Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-09-05
jewels OF The ROMANOFFS
SOVletS Hold The Blazing Hoard
Intact.
EXHIBIT OF BARBARIC SPLENDOR

Newspaper Writer Learns How IT
Feels to Wear the Most Expensive
Crown In the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
Other Treasures In Stone.
From the New York World.
Moscow, Thursday, August a (de-
layed) And here is the great crown
of the .czar. Put it on your head and
feel how heavy 1t is"
From an enormous steel box work
men in aprons lifted binding shower
of diamonds and rubies fashioned into
the headgear of the highest OF the Ro-
manoffs. A ruby as large as a wo-
mans fist quivered like jelly in the
sunshine on the top of the crown, and
! above it sparkled the diamond stud
ded cross.
"Just put It on and feel how heavy
it is," repeated the Soviet treasury ad-
ministrator, Reggesseff, and without
further ceremony the crown was piac-
ed on the heads Of the first two out
siders ever privileged to see the fabled
Jewels OF the RomanOffs-Walter Du-
ranty, correspondent of the New YORK
Times and myself. Scores have Vainly
endeavored to view the closely guard
cd treasures, but today was the first
time permission has been granted, and
then only TO us two.
A Laugh for Lese Majesty.
The heirlooms of the Romanoffs are
priceless, with histories more romantic
than the tales of the Arabian Nights.
They were brought today into the Of
fee Of the large gray building that
was formerly the law court of Moscow.
Reggcsseff, extremely courteous and
learned historian, presided at the in
spectien with Soboloff, secretary of the
Jewel commission, by his side; both
men in plain blue business suits.
A group of poor workmen in aprons.
and grinning, stood about the bullet
proof steel box wherein the late czars
kept their family jewels. Two jewel
experts adjusted their glasses. The
workmen chewed sunf1ower seeds,
calmly splitting out the juice while the
dazzling gems Of purest water were
cunningly assembled with barbaric
splendo" and placed on a centre table
for our inspection.
Placing the crown on the heads OF
the two correspondents was the climax
of the ceremony, and the administra-
tors workmen laughed uproariously at
the sight. The crown weighs over four
pounds and is almost unbearably
heavy. A ruby of blood purity seems
to melt into red sheen. Fifty big
diamonds of 30 carats each, twenty
one of Is carats each, and then thick
overpouring Of tiny diamonds and
sprinkling of rose diamonds-they all
unite in sparkling symphony of un-
holy fascination.
Sermons In Stone"
The administrators workmen ap-
peared not especially interested. The
jewel experts, however, uttered un-
ceasing calculations Of delight. The
corollary of putting the crown on the
heads of the two correspondents was
followed by the showing of the famous
Shah diamond bearing an Arabian in
scription dating back more than a
thousand years. This diamond was the
cause of three wars and an untold loss
of human life. AS big as an apple, 1t
is superlatively clear. The inspection
finished, the administrator flung this
priceless thing across the table, and 1t
was caught by one of the workmen
with the same nonchalance as might
be exhibited in workout on the base
ball field.
Tell America we appreciate the
beauty of these jewels, but we will not
let their beauty or their value enslave
u.s." one workman said.
Hardly had the Shah diamond been
packed away in a small plush case
when the Administrator brought out
the tabled Orloff diamond in n blazing
gold sceptre, with black enamel in
scription on top. Circles of small rose
diamonds are strung about the sceptre
and near the head is the gigantic Or
loft, shedding deep white glow in
colors too delicate to distinguish. Back
to the big steel box this went after the
workmen had polished the gold stick.
The Shows of Yesteryear.
Out came an orb with n sapphire of
200 carats and big diamond of 173
carats, studded in gold on globe lit
tered with little diamonds and bearing
coss atop. Then followed the
crown of the empress with 1,933 dia-
monds. the work of two years of labo-
rious assembling by group of con-
noisseur jewelers.. Again the work.
men went TO the box and brought out
q. chain of greencst emeralds, hanging
| from rows OF small diamonds set in
gold clasps. The emeralds form n
rare collection of 270 carats.
For sheer beauty-even the admins
traitors workmen nodded their heads in
won6er-all praise went to n bouquet
for corSage of white and yellow rose