South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-05
Newport and Fifth Avenue Are Now Asking
Who VIII Be Rich Enough and BraOe Enough
to Wear the Dazzling Gems of the Russian Cza1

Who Is the American woman who has the
money to buy and the courage to wear the collar
Of rubies, favorite jewels of the ill-fated Grand
Duchess Tatiana. who found in them the fascina-
ton of the sinister?
Who is the American multi-millionaire about
TO play the geni to his wife sweetheart, trans
hitting from the whitewashed room in Moscow
to her jewel the Shah diamond, the very
prince of all gems? This stone, inch and
quarter long, with its queer Arabic inscriptions,
otherwise uncut and unpublished and ordinary as
piece Of rock crystal, hung on silken cord be-
fore the peacock throne of Akbar the Great,
Emperor Of all India. The Arabic letters it
date back to the year 1000.
These are some Of the questions that are
being asked in New York and Newport; Detroit,
Denver and points east and west, and in Paris
and observation-disclosures American wealth is
gathered, in fact Already guesses are being
made as to whose wrists will display, during the
coming season, the pair of perfectly-matched dia-
mond bracelets, and perhaps the collar of
eralds and pearls thirty seven deep, all the one
time ornaments of Catherine.
1t must be admitted that American women are
not so greatly troubled by fear Of i'll to refuse
gems however sinister may be their reputation.
Adventurous the American feminine mind is
they appear to hold more precious the stone with
tragic history. The mischief making Hope da-
mond for example, is held in esteem three times
what it would be were the gem benignant one,
by its beautiful and fashionable owner, Mrs. E. B.
MacLean of Washington
And then a year ago America gasped over
the story of the 100000 string of pearls that
Horace Dodge purchased one fine afternoon from
Cartier, Inc, which firm had brought it over from
the Romanof collection, it was said
For time Mrs. Dodge wore the magnificent
necklace; with its five strands and its four hum
dred stones the envy of a wondering social world
Upon her death her daughter, the fair Delphine
Dodge, who now is Mrs. J. f. R. Cromwell came
into possession Of it. But she seldom wears II
since il is haunted, though only by her practical
fear that it may be stolen.
Perhaps out Of the historic collection thai no7,
is being inventoried in history following on that
which the Frenchman De Veilly began to write in
chalk and charcoal during the great GATHERINGS
time, the only piece which has seemed to BRING
good to its pOssessor is the pearl necklace +ba+
belonged to the mother of Grand Duke Ro-is
and became his upon her death at Cannes last
February.
Boris was known as "the worlds pra.+o..
spender," before the four years of tragedy which
played havoc with the fast set of Europe. Ar
il was when he had touched bottom, apparent1r
that the necklace fell to MS lot. He felt a nsf'
ural aversion to parting with it. But "a do,
went by he saw things differently
"I shall be practical for once in nv life - h
finally told his friends. Like others Of nv
sountrymen / shall sell my jewels and get down
to brass tacks as it were"
It was about this time that the King Of Serbia
went TO Paris, seeking a wedding present for his
bride. the Princess of Roumania He heard ~
the necklace. But there friendship between
him and Boris, and he could not embarrass tina
Russian by negotiating for the sale of his treasure
Accordingly ne commissioned a leading jeweler