The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-24

class newspaper writer He lacked versatility,
but wrote some exceedingly strong articles on
political topics.
MARIE ANTOINETTE's EMERALDS.
Are They in washsngton?--A Remarkable
Story of Some Marvellous Jewels.
New York Graphic.
A German newspaper contains the interesting
announcement that the Gear presented the
Czarina on her forteth birthday. Nov 26,
last year. necklace of forty magnificent ener-
aids. The purchase Of these forty gems had
been kept profound secret while the Cars
agents for the nine months preceding the presen-
tat1on were engaged in collecting them. For the
sake of the brilliant woman who received so
imperial present it is to be hoped that she will
not recall the sad auguries that have been his
toricaliy furnished in the connection OF emeralds
and Inflated women who were sovereiens also.
One of Dumass great stories is founded on the
emerald necklace presented TO Marie Antoinette.
about the disappearance OF which much of
romance and suffering was woven in the terrible
days that saw her die upon the scaffold TIE
mention of emeralds aud Marie Antoinette
time since. which, as it relates to emeralds, and
some, too, reputed to be of marvellous size and
purity. will bear telling in type.
In the northwest quarter OF Washington and
on the upper edge of the most fashionable sec
ton there stands old-fashioned, three story
house, built about fifty years ago. Except that
1t is old-fashioned and seedy, there is only one
thing TO call attention to it, besides its being
the home of a reduced yet wel-known Vireinian
family. That one thing is the fact that a back
window on the second floor is always closed
tight with pair of heavy outside iron shutters,
in the top of which are two small light holes.
A Southern gentleman living his wits
somewhat. though not in disreputable sense.
told the incidents herein narrated He knows
the Virginians, who are still possessors of
email property and among the family couple
of government appointments. He was aware
that there in the dwelling which
was never opened. SO far as visitors knew. The
door thereto was heavily nodded and evidently
had strong lock on it. In the course of
friendly conversation he mentioned a visit made
to the Chinese emu assy mot the present one).
In the course thereof his host one of the
complished attaches. who spoke English per-
fectly, led him to his private sitting room. The
conversation accidentally turned on gems. on
which subject the Chinese diplomatic proved him
self an adept He showed his visitor large
number of rare jewels diamonds and other
stones, some of them of most costly char
acter. He was a gen. collector, and, being very
rich. could readily crafty his most extravaganza
wishes. His visitor remembered afterwards
that as he told the incident quick glances passed
between members of the family. A few days
passed by and he was waited upon at his Office
by one of the male members. who asked. after
exacting pledge of secrecy, II he could bring
the Chinese attache to the house with the iron
shattered windows in order to examine some
very rare and costly jewels
Of course. this was done. Both gentlemen,
American and Chinese, went on their call in
quite 1utter Of excitement. The hour set was
late in the evening. They were met at the door
Uy tll0 TWO gentlemen OF inc family. mono OIL
the ladies were visible. their one servant.
either. After removal of hats and coats the
callers were asked to 60 up stairs. They were
taken to the strong room, as 1t turned ont to be.
They door when they entered was observed to
be heavily lined with steel plates. Its lock was
a combination one. A light was burning within.
The iron shutters were closed as usual. There
was nothing in the room but an iron stand,
bolted to the floor, supporting small iron safe.
The door was closed behind them. On the
stand lay two cooked revolvers. The
bod - <6o
door. Both were men OF nerve, and one had
been dashipg cavalry officer, and was SCARED
with score of wounds. But they confessed
afterwards that thrills of apprehension ran
through them. One Of the brothers opened the
safe. and the other stood where his hands could
readily grasp the revolvers. A few seconds and
parcel. carefully wrapped in soft leather and
cotton, was as carefully removed
Opening this there were exhibited to the as
tonished eyes of the callers several large emer-
aids aud evidently Of great purity. The China
man trembled with excitement. He declared,
as the largest one, as big at least good-sized
never seen anything like it, while telling also
of wonderful gems that he knew of in China.
The emeralds were cut in an antique style.
There were dozen OF them. and all remark able
allowed to examine them all carefully. He did
so with the utmost minuteness and delight All
brothers. we'll as the visitors. seemed to feel
relieved when they were all outside the door and
going down the staircase.
And this was the story of their pos session of
such wonderful jewels told then and afterwards
by the Vireinians: Thsir pattern al grest-grand-
father was a military surgeon. just as the
French revolution was beginning he was in Paris,
greatly interested too. in ali the stirring events
of the period. He had apartments in the house
of physi clan who had some court practice and
yet was secretly radical He was involved
heavily as gambler at one time, and borrowed
money to a considerable amount of his Ameri-
can friend. When the revolution became vic.
lett the Frenchman came under suspicion
on both sides. One day he brought to the
Virglnian, then about to return to
America. a small jewel box, and showed the en-
erals which had been exhibited to the visitors
He insisted upon his creditor taking them to
America, where he promised to come ALSO Suf-
fee it to say, they were brought to the Virgin
ians home The French physician was never
heard of afterwards. The possessor of the en-.
eraids held transfer memorandum of them,
and his family had held them in possession ever
since. They bad become both fascination and
a terror to the family which had apparently gone
down the hill Of weil-doing in guarding great
fortune they were unable or afraid to utilize.
The Chinese gentleman was eager to buy.
Difficulties arose at one. The possessors were
unwilling to trust an expert with their secret or
to carry the gems out of their abiding place.
The attache desired to have expert testimony as
to value and purity before he expended a
princely fortune. Some inquiries were eau
tiously made as to the history of the remarkable
emeralds. All known gems of that class were
located except those of the unfortunate Queen
of France, whose necklace had apparently dis
appeared absolutely from the face of the earth.
sent somewhere else shortly afterward. He did
not buy.
That much and no more the Graphic knows.
So far as it is aware the marvellous gems
still in Washington.
The Slangy Evangelist.
Nebraska State Journal.
Sam Jones said to the ladies of his con ereea-