Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-02
BEHIND THE SCENES
With Rulers and Leaders of Wartime Europe
BY THE PRINCESS RADzIwILL
Beautiful Women and Beautiful JeveIs

ontozff Daschkoff, Oroff. Davydof and Ma
dame Leo Narschkine have also wonderful
ornaments, while the pearl and diamond
Anna Scherbatoff had once belonged to the
Empress Josephine and rivaled that OF the
Grand Duchess vladimir to such an ex-
tent that many people could not tell which
was the more beautiful.
Yes, It was pretty sight to see all these
stones and. gems flashing around the necks
and on the heads of all these lovely women.
II is not likely that ball will ever be given
again In the Winter Palace and very prob
ably none OF us will ever behold the spectacle
II presented to the onlCoker in those past
but-never-t to be forgotten times. In other
countries, too, one could see beautiful Jewels,
but doubt whether there were ever such
q number as in the St. Petersburg of those
days.
It seems though. that in Italy the Roman
princesses possess even more splendid orna-
ments than the great ladies' of the Russia
of former times. The rubies of the Princess
Dorla and the diamonds of the late Duchess
Torona are still the envy of the jewelers. of
the world. who would give anything to be
able to dispose of them. In Spain. also. as
well in Austria, the aristocracy possess
gems of nestmable value and In Hungary
hhe pearl necklaces which one sees remind
.onc of those which are described in the
Arabian Nights,
ENGLISH ORNAMENTS
But still, after the jewels which | have
seen exhibited at court festivities In st.
Petersburg, l think that the most lovely ones
where peeresses on state occasions show quite
an extraordinary display of pearls, diamonds
and other precious stones. The sapphres
Of the Duchess of Abercorn. for instance are
the finest known, and could have been COM
pared with advantage to those which until
lately We're In possession Of the Russian
crown. The pearls of the American Duchess
of Marlborough are matchless, not only in
size, but also in purity and coloring, while
the diamonds belonging to the Westminster
family and to the Duchess of Portland, are
quite admirable.
do not mention the English crown Jewels,
II is sufficient to say that the big South
African diamond is the largest in the world,
leaving far behind II the until then, famous
Orlof. the Ko-hi-noor and the Regent which
Is still the property of the French State
When the Queen wears II all other stones In
the room seem Insignificant IL Is related
that she is herself careful not to put II
on together with any other of her diamond
ornaments for fear they should sink into
nothingness beside it,
One wishes sometimes one could know the
history of all these wonderful gems one sees
adorn the person of fair women. IL they
to US, what dramas of love. hate. joy and
sorrow they would unfold to US Queens
and prlncesses. noble ladies and fair sinners,
all have worn them, all have liked them and
cared for them, and the riclssitudes of hui
man life have been so often embodied in
these delicate jewels that even to those who
do not care for them they appeal by the
mystery which hovers over them, by all that
they reveal to us Of past hopes past mis-
fortunes and lost-happiness we'll as by
the ''vanitas vantatum" they recall