The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-14
ROYAL TREASURES.
SOME THAT HAVE PLAYED CON-
SPICUOUS ROLES.

millionaires made the rounds in the news
paper press. 1t is probably one of the
most significant signs of the times, DEM
onstrating the leveling influences of mod
ern conditions, that nowadays treasures
are generally measured by dollars and
cents. Yet, it can be truthfully said that
some OF the most famous treasurers can
not be purchased for any amount of the
modern circulating medium
Ihe author who would write the history
OF the jeweiry box of the beautiful woman
who would have to tell the romance of
her heart, for each diamond. each
smaragd, each pearl that has become ia
nous in history has a more or less inter
esting history of its own. How much
more interesting is it TO review the jew
elry boxes of women of royalty, for these
treasures have mostly played an import
ant role in the history of the world
however. time has wrought changes
even in this respect The extravagant
luxury in jewels and precious stones,
which began in France during the reign
OF Louis XIII, is decidedly out of date to-
day. Princesses and ladies' of the court
wore necklaces of such dimensions that
they covered nearly the entire breast. Ear
rings, with their pendants, were so long
and heavy that they would excite more
rdlcule than admiration at present.
watches, which were worn pending from
the belt, We're of the size of a hens egg
and covered with dia Almonds
Inc family treasure of the Duchesse of
GENOA contains necklace from the days
OF Louis XIII. 1t consists of not less than
nine rows of diamonds, each row alter
mating with one of pearls of marvellous
o. auty. ending in two rubies of enormous
size containing the clasps. Pendant from
the last row of diamonds is a star of the
size of Chicago policeman's badge, form
ca from Oriental jewels. 1t is the broad
est and heaviest necklace known. A SINH
lar piece of jewe'ry is owned by Princess
Maria Josepha of Saxony, now Grand
Duchess Otto of Austria
This Princess, nee Maria Josepha of
SaXony, has one of the largest collections
of jewelry in existence in which the blue
sapphire dominates. The chief piece is a
magnificent tiara of diamonds with a cen
ter star of blue sapphires surmounted
by crown of rubies. This brilliant piece
almost oVershadows necklace of three
rows of pearls of rare size and beauty
fastened by a clasp of pearls and dia-
monds. This pice harmonizes we'll with
brooch of diamonds encircling a large
blue sapphire. Three small bracelets, one
of diamonds the second of diamonds and
sapphire S, and the third of diamonds and
rubies, together with a corsage string of
diamonds, complete the set. Aside from
these there are numerous single pieces in
oil 1n aer{V, 1IN1
art. These form the private possessions
Of the Princess, who has beside them the
family jewels of the Grand Ducal Otto
house at her disposal.
The most magnificent ear set is proba-
bly, the one owned by the prncely Met
ternich family 1t is valued at $50, 900.
and was once offered by Nine. du Carry,
the favorite of Louis XIV, 10 Queen Ma
rie Autoinette for the favor of having the
madame rece we'd at court. The Queen in
dignantly repalled the offer whereupon
the Du Carry presented the jewels to the
Queens lady in wal ing with the ex-
clamation: Your ears are as worthy to
wear these brilliants as those of the Aus
trian woman" The lady in waiting sold
the earrings to the Austrian ambassador
in Paris, who in turn disposed of them
to Prince Metternch.
Among the princely houses who have of
recent years figured prominently among
the purchasers of rare jewels the Co
burgs Thurn und Taxis and the Tuscany
family are prominent The jewels of
Duchess Clementne of Coburg are insur-
ed for 81, 600 900, which in itself does not
appear to be so much, when it is known
that a single neckchain Of Baroness
Rothschild is estimated at $4,000 Bar
oness Alfons of the Paris branch of the
Rothschild family has collected rare
pearls for years and these have been unit
ed in what is known in jeweler circles as
the wonder collier" 1t contains, among
others, two black pearls of a size and
purity not surpassed by any others.
Rare Black Pearls Stolen.
The English crown contains five great
black pearls now. For long time there
were but two of these rare jewels. About
$50 years ago three of these black pearls
were stolen. The five original pearls
were at the time the only black pearls
then known, and, despite the utmost ef-
forts of the English government, the
stolen treasure could not be discovered
for long time. Finally one black pearl
was traced 80 Brussels, where the Ouch
ess of Richmond wore it in a bracelet.
The second one of the stolen black
pearls was found in a necklace owned
by the Russian Princess Orlow. 1t was
learned THAI these pearls had come
through fifth hand to a noted jeweler,
whose honesty in the transaction could
not be questioned. The English govern
ment bought back these pearls at an
enormous price.
Tramp Held One of the Gems.
This left the third pearl unaccounted
for. Then il happened that one day
seedy individual stepped into a jew
elry store in Buda Pesth. The caller
looked so shabby that one Of the clerks
pushed a velvet covered chair out of
his way so that it might not be used
bv the strange customer. The latter,
however, coolly took another seat, took
from his pocket a paper, and from the
latter a small black object which he
presented to the jeweler with the alb
rupt question:
"How much is this WORTH"
This is worth very much indeed" re-
,lied the astonished jeweler. ut Is a
black pearl: one OF the greatest rarties.
There are some gray pearls. but not Of
+his size and rarity. 1t has a fiaw be-
,ause II was once in setting, still 1t Is
If great value Where did you buy ito'
"A gentleman wants to pawn II with |
ne" explained the caller. Tell me how
much It Is worth"
"That I can not say because ii Is such |
/ rarity"
"Can I give 200 guilders for it?'
give times az much quite readily"
Don't you want to buy ID yourself?'
mot l. for there is but one firm in
A ustria that could sell II again. This Is |
he court ieweler, Biedermann, in Vienna"
Tho .hahhv man with the rare treasure |