described
phires, $50 emeralds, Il topazes, 8 ORR
entail amethysts, 8 Syrian garnets and
8 other stones not designated, The es-
innate value OF these treasures, together
with the bijou and mounted parures
belonging to the crown amounted 10
nearly So 900 francs, or about
S6, ZOO, Zoo. The most famous Of these
gems was the diamond known as LIE
Regent, valued at II, 900, 900 francs, and
that other diamond equally famous,
called LIE Sancy, valued at 100000
francs.
The mysterious theft in September,
1892, of this magnificent and matchless
collection was q nine days wonder.
Many of the finest OF. these gems have
never been recovered, and time has failed
~toreveal the authors of that gigantic
theft. The Regent diamond was found in
q ditch beside one of the alleys of the
| Champ d'Elysees. When the .Little
Corporal' became Emperor he made
great efforts to restore the national
regaIia to their former beauty and
value. The various countries of Europe
were searched for the lost gems, and II
is said that many of them were re-
covered. Other gems were added to
the regalia, SO that in 1910 there were
no fewer than 81, 1893 precious stones re.
corded in the inventory Of the crown
In 1849 * many additions had been
made in the meantime, the casket con
tanned 64,812 gems and precious stones
of all kinds, valued at over INVENT,
million francs.
The famous Regent was the founda
ton of the fortune of William Pitt
British Governor of Madras, who bough
it Of a Parsee merchant for go, 600
Pitt took it to London. had it cut, ant
then offered it for sale. The roya
house of Great Britain declined to pur
chase it, and afterward it was Dough
through the Duke of Orleans, Regen
of France during the minority Of Loui
XIV, for 8.S76,0O0 francs. That wa
in 1717, and 1871 q commission of ex
perts placed its value at 100000
francs, and sven that sum is exceeds
by the valuation Of the present time. ]
found its way to Holland, where Napo
leon cast eyes upon it, and, when hi
fortunes improved. he recovered it, an
had it set in the handle Of the sword Q
state. Since then It has been remove
and SO arranged in its setting as to b
placed at will either In the crown Q
used separately.
The Jewels ofthe crown were displaye
to the public during the Universal Ez
position at Paris in 1856. Since the
there have been valuable addition
made to the Louvre collection. th
most recent and noted being that Of th
late Nine. Theirs, who possessed q raj
jewel, a necklace of precious stones {
the sixteenth workmanship, and r,
garded as without q rival in Europe
except among the regalia preserved
st. Petersburg.-Chscag Inter Ocea'