The Washington herald., 1912-03-15
LATEST GOSSIP OF
FOREIGN CAPITALS

Il
Mrs. Edward B. Mclean. OF Washing
ton, d. c., has worn the famous Hope
diamond at a party which she and her
husband gave In honor OF Mrs. Bakhma-
tieff, wife Of the Russian Ambassador,
successor to Baron Won Rosen, and aunt
to young Mr. Mclean. In this character
the omnibus blue stone SO far at least
has been a success, and II there really
were among the guests those whose chief
interest lay in watching the hostess to see
what sudden or violent form OF death she
might suffer at any moment, they have
been disappointed.
] hear that there were certain fatuists
even who ''were not quite certain as to
to whether some of the guests might not
die, too But no such catastrophe took
place. Perhaps when the party broke
up there was a vague feeling OF disap-
pointment In some breasts, after all!
There has been written a good deal
about the Hope diamond, but >ittle of
its financial history which reveals an odd
aspect OF human nature. For instance. il
was sold in 1880 for $4,000. In 1909 It
fetched only s65.OoO. But between these
two dates the Sultan had bought It at
the stiff price of $4,000.
About a year ago the big jewelers. firm
Of the Carriers sold It to Mrs. Mclean
for about S2sO,00o but when that lady
ratify the bargain.
The cold and logical mind OF the law
thereupon was invoked against the su-
perstitions of the lady. 1t took months
before the intrinsic value of the stone
and its depreciation by the accidents of
Its history could be adjusted. Finally.
however. Mrs. Mclean reconsidered and
despite the evil repute of the gem, decid-
ed to keep II, but at a reduced price.
understood that she paid flSO.oo0 for II,
the vendors being satisfied that the
blemishes on the stones pedigree had
been underestimated.
All this shows a nice ebb and flow of
motives Every one wants a blue dia-
mond that has belonged to Marie An
toinette: but they desire It chastened by
the fact that the Queen had her head
out OF by the infuriated mob In the great
revolution.
The gem at one time also was in the
possession of the Princesse de LambalIe
and it is impossible TO forget that lovely
and innocent young woman's heart was
torious Nine. de Montespan's influence
waned from the moment that King Louis
bought the fatal Jewel for her from the
unfortunate TavernIer.
But the later record OF the Hope dia-
mond is one of almost shameless melO-
drama. 1t is without doubt the worst
Jewel in all Europe" the gem that took
the wrong turning" 1t makes the ca
reer Of a Sardop adventures seem a pale
and insipid affair. A Russian prince
bought il, lent II to a music hall singer
and shot her two days afterward when
she was wearing 1t on the stage OF the
Folies Bergere. The prince himself was
stabbed two days later.
The Sultan Of Turkey, the unspeakable
Abdul Hamid. bought IL and shortly 1
afterward there occurred that historic
scene when. a revolution hammering at
the gates OF the Hildiz Kiosk. all his
courtiers crept away one by one, leav-
ing the Psdishah quite alone, who
wrapped himself in the green mantle
Of the prophet and sat himself down
rpon his throne in the deserted palace
10 await Us destiny. AS stagecraft this
was 50 fgls hat the diamond may be
sors.seE lsqcl. '
Seg' ~ hnd the Hope diamond the
propfaSy OF a Mr.. Habib. whip had Of
sssn d thsT stone ssv 'sepis., that it
droN ned him od'4S- ng,iilt4 , while itself
remaining in safety at Paris. And now
It is in Washington and every one is
watching Mrs. Edward Mclean with ap-
prehensive interest to see what may hap
pen to her.
The trouble with all such stones is
that no one knows what they will do |
next They may bring white clad gen.
tlemen creeping around the house in |
the unpleasant manner described by.
Will1ie Collins in the "Moonstone" Or |
they may kill their victims just by their !
touch, or bring about an epidemic. In |
short they may bring misfortune in any |
number OF uncomfortable shapes.
Jewels always have been considered |
good mediums for transmitting luck. good |
or bad. This is very easy to explain. |
They arc difficult TO get. and frequently |
lives are lost in obtaining them. They
are extremely costly and also portable, |
so that they act as magnets for thievery |
and villainy Of all sorts. They exercise |
a fascination over certain minds. and |
are the chosen ornaments OF beauty. So. |
therefore, they become directly connected |
with all the romance that surrounds great |
beauty. Love, vanity, cupidity, crime, all |
cluster about the history OF jewels. They !
appeal to any pictorial mind. The new |
Jerusalem itself has been described TO US |
m terms of jewelry. Religious service !
decks itself IN Jewels. Idols are given |
diamond eyes and ruby lips. Hence half |
the tales of weird happenings befalI the |
owners of Oriental gems. 1t is easy to |
why the goddess of luck is |
supposed to interest herself particularly |
in special games.
Mr.. Leopold de Rothschild won his
Derby because he wore a green jade idol
on him and a piece of lucky soapstone
And when Mr.. Whitelaw Reds daugh-
ter was married Mr.. Pierpont Morgan
went one better than most others by
sending her unconquerable good luck.
with a pedigree of some centuries in
India, in an ornament consisting I'm an
enormous dull ruby. engraved, and with
4 mystic sapphire beneath it, three carved
emerald balls (sign OF some celestial
dealing in redeemed pledges
diamond chain. Now, / should say that |
any lady. who is SO fortunate as to re-
ceive such n jewel. may be considered
lucky at the face of things.
An entire book has been written about
the power Of gems and charms. London
jewellers testify to their belief in the
worlds credulity by launching new or
naments every year and labelling them
lucky" of unlucky gems, naturally.
they do not care to speak much and
what they say is in depreciation of evil
omen as in pointing out that opaIs do
not daeav-ya THAR had rap,,taffov, h,,t ,ha.