Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-07-24

a number of French and English papers
the announcement that Colonel Pedro Con-
zales, known in Brazil az the Diamond
King, was about to visit Europe and that
he would bring with him a collection Of
gems such as could not be equaled in Eu
rope
This was an ordinary news article, but,
as we shall see, it and the others of like
tenor that followed were parts of a careful
ly planned scheme. of plumber which for
.audacity has not been equaled in the whole
history of brilliant imposition.
While the ordinary reader in London and
Paris had forgotten all about these reports,
their memory was still in the minds of dia-
mond collectors, when the newspapers an
nounced that Colonel Pedro Gonzales, the
Diamond King, had reached London and
would at once proceed to Paris,
The news item in the London Telegraph
was as follows:
Colonel Pedro Gonzales, recently created
count by his majesty Dom Pedro. emperor Of
Brazil has for years been known to the world
as the Diamond King. He Ia a. man Of great
wealth and 7stands@ near to the throne " his
native land. % ~, VI. fs# s$
Colonel Gonzales travels IN simple style, his
only attendant being q valet, who. curiously
enough, is an American Yankee to whom Por.
tuguese and French come as easily as English.
The colonel proposes to remain in Europe for
some years, as he wishes his two boys and two
girls to have the advantage Of the best conti-
mental schools. As soon as he has decided on
place Of residence the countess and children
will join him. -
A representative Of The Telegraph had the
pleasure and honor of meeting the Diamond
King yesterday at the Langham hotel. He
without mi lob
easily pass for London merchant In easy cir.
cumstances He Is Of medium height, well
built and erect. Only the dark eyes and black
hair and beard suggest his south European
ancestry.
At our request Colonel Gonzales kindly
showed US some Of his gems, which, by the
way, he has not brought over for sale. With
out much knowledge Of the actual value of
these diamonds, The Telegraph representative
was dazzled by their beauty and found himself
breaking the commandment against covetous'
ness. There is hardly woman from the
turned by the sight Of these wonderful gems
rs the colonel let them fall carelessly through
his long, shapely fingers
The colonel will stay in London for few
days and then hurry over to Paris, but be
promises to pay us much longer visit In
month or two.
This article and others of similar i'm
Colonel Gonzales reached there. That he
one suspected, for he had shown himself to
be a most modest. unassuming man.
Paris was ready for Colonel Gonzales, as
it ever is for every new sensation and the
Due de Morny and the rich men with the
diamond mania at once sought him out.
Only little less remarkable than HIM
self was tho servant Of Colonel Gonzales
He was fair haired, blue eyed young man
of the most respectful and self respecting
bearing Handsome, quiet, Intelligent and
with unmistakable evidences of culture in
all his acts and words, Cyrus Cushman,
the valet, won the esteem Of all with whom
he came into contact.
Rich Americans, whether from the
northern or southern continent, are re-
garded by the Parisians as semibarbarous,
and the majority warrant this opinion by
their lurid and vulgar mode Of life and
their reckless expenditure Of money.
There were those who believed the Dia.
mond King would be the characteristic
barbarian, seeking society and working for
notoriety. But, to the surprise of 1.-THE
emperor's set," Colonel Gonzales sought
out nobody and did nothing to distinguish
his way of life from that of the average
well bred man.
This unexpected course intensified the
interest in him.. He was, in addition to
being q diamond king, q rara avis, and so
the great to whom he showed such re-
spectful indifference decided to seek him
out, and here was q great point gained,
whether he was gentleman or impostor.
He delivered his letters Of introduction
and left his card; that was all
Prince Dolgorowski, rich Polish noble
man, was among the first to call on Colo
mel Gonzales. The prince was delighted
with the interview. He was lover of dia-
monds and hoped the Brazilian would vol
unfairly crafty his desire, but that placid,
we'll bred person never once alluded to dia-
monds during the interview.
"He Is gentleman, and II he has any
shop he does not talk 1t, - was what the
prince said to the Due de Morny and other
friends after the interview. After this Wis
itors crowded in on the Diamond King,
and, satisfied that hewas not only rich, but
agentleman, invitations poured In on him.
He went to the clubs and houses to which
he was invited and proved himself to be
man Of wonderful talent, for he played and