The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-20
FANDDSHOPED|ANOND
Has Been Purchased by a New
York Firm.
is WORTH S35O,OOO
May be Purchased for the
National Museum.

NDA4A says
What is the matter with the Hope dia
mond?
And what is the matter with our mil
nonaires and our multi-miIlionaires that
they do not come forward to buy it?
This wonderful brilliant one Of tbs
finest and most noted in the world, ha:
been in New York City for more thar
seven months and not a purchaser OF
even a prospective purchaser has beer
found for it.
Several Americans Of immense wealth
men who do not stop at the price OF
anything they may wish TO owp--have
been invited to inspect the gem and have
peered into its exquisite crystal depths
but it still remains in the steel vaults
OF the diamond dealer who bought it in
London in December last and brought 1t
to America to be sold.
It was thought that Charles NJ. Schwab
President Of the Bnlion-Donar Steel
Trust. might feel inclined to achieve the
distinction Of owning the diamond, the
largest of its peculiar coloring in the
world, but the Napoleon Of steel refused
to purchase it
Then William A, Clark, senator from
Montana, with the riches of Croesus, was
looked upon q possible purchaser. He
saw the gem but did not care TO buy.
1t then was believed that perhaps J.
J. Hin. the railroad magnate. could be
induced TO add to his notable possess
sions the jewel that so long distinguished
he Hope family Of Great Britain. Mr.
Hill was pleased to see it as one of the
wonders of the world but he did not
even make an offer for it.
Ever since the diamond has been in
this country people have asked: What
could one do with it if he did buy it,"
1t is so big-an inch across and of extra
ordinary depth-that any one who wore
it as an ornament would be laughed at.
Lady Francis Hope (D1ay Yohe) appear
ed before the solemn English Court Of
Chancery two years ago in the interest
OF securing for her husband. the i'm
poverishable nobleman. permission to sell
the diamond. and declared that she would
not wear it-that it was too big for any
one to wear.
The court declined to grant permits
sion for the sale because of the objection
of other members of the family, who had
q hereditary interest in it and who de-
clared that if it were sold Lord Hope
would Immediately squandor the proceeds
on his actress wife.
Later. when Lady Hope and Col.
Strong disappeared from New York and
Lord Hope brought JOY to his kinsmen
by declaring that he would seek a d.
Vorce the family objection was with
A.
The diamond was always a great and
sometimes an annoying responsibility to
the Hopes. They constantly feared that
it might be stolen, and indeed it was
many years ago. having coming to the
Hope family as loot from France during
the revolution there, and so at much ex-
pense they kept it in an impregnable
vault.
That it was a good deal of bore to
them. They were not royalty and needed
no crown jewels. and, as Lady Hope
said. it was too big to wear. They could
not even have it cut up and utilize its
fragments for that would have destroy
ed by far the greater portion OF its
value
1T may be that the question of what
10 do with it?" has prevented its sale in
the United States.
II Mr. Schwab or another of the mil
lionaire brotherhood should buy the dia-
mond it would have to be carefully
guarded and the only satisfaction. per
haps. that could be derived from its own
ership would be its occasional exhibition
70 friends It could not well be kept
where its owner might feast his eyes
upon it when the within moved him. 1t
would lie. as it mas lain for scores OF
years. its glories lost in the darkness
OF the prison.
It would be interesting to know OF
some good use TO which the GEM might
be put. and some one may be able TO
make valuable suggestion on this line
What would poor man or woman
do with it il it were to fan into their
possession with the provision that It
could not be sold.
What would person in comfortable /
circumstances do with il? What would
any one not a sovereign do with il?
What would YOU do with it?
OF what use is it. anyway. outside OF a /
national collection?
The Nassau street diamond dealers who /
they paid for it, ana are doublY mysteri- /
Gus about what they expect TO do with +.
st.
Its Intrinsic value originally was some (
thing more than $4,000. but the Boer war /
and other circumstances have contributed I
10 enhance greatly the value Of dia- /
monds and the Hope Jewel should GER /
tainly be worth Solaoe0 leaving out Of 4
consideration its worth as a historical +
souvenir.
When the merchant who made the
purchase arrived down the bay with the 4
diamond he was met by a man who said
he represented a syndicate which would |
pay SS5o.ooo for the stone. This 1ffer. it is
said. was declined.
The Hope diamond would nty adorn
a place In the National Museum AZ
Washington or in the museum OF Nat
ional history in this city. and il Is not
wildly improbable that some person who
fancies that this country should own
q gem worthy OF comparison with those
possessed by the potenJates OF Europe
viii buy the diamond and present IT 10
the public in perpetuity.
Any one of the three men mentioned
as having shaken their heads after look
ing al the stones could easily make this
handsome gift TO the nation or city II
he cared 10.
Mr. Schwab receives q fabulous salary
from the Steel Trust. to say nothing Of
his immense profits from that greatest