The Red Cloud chief., 1922-04-27

for the transportation of 100, 600 tons of foodstuffs
monthly" he said. From Novorossissk l5 cars
daily were pledged, but latest advices show that
the daily average of cars actually supplied there
was 80. Similarly, from Windau we were to have
80 cars daily, but the average has been only y"
AS to the probability that the church treasures
are still practically intact there is much skepticism
among jewelers. and diamond dealers. The nus
sian crown jewels have almost certainly been loot
ed and are now scattered over the earth. Ihere
was no word of any footing when the Kremlin In
Moscow. where the glittering jewels of royalty re-
posed, fell into the hands of the revOlutlOnlsts.
The Kreulin has been guarded by the Soviet gov
eminent. The condition Of the great collection OF
Jewels in The royal treasury galleries Is yelled III
official mystery.
Nevertheless, everybody knows that a pearl neck
lace belonging to the collection was discovered
in the United States not long ago, having been
purchased for $S25,0O0 by a Detroit automobile
manufacturer.
South African papers In close touch with the
diamond trade state that $lO,OOO,OOO worth OF
stolen Russian diamonds were thrown on the jewel
market in ten months In 1921-and the crown jewel
collection Of Russia was particularly rich in dia-
monds. The diamond production industry has
been seriously disturbed by the large number of
these gems coming out of Russia. Some South
African mines stopped producing to await n de-
mand for their stones. That some Of the Jewels
which have so affected the international trade are
from the royal collection there is no doubt.
The Russian crown Jewel collection was consld-
cred the most tasteful collection of royal jewels
in the world, and probably the finest, except in
pearls. The Oriental strain which the Russians
Inherit from the Tartar invaders accounts for the
Russian love for jewels.
The Russian church under the empire was what
Is commonly called the Orthodox Greek o. East
ern church following the revolution of 1917 the
church was disestablished and complete religious
liberty was declared. Russia In Europe IL divided
into 30 bishOprics. In 1900 about 10 per cent Of
the population (S7, 0OO,O0O) belonged to the estab-
lished church. The Greek merely recalls the
early history of the church. The proper name Is
Holy Occidental Orthodox Catholic Apostolic
church. This is the name of n group Of churches
which do not acknowledge the papal supremacy.
The Russian church was established about 1880.
AS 10 the real value In money Of the treasures
of the church In Russia there Is no approximation.
1t Is the sheerest guess work. That the treasures
are many and valuable seems certain.
But the value Of these treasures has lost nothing
in the telling. There are many legends concerning
these treasures and according to them no other
country on earth has such vast treasures concealed
in its churches as has Russia. In discussing the
subject big woods and many adjectives are nee
essary; superlaives are In demand. Description
necessarily vague. should go about like this:
We have learnhd to compute treasure In such
terms as King Solrinonts mines, the mines Of the
GOlconGa, or In the lavish magnifcence of the court
of the queen Of Sheba-and yet 1t Is doubtful IL
the treasures of Solomon, the output Of Golconda
for a whole century, or the gems that bedecked
the thrOats Of Sheba's attendants, all put together,
would equal In actual value the hidden wealth of
the great temples and churches Of Russia.
Russian cars always have been hoarders of
jewels. The very barbaric splendOr of their courts,
the atmosphere Of extravagant luxury In which
these autocrats have lived throughout the i'm
perlal dynasties, all have contributed to the tang
ible wealth Of the nations great stores Of rich
treasure.