Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-12

woman Of to-day ties up In jewels can
be gathered from the fact that Mrs. w.
X Vanderbilt at the marriage OF her
daughter. Consuelo, to the young Duke
of Marlborough, gave the BRIDE neck
lace OF pearls which cost more IMAM
million dollars. Some estimates placed It's
value al a million and half.
This necklace was over three yards
long. and ii took Mrs. Vanderbilt many
years to accumulate the pearls compos-
ing IL. Some OF the pearls cost $1,000
apiece. while the very small ones cost
not more than 500. When strung around
the neck IL almost covered the bodice
from lust below the neck to the waist
line. 1t was probably the finest ornament
In the country, but II must have occa-
stoned It's owner a world of trouble caring
for IL.
Mrs. Burden. the victim OF the robbery
was never conspicuous for the quantity
or the richness Of her jewels. yet she
went to the opera almost covered with
diamonds and still left enough at home
to be robbed OF $4,000 worth. Prior to
the theft her jewels probably represented
100000, and there are scores upon scores
OF other society women who have as
much. II not more: and they never attract
any attention. This, in a measure. goes
tied up In jewels. OF which the outside
world knows nothing.
A CLEVER RUSE.
1t is not generally known that many OF
the society women have. during the past
six or seven years. practiced a ruse for
the very purpose OF defeating any effort
which might be made rob them Of
their gems. II Is simply this: Whenever
they have a particularly fine piece OF
jewery made. they also order duplicate
of IT. but In the latter the gems are
spurious The making of spurious gems
is now a science. and so clever Is the
deceit that IL requires the knowledge
of an expert to distinguish the good
from the bad Diamonds, I<lrls, rubles,
emeralds. and sapphires are made by
using carefully selected glass and adroitly
covering II with shavings Of the genuine
stones. This work Is confined almost ex-
clusiyely to Paris. but no effort Is ever
made by the Partisan teweiler TO impose
the bogus gems upon an Innocent Gus
toner. as the governmental punishment
for such an offence is most severe
BOGUS GEMS WEAR WELL.
The settings for the valueless gems are
always the same as those used for the
real ones. The spurious gems wear for
years and are as pleasing to the eye az
the genuine ones. The woman whose So
cial position Is secure can wear THESE
bogus ornaments throughout the season,
while her genuine jewelry Is kept secure
I'm some safe deposit vault. No one would
think of doubling the genuineness OF the
gems worn by the wife or daugh er OF
some famous millionaire, but a woman OF
moderate wealth could never anord 10
run the risk OF being detected In the I'M
position. OF course, on very particular oc-
casions. like ball In her own home, the
real Jewels are taken out of the safe de-
posit vault and worn that night, Out tne
nsxt day they are returned TO the place
Of safe keeping But. for the ordinary
round of gayeties. the bogus jewels do
vary well and no one Is much the wiser
for the deception.
TROUBLESOME RICHES.
For these reasons the care OF the
Jewels DO not burden the nina SO
much as other articles OF value in the
house For instance, Mrs William
Aetor has a gold dinner-service. which
cos, 500 900. This service Is only used on
state occasions, when she gives one or her
,a,rous dinners. But IL Is always kept
In the house during the winter sea-
son and II is difficult article OF fur
niture to watch. The care Of it de-
wolves upon Thomas. the manager OF
Mrs Astors home affairs and the last
thing he does at night and the first
drtv OF the morning is to see that 1t Is
safe.
when a dinner is given and the gold
service Is in use, Thomas is full OF
misery for then miscellaneous lot
~ servants have the handling OF It.
on the proceeds Of one gold plate the
average servant could enjoy luxurious
life of ease for year; and. knowing
this Thomas does his best TO keep tab
ON the service on its journeyings to and
from the dining apartment.
Besides this serv &c, Mrs. Astor mas
a silver service. which cost $4,000. and
a miscellaneous lot OF silver and gold
dishes and table ornaments worth so 600
more. This makes total OF 100000 for
silver and gold tableware. Her jewels
ara probably worth between 100000 and
ssOo. 900. Her diamonds are reputsd to be
the finest In town. and she also has