Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-28
BUYS $4,000 NECKLACE
IN STORE FOR PALTRY $40


PARIS. March II. 1905.
~ HE JOY of woman who through
the blunder of a clerk in a iewelry
L store, is able to buy a $4,000
pearl necklace for so must be intense.
But it is only circumstance to the sor-
row of the employer of the clerk whose
innocence made the mistake poss BE.
Luckily for the jeweler (and the clerk,
the woman who purchased the string of
precious stones was honest when put to
this severe test and returned them whom
she discovered that a most amazing mis-
take had been made.
A story like this deserves to take it's
place side by side with the one that tells
of the buying of Manhattan Island fer
paltry S14. 1t is more Incredible to
present-day geaders. Yet 1t is just as
true. for this comedy. which came near
being a tragedy, involving as it did the
possible ruin of the jewelcr. has just been
enacted here
X
Nine Rochelle, the wife of a prosper
Gus lawyer, wishing to purchase a high
class imitation pearl necklace for her
self. repaired to a well-known establish
happens that this same store is patron
lied by the rich and the titled who wish
clever limitations of their famous jewels
made for public wear. This is COM
mon practice. some owners of magnificent
collections going so far to have every
stone in their possession duplicated in
paste.
Among the customers in this way. Of
the store was famous Russian prin-
cess. whose pearls are the talk of Paris.
where she resides and the envy of her
less fortunate friends Some days pre-
vious to the visit of Nine. Rochelle to
the store the titled customer had left to
be initiated a string of rare pearls valued
at $4,000. In getting ii together dealers
in Paris and elsewhere had been running
their legs off for many months. and when
it was finally delivered to it's owner it
was pronounced worthy to take its place
beside other almost priceless necklaces
worn on royal threats.
The proprietor of the store into whose
hands the Russian princess had delivered
this valuable necklace placed 1t In one
of the safes along with several imitation
strings. but on separate shelf He did
not, however. speak to any one of the as
sistants about its presence there. So when
Nine. Rochelle entered and asked to see
a number of necklaces. among the other
strings brought from the safe for, her in
spection was the one of the real pearls
belonging to the Russian princess.
Now this wife of a French lawyer was
no judge of pearls. 1t is safe to say that
she would not be able to tell the difference
between a real jewel and the limitations
sold by this excellent store in the Rue
du Louvre Yet j. did not take her very
long to decide that she wanted the real
pearls III preference 10 tn" limitations.
limitations all very well when com
pared with the ordinary pearls that reach
the open market. but the man who can
credit ably reproduce the pearls that fin 1
their way into $4,000 necklace has yet
to see the light of day.
With her limitation pearls under her
arm. Nine. Rochelle paid spot cash and
departed. leaving behind no clue TO her
Identity.
A few days later. az dinner party, she
wore the necklace for the first time. Sew
eral of the guests admired it. but most of
them concluded. knowing Nine. Rochelles
circumstances in life, that it was very
clever imitation of the real article. Finally
one who knew more about jewels than the
ordinary man in the street remarked
upon it's beauty, saying: Il, must be
worth at least 900, 900 francs.
''Oh. no. replied Nine. Rochelle. laugh
ing at the idea. LAS a matter of fact
l bought il net MANY DAYS ago and only
paid hundred francs for it
But | assure you tn" man persisted
that it is worth much more than that
l know something about stones myself
dHd diI ttl tdll ain floN ever
have friend here who is a connoisseur
of pearls and he will know at once
He accordingly fetched his friend. who
after examining the necklace. confirmed
his friends opinion that the pearls were
real ones and Of great value
Meanwhile. in the Rue du Louvre, the
proprietor and his unfortunate assistant
were having ffty-seven varieties of con-
vulsions. They never expected TO see
Nine. Rochelle again and the proprietor
was making preparations for putting up
the shutters and closing the business out
for If he was compelled to pay the Rus
sian princess for her lost necklace he
would not only be ruined financially for
the time being. but he would lose all his
titled Gus. omers thereafter. He deter
cret until the princess demanded her neck