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

rHE KAIsEEIS AND HER BABY DAUGHTER.
kaiserin appears on state occasions now
adays she is fairly covered from head to
foot with jewels of inestimable value, and even
at the everyday dinner, which, of course, is
always a dress affair. the empress usually wears
ornaments of rare magnifcence-
When Il photographed the kaiserin in the
summer OF 1891, or rather assisted John Rus
sell OF London in doing so. L had an excellent
opportunity OF witnessing the truly regal
sPlendor OF some OF the Prussian crown jewels.
A WEALTH OF PEARLS.
At our first sitting the empress appeared in a
Nile green silk gown. semi-decollete. with pearls
in her hair and around her stately neck. Her
headdress consisted of an unusually largo
black pearl Of symmetrical pear shape sur
rounded by white diamonds set in a star
have seen the celebrated La Pellegrine" in
Moscow, which is reputed to be the most per-
feet pearl India ever Welded. vet the kaiserin 8
jewel though not quite "a large as La Pelle-
CRIME, which weighs twenty-eight carats sur
passes i: by the unprecedented delicacv
OF its texture. 1 think. Around her
neck the empress wore two rows Of
white pearls. translucent and OF perfect spheri-
cal form, with gold-crowned pearls as pendants
each measuring at least three inches in circum-
ference These big pearls possessed the supreme
beauty OF irldescence in a rare degree and ap-
peared like the reflex of a miniature rainbow
on a bed Of snow.
Her majesty gave us several sittings in this
hight costume, and then announced her inten-
ton Of having her picture taken in another
dress and with a different background
LIsHTSISG CHANGE
We hal hardly succeeded in rearranginr tina
curtains. furniture and plants when the kaiserin
reappeared, having during the five minutes
interval donned an elaborate black silk and lace
gown with diamond ornaments L: was a
lightning change such as We occasionally
witness IN the variety halls, with the difference
that the artists performing there usually retain
the same kind of stockings, / often
observed TO NV dismay, when a
happy harmony of colors would have
demanded different variety of hosiery. The
empress came fully up to nv expectations in
that respect. and my delicate sensibilities were
highly gratifed when noticed her black hose
heavily ornamented with silver threads on the
lnstep, and incased by 81 sized slippers with
dianond buckles. which had been substituted
for the light green affairs Of her first appear
ance.
ALMOST KoHINooR.
Look at the diamond at her breast" whis-
Pered Mr.. RUSSELL as the kaiserin stepped on
the little platform erected for the occasion. 81
almost think it beats the Kohinoor."
AT the same time the kaiserin called for her
ian, wing on little side table, and while
handed 1t 10 her / took good look at the gem
This ornament appeared the very inc,rnst;on
OF imperial splendor, such as nature alone AZ
lords IL was evidently brilliant of the first
water cut INTO lnnumerable facets, from which
the light reflected In a manner dazzling and
die of the top of the stone Wa
formed into fiat table, the size Of a ,,rno
bean, glittering with adamantine Iuster "
spite of its highly transparent texture and the
absolute absence Of color in this priceless level
i could rot observe its setting II nestjed in
the soft lace at the kaiserinSs bosom Ika =
wonderfully shaped icicle kissed by the midday
sun.
When spoke OF NV observations to n dir
nitary of the imperial household afterward he
startled me by the information that it was the
Celebrated Regent or Pitt diamond which had
seen. one of the quartet of inestimable stones
Illuminating the regalia of the great powers. the
companion piece to the "Orlof" weighing
1874 carats. in the scepter Of the car. the Grand
Duke. 139 carats, belonging to the emperor of
Austria, and the kOhipoor. los carats, the piece
de resistance of Queen Victoria's court toilet
HISTORY OF TEE RECENT"
The Regent weighs 1876 carats and has a ro-
mantle history. like all the famous diamonds
1t was brought to London by Mr.. Pitt, the gov
ernOr Of Madras in the beginning Of the
eighteenth century, and some years later was
sold by him to the French crown. which was
then represented by the Duke Of Orleans, who
acted as regent for young Louis XIV. The da-
mond was named after the duke The leaders
OF the French revolution, when hard up for
rd5, pawned the jewel with some money
lenders, and thus 1t came in possession of a
Hebrew hnancier in Berlin named Treskow.
AGAIN IN POSSESSION OF THE FRENCH.
"htn Napoleon decided upon assuming the
dignity OF an emperor his agents looked around
Tor suitable and rare jewels. and Treskow re-
.c.d ne regent to the French government Tor
3, 100 francs. Tho brilliant tiourad lorceIv
II t1y coronation festivals held or the I'd of
December. 1904, but eleven years later Ma
IoieoH lost this. the only legitimate jewe. of his
crown. together with his empire, in the battle OF
Waterloo, when the Prussian hussars captured
his equipage.