The Columbus journal., 1886-05-05
THE SANcY DIAMOND.
htsresting History Of b 1sm0u Daf.
Ruudlsn BrfII1out.

nssrssa.s History OF the Ysns~ mar
Rundlan Br1IIlout.
One of the best known diamonds in
Europe down to the close of the last
century was the famous Sancy. As Is
the case with all prominent gems Of
this species, many legends. some Of a
pleasant, some of a painful character,
are connected with it. One legend Of
the Sancy is thus narrated: 90
The beautiful diamond invcntO1ied as
Che Sancy, and Of the weight Of IS 1915
carats, and valued At 100000 francs,
was stolen and neva recovered. This
gem has been associated with the
fortunes of the redoubtable Burgundian
warrior, Charles the Bold; and its his
tory has done more to perpetuate his
name than the record Of all his mis-
deeds and his desperate battles. To
prove, however, that this is the iden-
teal gem lost by the Swiss will be .
difficult task, for the antiQuaries have
unearthed more Sancy diamonds than
there were Richmonds in the field. The
name of Sancy has, indeed, become
famous by embracing in one story the
fortunes of three distinct gems. The
erudite King has patiently traced out
the traditions connected with the name
Sancy, and appears to prove that three
stories instead of one are included IN
the history of Baron Sancy. But the
stone that was stolen from the French
casket in 1892 is ~inventoried at the
weight of 80 1916 carats, while tho
gem that has lately gone back to India,
and is supposed to be the stolen gem,
weighs quite tifty-four carats. Herels
. new mystery for the ~antiquaries to
clear away; OF did -Belatre and his as
sociates, who made out this inventory
with exceeding care, write thirty In.
stead of fifty-three? The history OF
these diamonds are SO interesting that
we will attempt to repeat them here,
following, in part, the views OF King.
Not long after the invention, by Berq-
men, of diamond-cutting by the proc
ess of abrasion, Charles the Bold, then
in the full blaze of martial glory. sub
mitted to him three large rough diar
monds. The native of Bruges succeed
ed SO well in polishing them that
Charles presented him with the prince
ly sum of 5000 ducats. One OF these
gems Charles gave to Pope SeXtus w..
and it was mounted in the tiara, where
it is said { remain. The second wa
presented to Louis XII. of France; while
the third was reserved BY the Burgun-
dian hero, and set in grOtesque mannr
to be worn as a personal ornament
This Jewel, of true barbaTic design,
was formed of a triangular shape, with
the newly-cut diamond IN the center.
This diamond was tive-eighths OF an
inch in its widest diameter, and was
shaped as a pyramid, with the apex cut
into a four-rayed star In relief. Around
the gem was set three largo Bsdais ru.
bies and four magnificent pearls, each
more than half an inch in diameter.
One of the Fuggcr family IN
1855, made a careful drawing Of
the jewel, with a written description
of it, and these were afterward pub
lished by Lembeccius in his "Bibfiotheca
C%sarea;'" so there can be no doubt
about the appearance of the original
diamond of Charles the Bold in its
early days. When the Duke led his
band of freebooters into Switzerland on
his lOng-projected foray, he took most
of his gems along with him, not dream
ing of disaster, and probably loving to
view his treasures even amid the hard
ships of the campaign. Rough soldiers
are sometimes as fond of the beautiful
in art and nature as more delicate and
refined organizations, and Charles the
Bold and SouvarOff are not the only
examples. The terrific onslaught Of
the Swiss at Grandson crushed tho
Burgundian ranks SO quickly that
Charles had only time to escape with
his sword. leaving all his cherished
treasures in the hands of the dauntless
m%ountaineers.
''In the sack of the camp which
speedily followed the rout, a soldier
found the golden box in which the
famous pendant was kept. but regard
ing the jewel as a gaudy and worthless
banble. he tossed it away under a
wagon and retained the box
only. Shortly afterward he began
to suspect that the contents of
so beautiful a box must have
some value, and. returningto the place,
he recovered the despissd jewel. BE
did not long after retain his treasure.
but sold it to priest for one form. The
priest also did not appear to have .
high regard far his purchase. for he
disposed of it to the magistrates of his
own canton for three francs. When II be-
came known that the Bernese Govern
ment had possession Of tho Dukes
famous Jewels. Jacob Fugger. d of
the members of the celebrated Nurem-
berg family, went to Berne and nego-
tiated for their purchase. The famous
pendant, together with the Dukes cap.
which was made of silk covered with
pearls and Balais rubies. and a plume
case set with diamonds. pearls and
Balias rubies were bought for the sum
of AZ, 900 francs. Fugger retained the
pendant in his possession ct Nurem-
berg for many years. induiging in the
hope, it has been said. that the Dukes
great grandson, the Emperor Charles
", would purchase it as a family relic.
When the celebrated capitalist died the
ornament was still in his possession, but
his great nephew. who inherited the
Jewel. sold it to Henry VIII. of Eng
land. After the death of this monarch
his daughter presented the diamond to
her bridegroom. and thus. by a remark
able coincidence. and after an absence
of seventy-six years, the royal gem was
again restored to the rightful heir of it,
original owner.-St. Louis GLobe-Dc e
0crat.
SMART MAJOR.
4 Dog That Knew How to cha Him.
self at Church.
once visited a pleasant country
house, the owner of which had power
full and sagacious dog called Major.