Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-03-10

sian crown jewel collection was CON
sidored tho most tasteful collection of
royal Jewels In the world. and probably
the finest, except in pesrls.
The Oriental strain which tho Rue-
sia ms inherit from the Tartar invaders
accounts for the Russian love for
'cwels," said Mr.. Shaw. 1T In COM
mon trait In pea SAINT and prince. The
Russians Of all cinsscs have way OF
snving their money by investing in
Jewels. and the crown collection rep
resenf,d tho greatest expression N
mat Russian trait.
"In pearls alone the Russian Cars
were not able 10 surpass other gem
lovlnx monarchs Oriental rulers have
Away, collected pearls as the gem
most 10 be priced 30 that the grest
yslus Of the worlds pearls is In ths
Toast The late Rama OF Dholpur.
wearing mis- pearl regalin--strings
upon strings OF giea ming. opaiescent
| pearls -represented sf2.000.ooO IN
GENE, the result Of Thousand years
| patient collecting. Russia could not
compete WITH this"
Tho Russian crown jewels made
more dazzling show. however. than
/ the gem fortunes OF any other ma
ton. The 1900 pieces In tho crown
collection included golden goblsts. in
nunersbl. gold plates, some sncrustsd
with gems. chaiice cut from n single
great amethyst. jewels Of famous
orders. Tiares. coronets, necklaces.
and thrones. all blazing with tho
spa rkls OF rubies. sapphires, erneralds,
and diamonds were in the rerns rkabis
treasure house.
There were the crowns OF the Cars
notably that worn by Peter the Great
This crown vas brilliantly ornament
cd with 800 diamonds, and had for
its piece de resistance. a great ruby
surrnounted BY a cross of diamonds.
The sceptre Of the Crars.
The imperial sceptre was another
. exhibit which commanded attention
2 by it's briliisncy even I'm that sparkling
D collection. This sceptre boasted tho
n great orion diamond which had in
D Europe only enc rival IN sfzes
J. Like many Of the royal Jewels. the
:. Orion diamond saw GONE strange
4 sights. During all the years between
= coronstions the regslIa lay on its vel
b vet cushions In the throne room OF the
o treasury. Only when a Czsv was %
i b. crowned did tho imperial sceptrs
come into use.
i This diamond was added 70 ths
u scsptre by Catherine the Great who
: received the diamond az q gift from
% a courtier. Prince orioff. The first
coronation after the diamond was
10 placed in the sceptre was tho most
gruesone In history.
Catherine had just died and her
son was 20 be crowned Gar. But
" before he would allow the crown n
be placed on his head he insisted- on
going through a ceremony in honor
Of his father. who had never worn the
crown in his lifetime and who had
:. been murdered. some said With
GATHERINGS approval. The son han
"a the long dead body OF his father
70 brought out and wrapped in the
IA regalla Of coronation day. Two
"A courtiers who had been connected
with tho murder were ordered to stand
II as chief nnourners for hours in tbs
"a presence OF the glitteringiy srrayst
q skeleton. Then the heavy sceptre
"a the crown, and the royal robes weri
70 returned TO the throne room 20 wal
liz the coronation Of the real Car.
L The Orion diamond figured in nu
& nerous coronation ceremonies afte
ds that first strange memorial. Now :
D. has entered upon a new chapter o
Its history. There is scarcely a chanc
s. that IL viii ever be carried by a Ca.
Of again.