The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-08
77-7-777-7717@7 79@777-777
PRECIOUS STONES IN HISTORY.
Interesting Legends In Connection
with Certain WorId-FamOus Gems.

Interesting Legends In Connection
with Certain WOrld-FamOus Gems.
From the St Louis Globe-Democrat
When Stevenson's pestered Prince of Bo-
hernia tossed the rajah's diamond into
the Seine. and the gem, describing an arc
of light in its flight vanished forever from
the sight of men, his pSographer tells us
that "hs spirits rose In exultaton with
the thought that he had closed the long
catalogue Of tragedies, crimes, intrigues
and iufamles which for untold ages had
constituted the history of the stone. To
possess that glittering lump of crystal, to
call Il their own to display it to the world,
even 10 take il by stealth at rare intervals
from Its hiding place and gloat over its
beauty men had for century after centu-
~ sold their honor, betrayed friends and
country and not scrupled at the commits
sion of the most fearful crimes. In the
never-ending struggle for its possession
blood had been shed and myriads of lives
sacrificed. il had glittered in The crowns
Of tyrant, dccked the beauty of the fairest
women, served as the chief adornment
OF monstrous idols, been wrested from
owner after owner as the chefest prize of
conquest, and as il passed from hand to
of striking cruelty or shameless crime"
Stevenson's Prince never dwelt outside
of Bohemia. but the sinister and potent
role assigned to his vanished diamond has
been enacted by most of the great historic
gems of which We have knowledge, for
almose every one of the priceless diamonds
and rubies now the pride of royal treasur-
les, or of rare collections In Europe, has a
history full Of strife, contest, rivalry and
war.
The empire Of Napoleon was made and
unmade by the regent, long the pride of
the crown jewels of France, and until
within very recent years the finest large
diamond known. This stone was pur-
chased, In 1717. from its English owner
for the French regalia by the Duke of
Orleans, then regent of France, whence
its name, and was first made publicly con-
spicuOus at the coronation of Louis XIV,
in l722 when it was flashed as the most
magnificent jewel in the crown. Half a
century later ii was again the center of
crown that which. in 1915. weighed so
heavily upon the head OF young Louis
XVI that he cried out in discomfort, 1T
hurts me- Then came the revolution and
the crown jewels, now the property of
the people, were deposited for safe-keep-
ing in the Garde Meubie.
on the morning of September II. 1892.
Paris was startled by the discovery that
the Garde Meuble had been robbed of It's
treasures including the regent During
the preceding night robbers had scaled the
colonnade from the side of the Place Louis
XIV and. through window, made their
way into the Gafde Meuble, escaping un-
discovered with their precious booty. Sew
eral persons were arrested on suspicion
but discharged for want Of evidence
Finally an unsigned letter reached the
commi ssioners of the commune stating
that some Of the missing jewels would be
found in a ditch i'm the Allie des Avenues,
Champs Elysees. Omcers FASTENED TO the
spot and unearthed among other treas
ures, the missing diamonds their great
value evidently made IL impossible for the
thieves to dispose Of them with safety
Thirteen years later the story of the rob
bSry came out
In 1905 a forgery was committed on the
Bank OF France. Among those arrested
was a veteran soldier. called by his com
rades Bahia, who betrayed his accom-
puces. "Ths is not the first time" he
said TO the courts, THAT my confessions
have been useful to society; and IL You
condemn me 1 shall implore the elem
ency Of the emperor. Without me Napol-
con would not be on the throne, for 70
is TO me alone the success of the battle
OF Narcngo is due. I was one OF the rob
beers of the Garde Mcuhle, ana helped to
bury en- the ditch the regent and the other
objects. which. being easily recognized.
would have led 10 detection. / revealed
this hiding place. The regent was found.
and you are not lenVrant of the fact that
IL was placed In the hands OF the Dutch
by the first consul 20 procure the funds
which were so much needed after the
18th Brumaire." Following this con-
fessiou. Baha's accomplices were con-
victcl and sentenced to the ralleys. but
BAHIA himself was imprisoned at Bicotro.
where he was Familiarity known. until he
uicd. as "tho man who stole thc regent"
Recent Investigations into the history Of
tho regent throw doubt upon the truth
funD-s OF Bana's story but the vital part
which the diamond played ln building the
fortunes OF Napoleon admits OF no denial.
lu li9o, six years after its recovery. % was
plWuei 90 Nanderbcrg a banker OF AM
sterlum, ana 20 was the funds thus se-
cured chat alone made possible Napoleon IS
Italian campaign and the battle of Ma
renro, the winning of which launched tho
Coraicau upon his long career of conquest
Napoleon redeemed the regent in lsl2 ana
/ two years lfterWard had d, placed ou the
| ed There uuul isii when Marie Louise
carried 80 or to Austria. whence the fm-
por0r Francis returned 10 to France. and
| 10 was reset for the coronation OF Charles
| y, During thc re.En of Napoleon lll b.
/ was mounted several Times. and lu 1870
was deposited iuf tho.Bluk OF France ft
/ ls now u me Gulorie dApolIuu of the
/ Louvr. Wien Ode $3.50 Mlzlriu diamonds
| mot sold lt tha French crown Jewel sHla
I fcw feIrH uHa. lIH 0ri eInHl weight wls
| f.l carltH. but ihls WIs reduced DO CUTTING
| to DIS clrhtt lf Has rui hy ff1fls. who
devoted iwo yolr i1 thc task. hIa f.o br.
! lnH $4,000
hate aail uat iho omDte ~ Napoleon
WA aa4s an4 eAm4Ig ~ ihe i.E,At. Be-