The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-29
WHERE Are JEWELS?
All Of Them in Minneapolis Worth
but ,$71,675.
so THE ASSESSORS BOOKS SHOW
Some Well Known People Whose
Gems Were Notable Now
Report None.

The day of jewelry as an article OF
adornment for the softer sex has passed
away Earrings are an anachronism
Bracelets have come to be regarded as
heirlooms. The society woman who once
delighted to deck herself forth with rare
and precious stones has given way to the
new woman who handles a cleeky as we'll
as may be; and sails boat, drives an
automobile or rides to hounds with equal
grace.
in Minneapolis, says the city assessor. is
worth only $71675. This is a shrinkage
from the figure of ten years ago.; but the
fact remains, nevertheless. Moreover, OF
this amount, all but about $4,000 is owned
in three wards. II the figures are ques-
toned they may be verified by referring
to the assessors books.
What has become of all the magnificent
jewels that were displayed at the Wash.
b>srn ball, given at Fair Oaks some ten
of twelve years ago.? Their settings
must have been melted down and the
jewels themselves disposed Of. At any
rate many Of them are no longer listed
upon the assessors books.
What has become the wonderful Flor.
entine cameo that was once the pride or
we'll known collector; of the famous
pearls that once decked the neck OF a
Minneapolis society girl, now matron;
of the diamonds presented by an elderly
husband to his young wife, who is now d
widow? All trace of them has been lost
assessors point of view, at least; more
difficult than the oft repeated. query:
"Where do the flies go in winter?
No Diamonds in Two Wards.
The assessors books show that there
are two wards in the city, the ninth and
tenth, in which not one return mas been
made under the caption diamonds ana
jewelry." Apparently no jewelry is worn
in these wards. Women have escheWed
stick pins; and even wedding rings are
unknown.
Jewelry owned in the twelfth ward is
said, by It's possesors, to be worth only
$110. In the sixth ward, 1T IS yaiued az
$50; in the seventh at $245
First of all on the list comes the
fourth ward, the ultra fashionable resi-
dence district of the city. Returns from
the fourth show that the JeWelry owned
within it's limits is worth $25,545. IN the
fifth, the amount is only slightly Tess,
s24,S55. In the eighth it is $12,S30, and in
the second. $3.50. Residents of the third
ward give the value of their jeWelry as
s1,625. In the first the amount is $l,0lo;
in the eleventh, $475; and in the thlr-
,teenth, $3.50.
A further reference to the individual
returns made by the husbands OF women
who are known as leaders in twin CITY
society show that they own no jeWelry
whatsoever. Among them is the VINE OF
a well-known corporation attorney whose
Jewels were once the envy of her friends,
but who has, apparently, converted them
into something more useful OF late years.
In this same list may be found the name
of a prominent miller and grain man
whose name carries weight in every grain
market of the world.
Some Modest Figures.
The family of a gentleman who was re-
Gently a candidate for the United States
senate. owns $500 worth of jewelry; While
one of his business associates, whose
name has been much in the papers re-
Gently, makes return of $500. Another
politician who now occupies prominent
place in the councils of his party, admits
that his family jewels are worth $780,.
The family Of prominent lobber pays
taxes on $500 worth of jeWelry, OF another,
$3.50, and of still another, $500 All OF
these families are prominent IN society
and all entertain frequently. ~
Among the big grain and flour men one
pays taxes on $3.50 worth, another on $500
and still another on nothing at all. The
wife Of prominent miller, now dead
values her jewels at $1,000, and this is the
highest valuation noted in a list of twenty
names selected at random from among
the prominent society folk of the city.
The family of a deceased grain man
we'll known for his philanthropies, and Of
a former mayor, now dead, pay taxes or
$500 each, and the same amount is set
forth as the value of jewelry owned in the
| family of well-known lumberman who is
| also an art connOiseur
A wholesale grocer pays on $500 and an
; other on SITS. An official Of one of the
! loan and trust companies placed his re.
! turn at $3.50, and manufacturer whose
! name is known far and wide. returned
/ $3.50 as the value of jeWelry owned by his
/ family Another well-known societ!
woman, whose consort is generally known
| elry valued at only $50.