The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-11
DIAMOND DRUMMERs,
Travelling Statesmen Who Carry For
tunes Strapped to Their Bodies.
EIorn the Mem York WOrLd

travelling statesmen Who Carry For
tunes Strapped to Their Bodies.
From the Neto York World.
"You might be surprised" said promi-
nent Broadway dealer in precious stones, eff
/ should tell you that rubies are now in
greater demand than diamonds"
why, that seems almost incredible" re-
marked the reporter.
'Indeed it does" continued the merchant,
''but ney ertheless 1t is true. Rubies are be-
coming very scarce, as the mines are about
worked out. Only few days ago a friend
Of mine sold ruby weighing little over
carat for $4,000. The sale took place in
Chicago, and knew both of the men in the
transaction. ssxE%
"Of course" he continued, diamonds
will no doubt hold their place at the head of
all gems, but for the genuine lovers Of pre-
cious stones rubies will be the thing, proba~
bly, as much on account Of the rising value
as for their beauty.
"The market for diamonds just now is in
active. Since the first of the year, however,
there has been an advance of at least IS per
cent. On this account you will find that
small dealers will not invest in them to any
extent for fear the price will fall again"
Where do most of the diamonds come
from~
''From a mine in South Africa, owned by
the Rothschilds-De Boer Syndicate 1t is
the only field being worked at present, and
they are doing their best to keep up the
price of diamonds
"Are diamonds just as popular as everf'
mot by any means. At present there is
a great craze for colored stones. Brown,
blue, black, green and canary are the favor
ties, but those with the blush tinge COM
mand the highest prices. Moonstones have
sprung into popularity within the past few
months, and nearly every dealer in the city
has at presents good stock of them on hand,
mounted in studs, rings, buttons and neck
laces. If properly set they make most
beautiful necklace, and although they are
not nearly as valuable, / think they are
every bit as handsome as pearls The
moonstone has also become a very fashion
able stone for gentlemen's wear"
us there much of demand for opalsg'
asked the reporter.
well, once in while some one will drop
in and ask to see some, but l never keep
them. l wouldn't give them safe room.
| am not very superstitious man, and
don't believe any of the old traditions, but
once " as foolish enough to buy box of
twenty 1pals because / thought [ was get
ting them cheap. hadn't had them in the
safe two days before my place burned
down. l saved the safe, however, and
started business in Brooklyn. In one weeks
time | was again burned out Other ad
things followed, and one day 1t occurred to
me that all my i'll luck had been brought
on by the presence of opals in my store.
had no sooner thought of it than | sold
the whole lot for less than they cost me, and
have had good luck ever since. l wouldn't
even take an opal ring to repair it, and 1
know dozens of jewelers. who believe as
do"
''What stones do you sell the most of9"
Diamonds every time. More of them
are imported here than of any other stones.
About 81 900. 0O0 worth are brought over
here every year, a2d the majority Of these
stones go direct TO Maiden Lane and John
street dealers. They are then sent to all
parts of the country by special statesmen.
This is line of business that man takes
up at a very early age and remains in for
the rest of his life"
"Does one man carry mauvm
That's according to his ability and trust
worthineSS. The stock of a salesman gen.
orally runs from SIS, 900 to S125, 600 worth
of diamonds, which they carry about
their persons. never in a case or travelling
bag.
''Most of the statesmen carry these Jewels
in vests made of leather, and securely
bound by straps to their bodies. This vest
has a set Of deep pockets with flaps which
can be snapped shut. As rule, salesman
must be good athlete They go heavily
armed and when they see any suspicious
character they quietly slip out of the way.
Upon reaching hotel the first thing
they do is to deposit the stones in the safe.
Then an easy breath is taken, probably for
the first time in twenty-four or forty-eight
hours. Some of the more timid statesmen,
or the beginners, will not leave their hotel
after dark, for fear they may be followed by
crooks, who not knowing they have got rid
of their diamonds, might do them bodily
injury.
1.-The life of travelling diamond statesmen
is not by any means pleasant. They never
make chance acQuaintanceS, for if they did
so they might meet the same man on a series
Of trips for years afterward, and upon he
coming intimate the fellow could easily get
away with the vestful of diamonds when
the opportunity offered. Many a crook
would have the patience to wait for four or
five years and then think himself fully re-
paid if he could get away with good load
of diamonds, for they come nearer to being
money than any other articles of value.
Another thing of interest about the diamond
statesmen is that they never drink or gam
bic. The first time they are found indulg-
ing in either vice their occupation is gone
forever"
do they have to furnish anything?"
"None at all. There are very few men
who could furnish a security equal to the
amount of diamonds they carry and the
only men employed in this business are
those whom their employers would trust
with their lives. You must take into con-
sideration that when man starts out on
the road with big vestful Of diamonds he
takes his life in his hands, for he is liable to
be attacked almost any minute"
Surprising they lose the diamonds or
some Of them are stolen~
THAT is almost out Of the question; they
90 not lose them, and diamond robbery Of
this kind is seldom heard of. If a man
should lose his whole vestful he would not
be held accountable
Mrs. ELIzABETH CADY STANTON is In the heart
of ENGLAND writing. iarar.n.a