Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-11
PRICELESS JEWELS.
Belonging to the Rajahs Of India Art
the Envy Of the World.

From the Detroit Tribune.
Some things there are In this world the
potential American dollar cannot buy and
which eve nthe influence OF European roy
atty Is powerless to win. Among them are
the priceless sets of jewels belonging to
the rajahs of India. Many Of these princes
of the east have sets Of gems which rep
resent value unheard of outside the
orient and beside which the most famous
collections of the crowned heads Of Eu-
rope or Of the families of our American
millionaires sink into insignifcance.
1t is not likely that white man will ever
wear these treasures unless they come to
him as the spoils OF war. It Is against the
most sacred traditions Of the rajahs to par,
with their family heirlooms. Fabulous
prices have been offered them for single
jewels or ornaments out of their vast sup
plies. But gold has no power to tempt
them where their jewels are concerned.
The pearls and diamonds belonging to
the Rajah of Dholpur rank first among all
these costly collections. They form the
most valuable set OF jewels in existence.
One million dollars was offered to the
rajah for the single string of large pearls
about his neck. The offer was refused.
Each Of these pearls is said to be abs0-
lutely without flaw, of perfect purity and
luster.
Every jewel in the twelve great ropes OF
pearls hanging down from the neck is
worth small fortune in itself. Those in
the four ropes across the left shoulder.
though small In comparison with their COM
panions, are really of good size and great
value. Diamonds are tnterspersed with
pearls in the incrustations of the helmet,
which Is literally covered with gems. 1t Is
impossible to even approximate the total
value Of this wonderful heirloom of the
rajahs of Dholpur. 1t is priceless.
Far less snowy, but scarcely inferior in
ic ha 70 inh 70 ~ no In
of Gwalior. His is a wealth Of emeralds.
The three bands of immense stones which.
tnterspersed with numerous smaller ones,
form a broad collar over the chest and
shoulders, are native cut. Nor will their
owner consider the suggestion that they be
recut with modern skill and methods. What
they might gain in brilliancy by the opera
ton would be more than offset, in his mind,
by what they would lose in size. The value
of each of the large stones Is about $4,000.
The strips of gold embroidery upon the
robes Of this Indian prince are set with
many emeralds Of a smaller size. The
down over the arms, are incrusted with
extraordinarily large stones surrounded
with pearls.
The collar-or one might almost call 1t
cape-worn by the rapah OF Baroda Is a
mass of diamonds and various precious
stones, combined in rich and wonderful
confusion. The color and brilliancy OF this
ornament can better be imagined than de-
borders of the darker emeralds. those form
ing fringe around the lower edge being
of immense size and value. Scarcely less
beautiful is the tassel of pearls which
hangs from the left side of this rajah's
turban. Each string in this tassel repre-
sents a fortune. In each the pearls have
been carefully graded as to size and each
is tipped with pOmpon Of silk. The cap
Of jewels which covers the rajah's silk tur-
ban is mass Of various gems to match his
collar. The edge is formed Of diamond
pendants
Five great ropes of pearls, priceless in
value. constitute the chief treasure of the
rajah of Nizam. A single pearl from these
might well make it's owner an object Of
envy. Among the pearls. here and there,
are strung other gems. the better to dis
play their beauty. After his pearls the
raj ah prizes most the nine large diamonds
which hang from his gold coronet. That
in the center particularly is Of great size
and beauty.
Particularly odd and effective Is the use
to which the rajah of Punnah has put the
thousands of pearls gathered by genera
tons of his ancestors. He has used them
to embroider his robes of state. Over the
shoulders. down the sleeves and around
the edges of the robe the pearls have been
woven with silk and gold into beautiful and
intricate designs.