The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-22

tiCianS of that day FOUND MIS-. Lynch S
store a convenient institution. and at one
time her windows contained the diamond
badges Of many members of the Americus
Club. the notorious social organization of
Tammany under Boss Tweed. The
pins were massive tiger heads of silver
and gold, with each a big diamond pend
ant from the beasts jewelled teeth.
At this period Mrs. Iynchs reputation
had spread so that she was everywhere
spoken OF as the acknowledge leading
expert on diamonds in this city. She
conducted lucrative trade as an apprais-
er in connection with her store.
AS the part of the city where her shop
was situated was at the time infested by
gambling concerns and overlooking with
money, wealth poured in. At the close
Of the war Mrs. Lynch found herself pos
sessed of real estate valued at nearly q
million dollars.
To combine business with pleasure she
found IL now agreeable ana very profitable
to make annual trips to Europe, where she
established wide business connections and
brought home many new fashions IN
jewelry.
Believing that the negotiating Of private
loans somewhat hurt her regular business
with the general public, Mrs. Lynch cut
Off this branch entirely and chen secured
Ia ten-year lease of the big store on the
southwest corner of Broadway and Twen-
store of j. & c. Johnston. This place soon
became recognized as 50 desirable a site
for business-the center being then on the
move uptown-that, after occupying her
store one year Mrs. Lynch was offered en-
advance of 5000 year on her lease. 1t
was a ten-year lease and she decided 10
accept the offer With more than $4,000
clear profit on the transaction She gave up
the premises and moved down to her pres
ent establishment, at Union square and
Fourteenth street.
Mrs. Lynch has always been a strictly
industrious business woman, and during
the half century of her career has never
missed a day from behind the diamond
counter except during a short period each
summer, when she made her regular trip
abroad to renew her stock of gems
When pink pearls began to be found in
the Bahamas, Mrs. Lynch was the first
dealer to see their value. She gave an
order for $l25,0OO worth, and when they
reached New York no one would buy
them. Not to be beaten, Mrs. Lynch sent
the whole lot to Paris, and through her
agent, Mr.. Crouch, got an order from the
Empress Eugene for crown, necklace
and bracelets of the gems. Then the fash
ion was set
Mrs. Lynch is religious, and Is faithful
member of the Roman Catholic Church,
She is, despite her religious fervor, ex-
She never could endure the sight of a
cross-eyed person entering her shop, and
if one looked a her she would jump in
alarm, expecting the balance of her days
business to be disastrous.
In financial affairs Mrs. Lynch was al
ways very tight-fisted. The formal clos
ing of any particular transaction she usu-
ally turned over to her eldest son.
The diamond expert has been in the
confidence of many prominent New York
ers who have found II convenient, in time
of need to dispose of family Jewels or
plate without caring for publicity.
The fame of the store as a market Tor
diamonds was so widespread that when
year or so ago the Burdens We're robbed
of rich family jewels by their butler they
sent a note to Mrs. Lynch asking her aid
in recovering the property
Mrs. Lynch has never had social any
billions, and few people have ever seen
her in any public place other than her
store and her church. She has always
platform behind her diamond counter to
stand on, and TO the curious who visit her
shop merely for the sake of getting look
at so interesting parsonage she appears
as a tall, handsome gray-haired old lady
of the Martha Washington type.
At the hour for closing she always
leaves in a cab or closed carriage ac-
companied by one of her sons.
Her only appearance worthy of note In
a public place was during the opera sea-
son when Col. Mapleson held sway at the
Academy of Music.
Mrs. Lynch then received tickets from
the enterprising impresario in consldera-
ton of the loan of magnificent set Of
diamonds worn by Adelina Patti and
which the colonel it is said, claimed were
the singers own gems and of worldwide
celebrity.