Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-16
COSTLY JEWELS WORRY
WOMEN WHO OWN THEM
Special Correspondence Of The Star.


My those who own historic anu
other jewels Of great value reaii1e
the absolute torture which the re-
sponsibility of their possessions often
means. Mrs. Perry Belmont, VINO mas
some Of the finest historic gems In the
world, has been known to exclaim:
wish from the depths Of my heart they
were all at the bottom Of the sea. rms
has been when on a journey on the con-
tinent she has taken the jewels from her
bank or their safe for some great occa-
sion and in a moment Of abstraction has
forgotten where they have been put
xh
Mrs. Belmont owns no gem which has
not a history. She has a necklace OF sap
phires which belonged to Marie An
| toinette, string Of pearls which the
murdered ex- Empress Of Austria had once
| dashed to a rock beneath the sea to bring
up their color. So precious are these
pearls to their present owner ana. s,e
always wears them, If not outside, be
meath her gown lest by any possibility
they might be lost or stolen
The Duchesses of Westminster. Port
| land and Marlborough, who possess some
OF the most amazing jewels IN Engiand.
nsver Mace theirs in their banks. In
each OF their town mansions is strong
room with an immense freproof saie 10
which are attached electric beiis. DAY
and night il is watched, PRIVATE detec-
on these houses. Especially keen is the
watch on Grosvenor and Sunderland
houses. as apart from the jewels OF the
two duchesses the pictures, pate anu
other possessions are OF fabulous Naiut;
Indeed 1t is said that the Duchess OF
MARLBOROUGH spends something like SF-
600 Der annum on the protection OF her
London mansion. .
IT have to be so much more careful
she says, las there is no master IN the
house."
Mrs. Joseph Stickney is nearly always
followed about by a private detective, as
though she were a royal parsonage she
Is a nervous woman. Although she adores
full colfection-one which should she so
desire is capable Of covering her from
neck to feet--she is always In a state OF
anxiety when she is wearing them en-
masse at a court function or a great
festivity On such occasions she almost
invariably manages to get admission Tor
her detective. She really lives in fear or
being assassinated for these flashing
gems.
There is a certain young American
countess who is at present suffering from
insomnia and a somewhat serious nervous
condition, which is attributed to nothing
but worry over her ama4lng collection OF
precious stones. She PUSHES from her bed
at night to ascertain if they are SAFE
She counts them, examines them ana
lately. her frenzy has deluded her into
thinking that they are only shams. TO
convince her to the contrary an adorlng
husband the other week summoned an
expert. 1t took all his eioquence to as
sure her they were the same sacred
things which had BEEN sho~ered upon
her on her marriage.
When crossing Atlantic liners the
owners of great jewels adopt all sorts OF
ruses to guard their safety. Mrs. Robert
Goelet, sister-in-law of the Duchess OF
ROXburghe. has made trusted secretary
OF her husband sew on to the Innings of
his clothes treasured gems. while round
his neck lie has wound again and again
less pearls. When crossing recently from
the United States, Lady Paget's smart
French maid had slowed away beneath
her elaborate chinons a beautiful set or
amethyst and diamond ornaments. which
is especially priced by Lady Paget
The accusation is often made against
American women that they wear jewels
at unreasonable hours-diamond earrings
In the morning, for instance. They simply
are safe, being quito as. well aware as
any. one else that it is not the fitting
thing to do
A few distinguished women who have
interests beyond shining as society queens
say that they cannot have the flag of
being worried with the anxiety of their
jewel cases. The Duchess Of Sutherland