South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-30
EUiI Spell of a Famous Diamond in the
P,ruSSian Groom; Hoe Curse Fell On Kaiser

that crown should be the diadem OF
the kings Of Prussia.
Dcfied the Curse.
The merchant, who, fettered and
foul from the dungeons. had been
brought before the Margrave. ven
tured to utter feeble protest.
There is" ne said, "a strange and
fearful curse OF evil upon this gem.
II is said that Solomon the all-known
predicted that If il rested in a for
eign crown the dynasty that wore
the diadem should ultimately perish
In utter ruin"
The Margrave was not disposed 10
take the warning kindly. and before
long the writhen body OF the mer-
chant was swinging from the castle
Dattlements OF the castle. In de-
hance OF the curse. a crown was
fashioned, and in the center of II
shOne the lustrOus Blaze of Glory"
The Fatal Diadcm.
But that crown was never pressed
upon the brow of the first OF the
Hohenzollerns-for such the race
guise OF the great plague, claimed
him. and his loathsome and blOated
body was buried at midnight by two
shrinking monks.
His successor acclaimed himself as
Duke Of Brandenberg, and by sys-
tematic pillage and theft of lands
enlarged his heritage. And 50 IL
went on until finally Duke Branden-
berg V. elevated himself TO the emin-
ence Of a king. and was crowned
with the fatal diadem as William 1.
Of Prussia.
The tiny kingdom, with its newly
minted monarch remained the Jest
of Europe for 50 years. until there
came TO the throne the youth Fred
erick, known in after days as Fred
erick the Great
He commenced his reign by an act
of treachery we'll worthy of his
family. Processing peace 20 all his
neighbors. he secretly raised and
drilled with merciless severity an
army of 10000 men, equipped, as ne
I
Throws of Mask.
Then suddenly he threw off the
mask OF amiable friendship. The
rich territory of Silesia then adjoin.
ed Easern Prussia 1t belonged ia
Hungary, the ruler of which was an
infant Of 10 months. sovereignty Be
ing exercised by his mother, the
queen-regent.
Frederick seized Silesia and added
1t 10 Prussia, and the other powers
OF Europe. emboldened by this rob.
berry. did not Scruple to tear frag-
ments of Hungary from the helpless
young queen-regent.
Thus commenced the sanguinary
80 years war that involved all
Europe, and while it raised the
name OF Frederick the Great TO a
great blaze OF glory filled the whole
continent with bereavement and suf-
fering beyond description.
Pawned the Jewel.
At one period during this struggle
the fortunes OF Frederick had sunk
so low that he was actually COM
PEELED TO pawn the Blaze of Glory"
IL was taken from the crown and
sent to London, and on its security
the rich merchants OF the Metro
polls advanced Frederick the sum
of ESQ., florins TO replenish his
I impoverished exchequer 1t remain
/ ed in the jewel house Of Windsor
/ Castle for seven years, and during
/ this time three keepers Of the re-
gala died violent deaths, two by
/ suicide and one by "A fall from his
/ horse. When peace finally came 10
! distracted Europe the Blaze OF
( Glory was restored 10 the crown OF
/ Prussia
Bismarck, who could not be called
a superstitious man, had n great
\ horror of this gem. He frequently
mentioned his aversion TO the late
Empress Frederick OF Germany
/ (mother OF the eX-kaiser and prin-
cess royal of England
Queen VictOria's View
The fact is mentioned in a letter
written to Queen Victoria by the
Empress Frederick on the eve Of
/ her sons coronation as king OF
Prussia She writes
Bismarck has some strange pre-
I judice against Willy being crowned
( with the Prussian diadem because Of
I the Jewel that Is said TO have an
evil influence upon the dynasty
! laughed at the old man. Times are
too modern for these foflies.
And so the king was crowned with
I the fatal gem blazing in its center.
But today his name is evil 20 hosts
of men and women. and his dynasty