The Washington times., 1920-07-18

color-a pale 6paescen blue delicate in its simmer
ing tint the frothies cloud Summers afternoon.
This the "blue crystal which had rested in the
breast plate of the great idol RamaSa, in the temple
at Burmah, 1 told last Sunday. It weighed 1922
caras and then now of the largest diamonds
in the world
The French monarch was fascinated by the Jewels,
especially the blue one and insisted purchasing them
Immediately But Tavernier possessed large fortune,
and nothing the King could offer him in money tempted
him to part with his collection. Still Louis deter
mined to have the stones especially the large diamond,
and eventually word Tavernier that he would
part with them he would be given 2,5000O0 francs and,
besides title of nobility and be created Baron Aubonne
The title appealed to Tavernier, who was old and
ready to his travels and settle down to enjoy
ent of the fortune he had gathered in his years of
dering He sold the gems to Louis and thus the blue
crystal" which aferward became known the Hope
Diamond into the Of the Grand Monarque
Tavernier had possessed the diamond but few
months and when he parted with it he seemed in way
to enjoy his declining years in luxury and with the full
JOY of his new title But the devil in the diamond did
spare him Soon after he transferred it the King
Tayernier discovered that his favore had embarked
upon most disastrous series of specuations during his
last absence in the East The had gotten into debt
and had committed many serious ndiscreons from
which his father had to him Taverner obliged
part only the francs he had received
from the King for the blue crystal and the other stones
but with all the rest of his immense fortune.
Broken hearted impoverished, but still courageous,
Tavernier at the advanced age of eghyone embarked
upon another journey to the East, hoping to discover
diamonds and rubies and thus recoup portion of
his lost fortune But the old reached his des
nation. He arrived safely at Moscow, where he fitted
out expedition with which to penetrate the then
paratvey unknown Kurdestan, below the Caucasus.
Leading his company, he set forth bravey but just out
side the city gates he upon by pack of ferocous
dogs which came from knows where. Poor Tav-
erner torn pieces before help could reach him. and
his followers attacked in turn by the dogs fed panic
leaving the old man s body where it had fallen Thus
Taverner paid for having taken the blue crystal its
resting place in the Buddhist temple and from his time
to mine the history of the Hope Diamond is continuous
story of ruined lives and wrecked ambitions
Let return to the broken narrative of my own
childhood
During my grlhood student days in Dresden Ger
many was regarded a Wild untamed American tom
boy. When finished" my schooling in Dresden my
mother sent to Nine Bronier's school in the Rue de
Psssy, Paris. After two terms there had completed
MY education and sailed home to my mother
Mother wanted me to be fashionable poverness-to
teach the piano and French and German did not intend
that this should be although apparently sub.
mitted to mothers wishes I was determined TO 90 on
the stage though didn't know how and at last destiny
intervened in my favor
Quite Unexpectedly asked to sing a solo in
church and consented was astonished at the effect nv
singing had upon the congregation The people all