Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-04
arHE IMPERIAL .orAL.n

u Measures Two Inches, Weighs $50 |
Carats, GIFT to the English Grown
From Australia. tHs ffA(
London Chronicle, kfa A
In connection with the royal Jewels
an interesting story has reached US
,bout wandSrful Queensland opal
that would have been added to the
crown regalia had Queen Victoria lived
to see the opening of the Common.
wealth Parliament ny her grandson. the
Duke Of Cornwall and York 10 May
next. =.
The opal in question. for number
Of years past has been the property Of
"A wel-known gentleman, who was
leading lawyer during the earlier days
in Brisbane, and subsequently, In sgd
uey, where he became connected with
squatting and mining ventures on a
large scale. Ia 1899, at the time of the
conference Of the Premiers, the late
Sir James r. Dickson undertook to
bring Queensland into the Federation.
The owner Of the opal and Sir james
Dickson had been old friends in Bris
bane, and in discussing the situation
he SAID 10 tho deceased statesman:
When the first Parliament OF United
Australia assemblies from all the States
| shall present my opal to the Queen
IN the name Of the Commonwealth, as
there IL as yet no Australian gem of
value In the regala of the empire,''
Sir James Dickson, who was de-
votedly attached to the crown, and to
the maintenance in the fullest respeca
u its Irotogative in Australia, was
greatly pleased with the idea, which
also received the warm support of we'll
SHOWN gentlemen holding official posi-.
rIops in connection with colonial
Affairs. In fact, on being shown the
gem from his old colony OF Queensland,
Of which he was the first Premier 40
years ago, Sir Robert W. g. Herbert,
who Ia an intimate friend OF the owner,
named it 1.-THE Imperial OPAL
The stone was deposited with bankers
| in London some years ago, where 1t has
lain since, until the owner, who Is now
England on visit, reclaimed 1t q
ew days ago, when it was courteously
shown to a Daily Chronicle represen-
tative at the offices OF the bank. The
Imperial Opal" has as yet been seen
by very few people, as it was the
| owners wish that Queen Victoria her
velf should have the first inspection Of
1t.
Though many people regard the
possession OF. opals as unluoky--1this
has certainly not been the case with
the owner of the Imperial Opal"-ii
ia we'll known that the late Queen
Victoria had prediction for these
stones. knowledge OF which fact
originally prompted the idea Of making
the proposed presentation. So far a
ran be ascertained, Queen Alexandrr
has no declared preference for opals,
and as a consequence no action has
yet been taken, since the late queens
| death.
Ii Is only of comparatively late date,
as told by Sir Walter Scott, that opal
came to be regarded as unlu skye tn
Continent OF Europe. Anne OF Geier
tein had an opal heirloom, which. chs
greatly priced. She knew that damp
ness affected the brilliancy Of her opal
which must have been of inferior
quality. When she wore it at ohuioi
she refused to take the holy water
Sinister rumors in consequence soor
spread among the ignorant peasantry
which received apparent confirmation
when her child was baptized. At tn,
baptsnal font the opal got wet aDt
Anne cried OUT" have lost my opal. :
Two hours afterward she died OF hear
disease, probably accelerated. by be
perturbation about the opal, whicl
thereafter came to be looked upoI
as an unlucky stone.
In the ancient days OF Rome, how
ever, the opal was considered lucky
pliuy relates how the rich Romal
Senator Nonius had n mobile" opal
and priced 1t for the luck 1t brough
him. 1t was coveted by Mark Antony
who wished to present 1t to Cleopatra
and offered to purchase it from tn
Senator for sum equivalent to ESQ,
600 of prosent-day currency Nonius
however, refused to sell, and to gal
possession Of the gem Mark Antony ha,
him prescribed aud sentence OF Danish
ment pronounced against him. Nonius
it is recorded, went into exile, takin
his lucky opal with him as his onl
possession. What became of that opu
the one shown to the Daily Chronicl
rerreseutative, as thu opal OF Noniu
was described as being "of the siz
Of hazel nut" while that intended az
gift from the Commonwealth OF Aus
tralia to Queen Victoria is $50 carat
in weight, and two inches in length
Opals, unless exceptionally fine, hay
no recognized standard Of value, a.
, though there ia one in the possessio
of the Emperor OF Austria for whic
his Imperial Majesty. IL said to has
refused the sum of ESQ, 600. 1t 4
claimed, however, that tho "Imperii
Opal" OF Australia is of greater valu,
Desultory mining for opalH has gon
on for many years past in several par
Of the interior of Queensland, but th
returns have not been large, and 4
other stone in any way approachin
| the Imperial Opal" has yet bee
| found in the State.
A gentleman connected with til
|; Court informs the Daily Chronicle thu
, the presentation of an opal to tt
! crown regalia IL matter in whic
! acceptance rests with the king alon
! aud that the predictions of the quee
as to the luck or unluekiness of IL
. stone have effect only in 80 far as b.
/ opinions may influence her royal hu
band. ,n
t An opal merchant 10 the city is r
: sponsible for the statement that Quet
: Victoria bought privately, after
! recent Colonial exhibition, abol
n e4.0U0 worth of Queensland opals, ar
!. that she had them madc up into art
Giles of jewelry and distributed
presents.
To relieve the strain upon Australit
n bank managers aud others, The Qai
# Chronicle can state that "Ths III
!, perial Opal" Is in the safekeering of
y very well-known English bank.
!, Washington Street Bridge.