Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-27
PRINCESS LoUIsEs PRESENTS.
Almost Million Dollars Worth of
Magnificent G fta,


LONDON, July 26.-[Ncw York Herald
Cable-Special to The BEE. The view Of
Princess Louse's wedding presents took
place at Marlborough House this morning.
The grand dining room presented sight
such as Marlborough House never saw be-
fore and such as has rarely been seen any
where 1t was spacious curiosity shop,
storehouse of bric-a- brac and gems, which at
first quite dazzleu the unprepared observer
and left him for quite time so nonplussed
that concrete study of the valuable offer
ings had to wait for recovery from general
effect that was rather stunning. The
large gifts were massed at ran
dom about the room. They con-
sisted of a grand piano from
Lady Leicester. inlad writing desk, all
kinds of screens in metal, embroidery, mir
rors and gold ornamentation, large gold and
silver trays, shields, bowls, cups, gold tea
sets, gold vases, busts, ETC., oil paintings,
fancy furniture, rugs, bronzes, flower stands
and porcelain.
They were passed over in a second, how
ever, in favor of loug table running the
length of the apartment, covered with
smaller aud more precious gifts so thickly
that the white cloth was scarcely to be seen.
The left hand side of the table for half it's
length blazed with diamonds and all the most
precious stones. 1t was confused mass
of tiaras, necklaces. bracelets, pendants,
brooches and earrings, representing the
most valuable stones that the worlds market
could furnish. There were diamonds
enough to comfortably equip royal line
ieweler. An expert who was present, after
a careful estimate of the entire display, esti-
mated the gifts in the precious stones alone
at between $1,000 and e2OO 900. The first
ESQ, 600 of this was made by the presents of
Lord Fife, the Rothschilds and the Prince
and Princess of Wales, while the large num-
ber of fancy stones representing values
made the total estimate seem small rather
than large.
Lord Fife's present to the bride consisted
of a tiara and two necklaces. The tiara was
mass of diamonds, a line Of large pear
shaped stones running around its entire
front, changing and shmmering in pear
shaped openings. About the three on top
was line of diamonds, the point consisting
of pcar-shaped diamonds. Inverted pen
dants were surrounded by beautiful and
fragile open work, fronted with diamonds,
the whole being one of the most artistic and
valuable pieces in all England. The neck
laces were together in the same caslxet. The
largest was string OF the purest diamonds,
the smallest being the size of q pea and the
largest, along the front, as large as six
pence. The inner necklace was Of smaller
bluestone and gem diamonds, so rare and so
perfect that the small necklace probably
We'd with the larger one in value.
The tiara from the Prince and Princess of
Wales was in narrow lance-shaped beads of
diamonds, striking from its simplicity and
its brilliancy. 1t can bo turned over and be-
comes pendant necklace. II is two inches
deep in the center and is graduated off TO
depth OF half an inch on each side. The or
naments are pear-shaped, alternated
with little spikes containing smaller
brillants, and the central one
contains nine stones, while the end ones con-
tain only three, and the whole is mounted on
row of single stones.
The necklace from Mr.. and Mrs. Lea and
Lord Alfred Rothschiid was in small flower
patterns Of diamonds and wonderful
cabochan rubies, and in artistic beauty sur
passed all others.
Seven other necklaces were sent, one Of
plain diamonds, from li2young lady friends,
one of rubles, diamonds and sapphres in
three straight rows, from Sir Edward and
Lady Guinness; one of magnificent dia-
monds and sapphires, from Mrs. Villebois
one of sapphires ana pearls, from General
ana Mrs. Owen.
Horace Farquhar, Lord Fife's best man,
sent long spray of diamonds in leaves and
flowers. Beside it was an exactly similar
spray in three pieces from Sir Albert Sas.
soon, Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Sassoon and Mr..
and Mrs. X. d. Sassoon. There was case
OF seven large diamond stars from the Prince
OF Wales suite, which might be used jointly
as n tiara or separately to ornament the
coiffure. Baron Ferdinand Rothschild sent
spray OF leaves and large flowers in dia-
monds. Lady Paget sent a large spray of
rose leaves and roses. The Duke and Duchess
OF Manchester sent q large crescent, five
inches long, of solid diamonds. Mr.. and
Mrs. Defnlke sent a spray of leaves and
flowers in white and rose diamonds. Two of
the most valuable single stones in the col
lection were large cabochou ruby, from the
Duke and Duchess of Westminster, and
burmese cats eve, from Lord and Lady
Rothschld. How many thousands of guneas
each cost must have depended on the desire
OF the purchaser and the conscience of the
seller, ~ either would be difficult, if not i'm
possible, 10 match. The ruby was set simply
as pendant surrounded by diamonds
aud big cats eye, which was
luminous ball Of yellowish