The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-02-08
HOPE DIAMOND Em.EAaz
AT RECEPTION
Price Paid Said to Have Been
S250,O00-Once Owned by Louis
XVI.-Got It's Name
From Lord Francis
Hone

WASHINGTON, ID. C.-Special.-On
the eve Of one of the most brilliant re-
ctptons ever given in the Capital, a
fortune has been paid for the famous
Hope diamond, which, it is believed,
VIII tonight grace the neck of the
beautiful Evelyn Walsh-McLean, wife
OF Edward Il. Mclean, and daughter
OF the late mining king, Thomas +.
walsh. Mrs. Mclean recently secured
complete legal possession of the stone.
and litigation which was started here
several months ago has been dropped,
What was actually paid for the stone
cannot be learned, though II is known
that the figure is not far from the
original price asked, which was $780,
900. V-'''
May BE Worn at Reception.
Tonight Mr.. and Mrs. Mclean will
give reception in honor of the Rus
sian Ambassador and Nine. Bakhme-
teff. and this Will be the first time the
famous stone will be worn in America
Its radiance Will dazzle the guests and
demonstrate indifference TO the belief
that il still retains the evil influence
which is said to have crum bled crowns
and created havoc among the greatest
peers of Europe.
Arrangements were made within the
last two weeks to accept the remark
able diamond from Carriers, the New
ork jewelers., who brought suit to
obtain payment for it when the young
declined to accept the stone
on the grounds that he had merely
taken it on approval. To enforce pay
ment, suit was brought, but the ar
rangement entered into yesterday ends
the proceedings, and the diamond
passes into the absolute possession of
the McLeans.
The Hope diamond is described as
"a splendid stone, possessing a re-
violet color and weighing
forty-four and one-half carats' Its
remarkable history ranks with the
most extraordinary romances. Ira
dition has il that Louis XVI. once
owned it. History gives other causes,
but the superstitiOus point to the fact
that the French monarch's decay set
in about the time he acquired pos
session of the jewel The stone is
chiefly famous because it was once
possessed by Lord Francis Hope.
whose marriage to May Yohe in 1898
brought him unenViable fame.
Mrs. Mclean. in all probability
Will wear il at the lavish reception L
the Russian Ambassador tonight
has never before wit
messed such elaborate preparations
ror social function. The McLeans
sent to England for 1000 yellow lilies
a variety that cannot be purchased
in this country. Each one cost So
the entire number costing $4,000.
1 NO iIlCu were sent 10 meet the LuSl-
tania, which brought the flowers to
this country. and they acted as guard
ians 10 the shipment from New York
to Washington. Fountains have been
installed in the Walsh mansion
where the McLeans live. and the en-
tire house is to be arranged as a gar
den. even the stairways being formed
into a lane OF roses
One Hundred Guests Invited
Fifty guests. drawn from the most
exclusive social. diplomatic and army
and navy sets, will attend the dinner
which is to be given. and fifty addi-
tional guests have been invited for
the musicale which will follow. Nine.
Alma Gluck and Ricardo MARITIME. the
noted opera singers, will come from
New York TO take part in. the must
Gale.
Florists. musicians and caterers are
estimating that the entertainment
Will cost the McLeans a sum close 10
$4,000. This. of course. is aside from
the fortune paid for the Hope dia-
mond. The terms Of settlement are
ciOuded in mystery, but the. price
asked by the jewellers is known to
hava been $25O.OOO. They sueG for
this sum with interest.