The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-11
SORROW FoREToLD BY JEWELS
Story of an Uulucky Stone in a Paris
Tragedy.


The New York World says: Hidden in
the lustrous depths of jewels are often
found, according to people who may
be more or less superstitious. prophecies
of evil frequently fulfilled Many appar-
emily well-authenticate instances are
recorded of death by violence and other
calamities which have befalIen the pos
SCISSORS Of precious stones. Half a cen
tury ago the superstition with regard to
jewols-especially opals-was more gen
eral than it is now.
a score of years ago an incident occur
red here in New York which will be re-
called by the men and women who formed
the citys best society. 4 certain wedding
was followed, despite it's regal splendor.
by great-and Observation-Disclosures TO the
lovely bride, a beautiful BLONDE. whose
likeness to the Empress Eugene was
matter of general comment. Among the
gifts Of the bridegroom was a SUPERB
ring of diamonds surrounding an opal os
unusual size and lustre-the strange
jewel which is said to f7-ebcde disaster to
its owner by its change II coto-.
The wedding journey was a trip 20
Cuba, on which island the bridegroom
resided, having large sugar and tobacco
interests.
= relative Of the bride. who accompa-
MED the couple. and who, by the way. is
authority for this story. in relating the
incident said:
las the vessel neared the island where
every hope of happiness. honor and peace
was 70 find its grave in the faithlessness
of the husband. the opal entirely changed
color and darkened.
1T was with some Difficulty that the
bride. for she was Just a bit superstitious,
was persuaded into the beief that the
change in color was due TO the difference
in climatic conditions. II an omen it was.
however. it was destined to prove only
too prophetic. for she had not been at
her island home week before she dis
covered that q beautiful Cuban gin was
the real possessor Of her husbands affec-
lions. The unfortunate bride returned to
her home in New York. her whole life
embittered by the experience which the
opal seemed 20 have foretold."
Nine. Du Barry. the FRAN. and fair Mar
quise. whose lovely head fell into the
basket beneath the gillitine IN eXniauon
of her levity. extravaganza and folly,
had in her possession a stone Of which
the Paris jewelers. were unable to tell
the precise nature.
1t had heen tound IN the establishment
of an old lapidary and in the wh,m Of the
moment was purchased by ore OF Nine
Du Barry host OF admirers and by him
presented to her.
There appeared upon it. below the SUP
face. and as if under water.an outline as
Of a picture containing human figures
Strange TO pelate. when first t'.c gem
was given to its afterwards unfortunate
possessor this oudne was not clear, hut
after it had been some months in her
possession il grew more vivid
This was possibly result of the many
polishings 10 which it was subjected by
various hands in the hope OF ascertain
ing the nature Of the gem.
One day the negro boy, Lamor. who
was afterward instrumental. from re-
venge. in the downfall of the Du Barry.
declared looking at the jewel that he
could decipher the figure OF q woman
with dishevelled hair leaning before q
scaToid and surrounded by crowd while
beside her stood the eNeeuuoner.
y strange but authenticated cireum-
stance Is that the negro servant boy
precisely described tho gunlotne. Or.
OuiilotiRe had not then invented his cele-
hrated instrument of death. nor had the
horrors Of the revolution begun
sastching the towsl from the hand Of
the servant. Nine. Du Barn. examined it.
saw the kneeling woman. the angry
crowd. the death knife failing and with
q cry of asoRy. fen senseless 70 the
floor
In the possession Of the arst Napoleon
was beautiful agate which served as
paper weight anon his writing desk. Ii
IS related thay one day his beautiful sis
ter Paulinc took Up the agats ara. turn
ing il around. exclaimed See. Napoleon.
there is the word Esilio" The word
ssilio Is tho Italian Tor exile.
Napoleon. always a supe-stit,ous mar
looked ar the stone. ard as ne secInhsrsd
the fatal word outlined En- ifs veins. grew
pale. Without comment he dropped the
agate into the pocket of his coat Nothinr
further was said NJ the time bar gossip
declared that Napoleon eftcr~ard at
tempted 10 break tbs agate ara 81 dis
caver whcther or pct ans ausacions
hand had serccede5. 81 t-cins fse fa5sl
word lie fou-d thet il was maternal.
ro; an artiHcisI lraeizE
Ef0 -DffTtI fAfFT