The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-10
TRINKETS CHAINED DOWN.
Precautions Necessary I'm High So
ciety at the Capital.

Precautions Necessary I'm High So
ciety at the Capital.
Washington Letter in New York Mail and
Express.
A prominent jeweler in Washington was
rather surprised the other day when one
Of his best customers gave him an order 10
make half a dozen gold nails and place
jewel in the head or each. Besides giving
this unique order, the lady requested him 10
made gold chains. She wanted them so
delicate and tiny as to be almost Invisible.
Naturally, the jeweler was anxious 10 know
especially the jeweled nails, and, knowing
his customer well enough, he ventured TO
inquire for what they were to be used
The lady did not hesitate in the least IN
explaining and seemed rather glad to do SO.
You see, l have number OF very valu-
able objects of art, which, although they
easily handled. AS the wife of an official
Of the government / am obliged to open
my house during the season 10 the con-
stituents of my husband, and the Washing
ton curiosity-seeking public in general. On
my reception day, therefore, my mousse Is
crowded with all sorts of people, ano last
winter / suffered the loss or several CT my
most valuable treasures"
II have long been trying to devise some
plan by which can keep my OBJECTS Oh art
outside of my cabinets and yet not have
use in regard TO the loss OF my treasures. 1
have concluded that must either nail down
ne Of tab The bsns Or s eong to try
this remedy. That is why 1 want these
nails and chains"
The predicament of this lady Is not an I'M
usual one for wives of senators and govern
ment officials, and strange as II may seem,
il is not the general public whom they dread
so much some of the well-known klepto-
maniacS In society. Last winter social cir
cles in Washington were greatly bewildered
and shocked by the doings of one OF the
best-known women in official life. "A num-
10 vr1fc va Inc W
lies from their dinner tables after they had
given lunches or dinners, and finally sew
eral of them got together and compared
notes, and suspicion fell upon one OF the
women who had been the guest at luncheons
\ given by those gathered at the conference
Finally the wife Of a prominent diplomat
determined to stop the raid upon the doylies,
and at her next luncheon she seated the
suspected kleptomaniac next to her. When
the doylies were brought on she watched
her guest and discovered that the latter laid
her doylie on the table. and, carelessly drop
BB ots. her han0Ae'e"e' over " D -
The hostess, In a most charming manner
turned to her guest and said: Pardon me
INV dear Mrs. but i am afraid you
have my most exquisite DOYLE in your
handkerchief; 1t is so fine ! am afraid !,
| will be crushed, and, therefore, cali your
| attention to your inadvertence In taking II
| up with your handkerchief"
The guest was not in the least aoasnea
| kerchief and the DOYLE fell back on the Ia
| BE. .whereupon she exclaimed: why. dear
| me- so have. How very careless or me.
| There were significant glances all around
| the table. but no more doiies were los
/ during that season
| Another case of polite kleptomania" wa.
| also traced to a society woman in Washing
| ton last winter, and Il startled social cir
| cles to the core. A well-known woman
/ missed a superb brooch of pearls, and. no
knowing what had become of IL, put de
tective to work, and they were traced TO
leading jewelry store. where they had beei
| left by a prominent society leader TO b
| reset The Jewels were recovered, but there
after the young lady was carefully watches
| whenever she visited IN Washington
| II is said that the wives Of the prominen
| ciety kleptornaniacs than they do the petit
| thievings OF the general crowd Of visitor
| who come TO their houses on the days o
| their Official receptions, and II Is likely tina
| the scheme OF the lady who ordered IN
jeWeled nails and tiny chains will
adopted by many.