Bisbee daily review., 1912-01-28
USE CAFE AS
 DIAMOND MART
Gems Gathered From All Quarters Change Hands in Queer
 Market
SALES IN WHISPERS

PARIS. Jan. 27.-Diamonds to the value ot more than s30,000 chang ed hands in the course Of each sus- mess day during the past Christmas
 season on Paris odd diamond bourse" Its transactions are open to the view of any curious passer5y who happens to be in front of the Cafe Vennois in the rue Chateaudun between the hours of Il o'clock in the morning and o'clock in the aft ernoon. when the bulk of the business is done
 For the Paris diamond exchange is a curb market, very much like the curb stock market that makes Broad way, New York, a roaring bedlam. But on the floor of the diamond bourse" business is done quietly. al- most in whist CTS. Successful Gla- mond buying requires a cool. level head. besides an experts appreciation of value, and stones that would create a sensation in any iewelry shop in the world frequently change hands between the sips of two cups Of cof- fee and without more ado than even an exchange of cigars.
 A one of the busiest parts of Paris, it is usually deserted before the hour of 10. except for the early morning siprers of coffee and consumers Of croissants. 4 few minutes later the regulars" begin 10 appear and be- tween that hour and II there is a steady arrival of the iewelry buyers, who unofficially hold membership in this unique exchange. At II o'clock buying and selling is in full swing and the tables, both inside the cafe and that line the sidewalk, are occupied by the ymembers" discussing the comparative merit of stones gather ed in all parts Of the world. Those who have come too late to secure seats gather fin small groups on the Curt
 Among the 120 or 130 men who do business daily at the Cafe Viennois are some of the sharpest and shrewd- est diamond experts to be found in the whole world. New, unknown ar rivals are welcome, but they are sure to be greatly disappointed and pro. bably considerably out Of pocket if they bank on handing any lemons 10 the regulars The majority of 1 the men the Jews, for which race the buying and selling of precious stones ' appear to have a peculiar fascination. i But that race does not by any means monopOliZe the business at the Cafe ! Viennois. Roumanians and Greeks match their wits with the sharp Semites
 Some of the men are of the sporty. | fiashily dressed type From their ! shirt fronts and from fingers of both hands shine diamonds of awe-inspir- [ ing size and brilliancy. But as a rule | the dealers are quiet, modest, serious minded men who might be mistaken | for wels-to-do business men of al most any other trade. Some of them come from the United States, England GPrmany,-in fact, from almost every country. Many are scouts sent out by jewelry houses in the nope of pick ing up a rare heirloom from some out Of the way corner of the world. Few if any. of them are actual proprietors of jewelry shops.
 4 number Of the members are not over particular about information as 10 the history of the stones that come to their hands Hence they are much patronized by the light fingered gen try and the second-story men, who find them safer repositories of their hauls than the pawn brokers. who T are closely watched by the police. A few of the big dealers in this strange market are prosperous enough to send out men into countries like Italy, Spain and Portugal on the look out for cheap jewelry. These agents make it their business to get into touch with the impoverished aristoc racy, who are often only. too anxious to sacrifice their heiriooms for the read cash that the agent have.
 For many years Portugal especially has been a rich mine tor these men For long time after the discovery oi the Brazilian diamond field in 1725 there was a steady flow of precious
 stones into the country. In many cases there was no appreciation Of the
 true value of the jewels and it is or
 record that some large glass stones
 that were being used as counters il
 card games at Court were eventually
 discovered to be diamonds of almos ! priceless value Portugal was flood
 ed with these Brazilian diamonds ana
 almost every household of importance yielded up a rich and profitable haul, which soon found it's way tC
 the little cafe in the rue Chateaudun