Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-02

large hall is filed with the carriages in
which they have ridden from one part of
the Kremlin to another on their corona
ton days. all covered with gold leaf and ex-
qlMsite carving. Tie panels of several are
painted with appropriate pictures by famous
artists of their time. Others have the Rus
Sian coat-of-arlns or the monogram of the
sovereign for whom they were made set
with diamonds, rubies, sapphires, pearls,
turquoises and other precious stones. One
which belonged to Catherine the Great has
the hubs of the wheels entirely covered
with Persian turquoise. Millions of dollars
are thus lying idle in the Jewels upon the
carriages and ornaments. A saddle pre-
scented by the Sultan Of Turkey to Catherine
the Great is said to carry $500, COO worth Of
precious stones.
Plate and Jewels.
Several large rooms are filled with cases
containing gold and silver plate presented
to the several sovereigns of Russia during
the last five or six centuries. They repre-
sent the highest art and skill of the gold
and slversmith of all nations and their
intrinsic value, were they melted DOWN
would be enormous. Here also are suits
Of armor worn by Russian sovereigns in an
cfent days. many of them being heavily
mounted with gold. silver and precious
stones.
The largest emerald ever known Is in the
crown of KaZan, surrounded by $50 other
precious stones Of great value.
The largest ruby ever found Is In the
crown of the Empress Anne which was
originally made for Catherine the peasant
wife of Peter the Great, but for some rea-
son was not used at her coronation. The
ruby was purchased at Peking in 1915 by
the Russian ambassador. 1t originally came
from Burmah and is priceless. No estt-
mate of its value can be made. 1t is worth
whatever any one would be willing or able
to pay for 1t, but naturally, being the prop
erty OF the government. it will probably
the crest of a golden inter embossed with
253G diamonds.
In the collection of swords is one pre-
scented by his boyars or mobiles, to Ivan the
Terrible, which contains 800 fine diamonds
upon the handle. The crown of Viadimar,
which contains piece of the true cross, IS
studded with fifty-eight large diamonds.
eighty-three rubiss, twenty-three sapphires,
fifty emeralds and thirty-seven pearls. used
as borders or frames around beautiful pic
lures in enamel representing five of the
principal acts of the life of David.
There is nothing to compare with 1t at
any other capital, although the crown of
Portugal, I believe. contains precious
stones of greater value than that of any
other. They are estimated at eight millions,
and the ornaments formerly worn by the
predecessors of the present Shah of Persia,
which belong to the Persian government,
were at one time valued at fifty millions.
The latter's crown probably contained,
among other things, the celebrated ruby OF
Akbar the Great, the grand mogul of Delhi,
which was brought to Teheran by the Sha h
Nadair, who invaded India during the early
part of the thirteenth century. This ruby,
which is perhaps second in value only 10
that in the crown OF the Czarina Anne tand
some esteem 1t of greater value), has been
missing from the Persian crown for several
years. Dealers in precious stones all over
the world have been warned not to pur-
chase it, but to Immediately telegraph a
banking Arm in Paris in case 1t should be
offered them for sale. The manner in which
the shah has behaved about the matter has
given rise to a great deal of gossip and a
suspicion that he knows more about its
disappearance than he cares to say. 1t
would be impossible for any one to get rid
of such a stone. In the first place, no one
would buy 1t without a thorough investiga-
ton, which, of course, would be disastrous
to the thief and in the second place, the
purchaser would be compelled to defend
himself against suit In court or dipio-
matte proceedings from the Persian govern
ment. He would be In the same predica-
ment as the man In Mark Twains story
who had million-dollar bank bill
given him and nearly starved to death be-
cause he could not get 1t changed. The
only way that the thief can get rid of the
Persian ruby Is to break 1t into a dozen
pieces and then he would be apt to excite
grave suspicious.
Theft Of Jewels.
Thare Fava heos1 r number f,f acandain al