The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-02-09
The Hope Diamond.

The famous Hope diamond has at
last come to Washington, and il Is more
than probable that it will end its days
here, if there can be any end to the
life of diamond. Edward B. Mclean.
son of john r. Mclean. paid 100000
for 1t and gave it as present to his
wife, who was Miss Walsh, the daugh-
ter of the famous Colorado multi
millionaire The Hope diamond is one
of the most magnificent stones in the
history of diamonds. altho not nearly
so large as some of the other famous
stones of the world. 1t is called blue
diamond, and weighs 441z carats.
The history of the Hope diamond
reads like a romance. It~has a deli
cate blue color and is the only stone of
its kind in existence, which, of course,
adds to it's value. Tradition has it that
Louis XVI once owned it. II was the
most valuable of the crown jewels when
Louis XVI was beheaded in 1898.
The diamond was then stolen, and
later came into the limeiight as the
property of Henry Philip Hope. a bank
| er of great wealth The gem passed
to Lord Francis Hope at the begin
ming of a wild career which culmi-
| mated in his marriage to May Yohe in
1894, with whom he lived rather
troubled life Abdul Hamid bought the
gem later for 100000.
This famous stone also graced the
fair neck of Marie Antoinette, and she
was beheaded like Louis XVI. Other
famous personages have owned the
stone, and it has figured in many of
the great romances of the age. Euro
pean rulers have fought among them
selves for it, and it has resulted in
strife and diSsension in many of the
courts of Europe.
Several American financiers and for
eign noblemen have for brief periods
owned it, but to each it has brought
| ill luck Its remarkable history and
the sinister influence which it apparent
~ exerts on all who possess it has no
terror for its present owner, however.
The possession of this diamond ncces-
states a fortune to take care of it. a
| former Secret Service man has been en-
gagged to guard it during the day time.
when it will be int the Mclean mansion,
and two other men, private detectives.
have been engaged to watch the Secret
Service man. The diamond will be taken
every night to a safe deposit vault.
When Mrs Mclean desires to wear the
diamond at receptions, dinners or balls,
special arrangements have been made
to keep the safe-deposit building open
until after the function. that the dia-
mond may be stored safely over night
A special automobile has been pro-
cured to convey the guards to and from
the trust company's building.
Mrs. Edward y. Mclean has some of
the most magnificent jewels in the
world. They rival those of the crown
ed heads of Europe. and some of them
are said to be priceless.
1t will be remembered that Com
mander NJ. S. Sims, who was the COM
manding officer on the battleship Min
nesota, made a speech at the Guild Hall
IL In cf hi nh q
considered entirely beyond the right Of
Mr.. Sims as a naval officer to make.
His case has been under consideration.
and he has been judged guilty and sub
ject for reprimand. Commander Sims
said in his speech that the United
States would stand by Great Britain to
the last drop of blood, or words to that
effect. The reprimand is as follows:
"A public reprimand Is hereby adj
ministered to Commander William s.
Sims. U. S. N, and will be entered upon
his official record The gravity of the
offense is so clearly set forth in the
communication from the President that
no additional remarks appear necessary
to indicate to the Naval Service the
lack of tact and knowledge of the plain
duty of an officer of the Navy exhibited
by Commander Sims upon the occasion
mentioned and/to prevent repetition
of such a regrettable occurrence"
The oddities in politics are shown by
Senator LATE Young and Senator Cum
Minis. of Iowa. These two Iowa Sena-
tors live in the same voting precinct
and their families are on intimate
terms, but they have always been with
different political factions. They both
are stanch Republicans, but are always
on different sides of the fence and fac
tionalIy opposed to each other. The
same thing was true of the old Senator
Doliiver, and Mr. Young. as Mr.. Young
is a standpatter and Senator Dolliver
became a good deal of an insurgent.