The National tribune., 1889-10-10

/ had the same feeling when I entered the
Treasury Of the King. This is in the Royal
Palace, in the center Of Vienna, and i got ac-
cess 10 II by applying TO the Master of the
Treasury, who made me write down my name,
and looked me over carefully as he gave me a
card OF admission. Entering passed through
a narrow ball, up one pair of vaulted stairs and
down another, by herce-looking soldiers with
swords at their sides, and on into rooms con-
tanning cases after cases OF jewels There were
drinking cups by the dozens, of all shapes aud
1 sizes. some OF which had belonged 10 the Aus
trian monarchs OF the past, aud all of which
were of massive gold. There were the dia-
inonds And precious stones belonging to the
Crown, aud looked long at the great crown of
the Empress which contains enough diamonds
10 buy a dozen Counties. Its finest diamonds
form part of the private jewels of Empress Ma
ria Theresa The Imperial Crown, or that OF
the Emperor, stands biside this. 1t is OF pure
gold, covered with dIsmonds pear-pearls and
Tubies. Iteost over 500 600, aud IL is sort OF
cap OF gold aud enamel, v hich looks as though IL
would be most uncomfortable to wear. In the
game case is tho Florcntiue diamond. which is
one OF the biggest diamonds in the world. IL is
the size Of a large buckeye, and it is rather yell
low than wiz Ii is worth very nearly 100000.
and IL IS cut In the shape Of a star, aud now
forms part OF hat buckle. 1t once belonged
20 Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, who
hls pocket. The result was that he lost ID, aud
this was Just 4I3 years ago. The diamond lay
on the road and Swiss soldier picked it up.
de thought IL was piece Of glass. aud he threw
il down again. The suns rays happened TO
catch il. and the soldier thinking IL pretty
again picked it up, aud he sold IL shortly after
tbat for % cents 10 a priest The priest sold il
10 a ieweler for 60 cents. aud a rich merchant
paid this jeweler about g., 500 for IL. The mer-
chant sold u 70 an Italian Duke at an advance
Of about A thousand dollars. aud 10 came from
/ this Duke 10 one Of the Popes, who paid for ii
at che rate Of $4,000. After a varied history
1 IL came into the possession OF q Grand Duke
who married the Empress Maria Theresa of
| Austria, aud through her il got into the Treas
ury. Il now belongs 10 the Imperial Family, as
do indeed all OF the jewels in the case in which
| il - placed IA this Treasury. These jewels are
50 many that ! can only give brief resume OF
them. There il "a set of pearls belonging 10 Maria
Theresa, which, all told, would, believe. I'LL
! pint cup. Among these is q necklace Of ia
/ large-szed pearls, the biggest Of which is the
/ size of a chestnut. There is another neck lace
containing l2l large pearls, and both of these
necklaces have immense diamond s0litaires as
! clasps. There are two bracelets consisting Of
] 24O pearls with diamond clasps, and there arc
other pearls Of large size. Next 10 this there Is
necklace Of pearls consisting Of So pearls In
/ two rows, and three roses of pearls Joined by
diamonds. lhere IS also necklace OF 30 pearls
! q haif-dozen diamond rings, great stars of dia-
monds ar big as the palms Of your hands, and
1 30 buttons Of gold and enamel, each button set
/ with five big diamonds. There is q set of g5
| diamonds in two strings, the diamonds put to-
/ gether by small gold clasps, and besides these
! there are Ia strings OF diamonds containing 700
stones any one Of which will probably surpass
/ any Of the diamonds of America. There is n dia-
K mond pair Of bracelets that has a9i iamouds in
1 II and fbera "a diamond rFn Al
with 350large diamonds. There is a set Of rubies
consisting of a tiara, a girdle aud necklace,
which formed part of tho bridal Jewels OF
Marie Antoinette. And 50 / might 20 on for a
column describing the other jewels OF the same
1 kind which arc kept in this case.