The Washington herald., 1915-12-05

so it's reasonably safe to suggest that
maybe owners of the Hope have done
some of the wrong vibrating which their
historians have conveniently hung" on
the Hope.
In the first place. Jean Baptiste Taver-
nier. in 1865. stole a big blue 112-carat
stone from Hindoo god. sold it to King
Louis XIV of France. was torn to pieces
by wild dogs, and everybody knows what
happened to Louis, likewise Marie An
toinette, who wore II. and Princess de
Lamballe. who borrowed it. and all the
rest OF them until Lord Francis Hope
bought II and died a wrecked man. Next
came his grandson and his wife. May
Yohe, and the string Of owners who have
died disgraced and broken in mind and
body. The Hope Is but half of Taver-
nier's big blue diamond. Two other
small blue diamonds are known and IL
thcy have done their share Of vicious VI
brating. their owners have carefully con-
cealed it.
The knowledge that the $3.50. 900 Hope
diamond is in the United States, the
property of Mrs. Edward Beale Mclean.
Of Washington. is enough TO scare into
nervous prostration orthodox believers in
that stones evil influence. True. the
Hone had an ugly beginning. but II has
not the blood ined history that was at
tached to tho Koh-i-noor until 1t was puri-
fed by transportation to England.
Mrs Mclean wears the Hope mounted
as a pendant ard nothing has happened
to her Probably nothing will happen.
But in the meantime. the Hope has made
wonderful newspaper copy. ranking with
the sea serpent and the phantom caravan
for inexhaustible interest.
The most famous yellow diamond is
the Fl0rentine. cut to resemble nine
pointed star. Austrans ascribe TO its
evil vibrations the disasters OvertakinC
their royal family. which has perpetual
sword OF Damocles suspended over il in
dividually and collectively.
Empress Carlotta. Of Mexico. threw
away her pearls. convinced that heir in
fuenCe was evil An English miniature
artist was finishing a portrait Of Jose
phine the day before the separation pa
pers we're signed.
How shall frame this" he asked.
with pearls to signify my ever-fowinE
tears replied Josephine. land with emer-
aids in memory Of my perpetual grief"
During the early summer Of 1870, be-
fore the Franco-Prussian war broke out.
Judge John Erskine. Of Atlanta. and his
young daughter. who later became the
we're in Paris with U. S. Minister Wash
burn They were frequently at the Tuil-
leries the guests OF Napoleon III and
the Empress Eugenie
Ominous clouds were gathering.
Its this OPAL" cried Eugene TO Miss
Erskine. twisting from her finger a huge
gem said to have been sent by Carlotta
from Mexico.
II wasn't born in October and what
can l expect from an opal but sorrow"
In a few weeks she managed to escape
in disguise from Paris.
When Julian Arnold was a small boy.
nine years old. to be exact, his father
asked him what he wanted to be. Julian
was given a week to think it over and
then he announced. "A geologist." Then
Sir Edwin equipped his son with mallet.
books on science. cabinet for specimens.
and a five-pound note. From that time.
he devoted every bit Of leisure to read
ing the rocks and their history. Finally
came a profound and probably unequaled
knowledge of jewels through mineralogy.
Il love what they represent" he said
the other day. stopping his writing on
literature and travel to chat about this
favorite diversion. He believes that
every one should have hobby.
"This comes partly from my father. to
whom l owe so much for opening the
way to me. His joy in life showed itself
in q thousand ways, and among others. in
his love of color. One of the results Of
this passionate pleasure in things Of
beauty was displayed by his carrying in
his pockets a number of these jewels
which can be purchased in the orient.
and especially in Ceylon. for very little
money. Such Jewels have magnificent
tints, but they. are generally spoilt for
the market by containing some flaw.
These jewels he used to let into any
favorable locality, such as the handle OF
an umbrella or the edge Of a dining
table, or the back Of your favorite chair.
You would pass your hand along the
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