The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-04-27

an of about G5, but Is remarkably well
preserved. Her husband, wealthy lumber
merchant, died several years ago and left
her a fortune of more than 81 200, 900,
with an income of about $50, 900 year
She is alone and childless, living in a suit
of rooms at the Chicago Auditorium with
her servants, the doors of her suit being
barred and boltcd all the time. No one is
given admittance, and she practically
lives the life of recluse. At the Auditori-
um they call her "1he Diamond Queen,
but the brilliants form only part of her
collection. a few days ago she purchased
the celebrated Upham diamond. She has
two others larger and more valuable than
this gem. The last purchase was "a
carat stone She has besides one of AZ
carats and one Of Al carats. The two lat
ter are perhaps the second and the third
largest diamonds this side of the Atlantic
Then there are pearls, with their satin
skins and rich rubies and opals, with their
delicate hues, in her jewel cases. Around
these gems cluster stories into which are
woven the fate of nations, the downfall OF
royalty, the vicissitudes of American poll
tics and the stern, homely pages of the
diamond miners life. They are mounted
with the best Of taste and wrought into
devices as rare and as unique as they are
beautiful-watches, combs, pins, tiaras,
brooches and rings.
But It IL the triumph of workmanship
which forms a distinguishing feature OF the
collection of jewels. feather of dia-
monds-such Is one of the startling inno-
vations in Mrs wallace's jewel box. 1t Is
inches long and Is made almost entirely
of diamonds, articulated by faint threads
I'D x.vf+h
feather Is complete to the minutest details.
Hundreds of small diamonds, but each one
q perfectly set stone. are employed in its
construction So delicate is the workman
ship that the slightest breath Of air will
move the small spreading branches. 1t
looks as though 1t were constructed of frost
crystals which CLEAN In the sunlight with
out melting.
There IL but one other like IL in the
world and that Is owned by Duchess Mary
of Teck who married one of the sons of
the Prince of Wales. The two diamond
feathers were created about the same time
by a famous French gem designer. The
duchess purchased one bit Of jewelry under
conditions that the other would not be
offered for sale In Europe. So the mate
Dame across the water to Mrs Wallace 8
Jewel box. This ornament Is practically
priceless.
For the theater, driving, society and the
other delights Of the rich she has no fancy.
Only once year does the public see her In
all her glory, and that Is at the opening of
the grand opera season. All OF her time Is
devoted 20 the care Of her jewelry, which
no one, save her 3eweler, is allowed to
handle.
In her rooms are steel safes in which
they are kept. and the burglar Is not vet
born who could get into them. A mis-
guided deputy sheriff with writ Of some
sort tried To force an entrance to the sui
NOS long ago and was thrown down Ions
fight of stairs for his pains by q stalwar
watchman. Mrs. Wallace is the bes
guarded woman in Chicago, PARTICULAR!
when she goes out with her diamonds ON
The contents of her jewel boxes are said 4
be easily worth $500. 00O.-New York Her