Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-21
diamonds At the Coronation.

Edward recovered and was able
10 endure the fatigues Of the
eagerly looked for and long de-
ferred coronation exercises; but 70 a
plafn north Georgia woman the craze for
and display OF diamonds seemed TO be
IN itself the feature OF the occasion With
the diamonds left out what would have
been the attraction? Was IL not a rare
time for them7
m nut me to thinking about diamonds,
and i made I'D my mind that while there
are many stones Of fine quality, they are
only rocks at last. These little rocks
are dug from the dirt. and diamond
miners are represented as being very
rough sort OF labors- Ny mind goes
hack TO a little picture In my frst school
geography (Olney's as I recolleco, where
the diamond mine was rooted over and the
slaves who we're searching for diamonds
were nearly nude and an Overseer was
nearby watching each digger.
/ read stories. also. about the swallow
ing Of diamonds on the sly; and. indeed,
rhe moor blackamoor in the geography
picture would have had no other place 10
secrete a valuable stone, because his en-
tire apnareI consisted OF a scanty breech
cloth: and his hair in kinks was not 10
be thought OF as hiding place for gilt
tering gems
NENEENLEAEc- NAAE hAAAA Aa-N EN-A~ 49,
on the glittering rocks The coronation
might have been called a worlds fair dis
play in precious stones
All those duchesses and peeresses and
countesses and lady folk were thrown al
most in extremes when the kings appen-
dix got out Of fix. and therefore the dia-
m0nd rivalry exhibit must be delayed
for six weeks.
when the affair did transpire. how
ever. there was evident haste TO hoist into
notice each ones outfit Of glittering rocks
that is astonishing 10 me, and some or the
noted women are reported as being we'll
nigh plastered over back and front with
these shining haubles on that great day.
when diamonds were mainly in evidence.
Our American duchesses were not 70 be
outdone either.
They nut on all the fine things they
owned and all they could gather up and
went IN for winning the game. Our van
derbilt duchess OF Marlborough was one
OF the four 10 hold the gold canopy over
Queen Alexandra's head. and III bet
dollar she left nothing undone TO make
the English envy her wealth and the MARI
borough diamonds. I wondered IL Papa
Vanderbilt and Mama Belmont were on
duty also on that great day in the VAN
derbilt family. II they were present did
the Vanderbilt duchess introduce them TO
the king and queen. as my dear divided
parents2"
But the poor child could not help the
domestic GfsaEreea bilities OF her father
and mother. / expect Ii is a perpetual
hy In pretty Consuel0's ointment. She Is
holding up her coronet In fine style and II
fling I'D my sun bonnet IL our Vanderbilt
duchess can take the shine over them
an. III take chances on her doing IL, too.
But / am getting clear away from my
text. which was a treatise on the craze
for diamonds.
II Is not the strcng. bold streak OF bar
harism in our natures which hangs hne
sparklers in a wOman's ears. and places
them on her fingers. and ropes them about
her neck? Pretty as they are they are
only rocks. and they represent no real
value as to the worlds progress. II /
was cast on a desert island Ike Robinson
CrusOe would not give a handful Of seed
wheat or corn for a peck measure Of dla-
monEs: that is II had 10 stay there by
myself But I have no criticism 20 make
on the hankering for diamonds among
men ard women: further than 10 say. we
should not be too severe on the American
Indian who wore beads or the African
who hung bangles in his nose and his
ears. 10 look pretty. while he went about
naked.
Perhaps I am one person among great
majority. that never owned diamond. II
! intended 10 wear rocks I'd have the
best one that was IN reach or I'd nave
none I am too poor 10 buy rock orna-
rent with thousands OF dollars. and II 1
can't have the genuine I won't have any.
When / see a great big sinner on man $
SHIT bosom. I feel like saying. Does II
help your credit or does II make you feel
pretty2"
But am only a plain north Georgia
woman. born and raised on farm and
do not count fer two bits" in the world
OF fashion or society My worn hands
have always been so busy that II has been
necessary not 10 be too careful with them,
- 20 not feel obliged 20 keep my gem
r,edecked fingers up TO my face. or playing
tattoo on the table or otherwise well eX-
hiblted in public places by graceful little
antics. But as I saiI before, l do not
criticize anybody who Graves rocks for
adornuent- Tastes differ and perhaps
an in the lonely minority. when am
not also crazy 20 wear diamonds.