St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-18
IOWA'S GAY DIAMOND GIRL
False and Borrowed Gems that Glitter on
Lovely Necks.
a Romance of Hired Diamonds that
Caught a Baron's Eye.
Marriage Present of 500, 900 From
Minnesota Railroad Croesus.
Washington Special.


Yes" said fashionable jeweler the
other day, Washington women have some
OF the finest diamonds III the country"
Washington is a very wealthy city i'm this
respect. Diamonds are the Jewels most
worn, and at an evening party you will see
many ladies with thousands of dollars
worth OF sparkling little gems upon their
person. There are single diamonds worn
Dy ladies' here which are worth S. coo.
Many very valuable gems are being
bought but some of the Tarest are old
stones that have been families for years.
by whom are these gems owned. by
natives or by wealthy folks who visit the
capital every winter?" asked a reporter for
the Washington Star.
MANY of the very finest are owned by
Washington ladies. Some of the wives of
senators and members have fine diamonds.
Mrs Oates, the wife of Representative
Oates, has some of the finest MrS. Whit
ney, Mrs. Letter and Mrs. Washington Nc
Lean have magnificent Jewels. OF course
There are many bogus diamonds worn, but
those You see worn in society here are gen
uine. The people here are judges of Jewels,
ana could not be deceived by any one want
Ing to shine in false brilliancy.
The amount of wealth represented at
simply marvellous. Many valuable diamonds
are being bought by Washington people at
this time. may say there is a rage for
them, and not cheap ones either. Many of
them are worth $500 and $780, and even
as high as So each. as | have already
said"
Where are most of them bought?"
we send to New York generally and
get them from the regular diamond dealers,
and they say Washington is one of their
best markets. You see there is 50 much
gayety here in the winter, and such a
rivalry between the wives of the various
prominent men to OutShine each other, that
much money is spent in this way"
This jeweler affected TO know but little
about tile hiring out of diamonds to ladies'.
No doubt it was done, he said, but not by
tirSt-claSs jewelers.. Inquiries in other di-
rectiOns showed that there is house which
regularly lends diamond outfits" for the
evening. Where the lady is well known it
Is sufficient for her to put up collateral in
money or property to the amount of 90 per
cent. OF the value OF the diamonds loaned
If not we'll known she must put up the full
amount. The leweler who was seen said:
We do our business quietly and find it
pays well. y lady often takes fancy to a
~,
and becomes buyer. The charge is not
very high-nOt more than 500 for a night.
even with very gorgeous outfit. Where a
'hfty-per-center hires, We send a private
detective To watch her, i'm her defense as
well as our own, for robbery or a loss
from any cause would cause both hirer and
lender trouble, as well as expense"
do You lend paste outtitS?"
Where 4 lady has absolutely no security
10 offer we lend her paste outfit for S25.
We take special care about the mounting
of these limitations, and you would be sur
pIised if | told you how much admiration
has been attracted at the state balls and
high receptions by young beauties we have
rugged up as TO diamonds like the queen
OF Sheba.
''One young belle from Iowa was pro-
posed to b. German baron who saw our
paste QUITS on her glorious neck and
arms. So delighted was he with her that
he procured her an invitation to the next
reception at the German minister's. On
the day of the reception she came here
wrapped in an old waterproof and with
sparkling eyes asked for the same outfit. :"
1t had been loaned but two hours before.
She was in despair and told me her story.
am not sentimental, but l had an idea. l
said:
Il am sorry cannot let yea have that
one, but nave another set nearly as good.
1t is the best lscan do
1t was of real diamonds, but I did not
tell her then. She did not like them quite
as We'll as the Others. / sent my detective
and he confirmed the young girls story.
The next day she came back radiant and
and said with a laugh:
1.-THE baron liked them better than the
others; he asked me if / owned the diamond
mine"
We'll she married the baron. All, she
was lucky. Hearing OF her grand match,
her uRce, railroad Cresus of Minnesota,
gave her marriage present of 500. 600.
The first purchase she made was the real
outfit that captured the baron"