Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-10

Iieuetlch William III. Thought dlnerent OF
the matter and compelled the regiment to sell
| 1t to MIN for a mere song.
| Inc regent was afterward pledged at differ
| ent times for the benefit of Prussian finances,
and 1t is said that the Rothschilds more than
once had 1t in their little safe. At any rate the
jewel never figured in public until the present
| emperor came to the throne. who overhauled
his ancestors treasure vaults and put all he
| found there to the best possible use.
While the court official was giving this inter-
esting information, incidentally charging upon
the immense value of the Regent, the thought
crossed my mind that for once in my life
millions had been placed within my reach. In
deed. had only to stretch out my hand
/ to grasp untold wealth. for Mr.. Russell
| and myself had been quite alone with her
majesty in the royal billiard room, which is
| situated in the rear of the palace
| Immediately facing and adjoining tie park and
the private road to Sanssouci, for over three
| quarters of an hour. There were no lackeys or
servants stationed in that wing of the castle at
the time OF the sitting; the park it, elf was de-
serted, as the workraen had gone to dinner, and
! the nearest sentinel was some five hundred
| PAGES of on the other side of the edifice
The situation was as inviting as it was danger
| Gus for the owner of the Regent Think of
such an incident happening 100 years ago. And
| the most remarkable fact of IL was that we
were foreigners and strangers. bearing only
verbal recommendation by the Prince of Wales
and Mr.. Russell, in addition to a letter of in
PRODUCTION of the German ambassador in Lon
| don.
The Regent may be worn as a brooch or as
the center piece of diadem, the branches of
which are formed by strings of diamonds. each
as large as the top Of your thumb, alternating
with stars set with rubies and emeralds.
THE GREAT sAScY DIAMOND.
Atone Of the "subscription balls" in the
Berlin Royal Opera House noticed large pear
shaped diamond of surprising brilliancy which
served buckle to the orange scarf Of the
decoration of the Black Eagle worn by the en-
press A well-known Ieweler told me that it
was the great Sancy diamond, which the en-
peror bought from a Russian prince only a
little while ago. This stone. weighing in its
present shape about ffty-three carsts. once be-
longed to the treasures of Charles the Bold Of
Burgundy, who wore II in his helmet a sort
OF tallsman. After the battle of Nancy,
where that great warrior lost his life, a pipe
man. searching the field for plumber, found the
diamond and, not suspecting its value, sold ii
to comrade for one thaler (75 cents). A few
years later 1t passed into the hands Of King
Anthony of Portugal, who, being hard pressed
Tor cash, disposed of it to a Frenohman for q
hundred thousand francs.
As GUARANTEE OF GOOD PATH.
We next hear Of the jewel in connection with
the history of the renowned Sancy, who sent
the diamond to Henry III of France as a guar
antee OF good faith. His messenger, however,
was waylaid on the journey by robber knights,
who knew the purport of his errand. and this
brave fellow finding himself doomed swallowed
1t according to his orders. Sancy recovered
the body and his jewel, which in later years was
owned by Jacob III and also by Louis " and
Louis XIV of France. In 1885 Russian prince
bought the Sancy for five hundred thousand
roubles. and now it has reverted to its original
destiny, as the Mt accompaniment Of royal
spleudor.
THE GEMS OF THE EMPRESS.
Aside from these historic gems the kaiserine
on state occasions frequently wears the twelve
great pear-shaped pearls belonging to the royal
crown of Prussia that has been used only twice.
namely, at thu coronations of Frederick and
William l. and numerous loose diamonds with
screw attachments, which serve as buttons or
pendants or may be set in a girdle necklace.
Great as these jewels are. the kaiserin prizes
them only second to Collier OF pure oriental
emeralds which her husband presented to her
at the birth OF their first child, ard to which
she ascrlbes the virtue of assisting her in child
birth. as the old legend has it. The surface OF
the center stone is straight and smooth set
without a foil and surrounded with diamonds,
alternating with pure white pearls. This jewel
Is said TO be worth its weight in gold.
THE COLLECTION OF LAcEs
Only few of the ornaments above described
are in the kaiserin's immediate possession. the
majority being under the care of the minister
of the royal house in the imperial treasure
chamber. which is strongly guarded by senti-
nels day and night. Her majesty, on the
other hand, has full conrol of another royal
collection Of inestimsble value, that
Of laces and embroidery. which
occupies several spacious apartments in the
Neues Palais. 1t is known to her friends
the Augusta Victoria Museum, and
is the most complete in the world.
each piece being accompanied by a testi-
monial of its origin, its history and intrinsic
value an object OF art. To describe this
collection would be equal to a rehearsal of the
lace industry of all countries, from the middle
ages to the present day, which 1 will not at
tempt. Connected with the museum is a Ii
brary, containing all the works on the subject
OF needlework ever written in any modern Ian
guage.
AT THE WORLDS FAIR.
Visitors to the Chicago exhibition will be able
to gain some faint knowledge Of the value and
contents of the kaiserins collection from the
specimens loaned by her majesty to that insti-
tuition. OF course there are none of the real
old point de roses. the most ancient Venetian
lsces, nor any of The rarest point d'Alencons
and de Malines among them; the kaiserin re-
fused to trust these treasures to long sea
voyage, and who can blame her?
ROYAL LACE COLLAR.
was allowed to see one of the historic pieces
of the Potsdam Museum, namely the lace col
lar which figured in the divorce suit of King
Christian ~ of Denmark 1888 to l64S) against
Christine Monk. his morganatic wife. 1t appears
that his majesty accused Christine Of having
wasted this royal piece OF needlework on one of
her plebeian favorites. and the hencus crime
being proved against her the unhappy woman
" nv Oh hal Al
consort even the left-handed one. of so great
monarch. The collar, which is of the standing
variety. seemed to me quite coarse and want
ing in finish. especially when COM
pared with the remnants of collar
OF Henry Ill of France, which is likewise found
in the Empress Museum. king Henry" the
catalogue saws. twas careful OF his lace col
lars that he washed and starched them with his
own ROYAL hands,"
Truly. history repeats itself. There is many
an American queen in our days who washes and
irons her silk stockings.
HENRY ". FISCHER.