The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1922-05-04

Tor the transportation Of lJO,OUO tons of fOOdStunS
monthly he said From Novorosslssk 125 cars
daily were pledged, but latest advices show that
the daily average of cars actually supplied there
was %. Similarly, from Windau were to have
% cars daily, but the average has been only ~
AS to the probability that the church treasures
are still practically intact there is much skeptcism
among jewelers. and diamond dealers. The Rus
sian crown jewels have almost certainly been loot
ed and are now scattered over the earth. There
was no word of any footing when the Kremn in
Moscow, where the glitte'ng jewels of royalty re-
posed, fell into the hanIs of the revOlutionists.
The Kremlin has been guarded by the Soviet gov
eminent. The condition of the great collection of
jewels in the royal treasury galleries is yelled in
official mystery.
Nevertheless, everybody knows that pearl neck
lace belonging to the collection discovered
in the United States not long ago, having been
purchased for $S250O0 by a Detroit automobile
manufacturer.
South African papers in close touch with the
diamond trade state that $lOOOOOOO 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 da-
monds. The diamond production industry has
been seriously disturbed by the large number of
these gems coming ont of Russia. Some South
African mines stopped producing to await 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 consid-
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 emnIre was ubot
Is commonly called the Orthodox Greek or East
ern church; following the revolution of 1917 the
church was disestablished and complete religious
liberty was declared. Russia in Europe is divided
into so bishoprcs In 1900 about 20 Der cent of
the population (S7,O0OOO0) belonged to the estab
hshed church Inc Greek merely recalls the
early history Of the church. The proper name Is
Holy Occidental Orthodox Catholic Anostolic
church. This is the name Of a group of churches
which do not acknowledge the papal SUPREMACY
The Russian church was established about 1880
AS to the real value In money of the treasures
OF the church In Russia there is approximation.
IL Is the sheerest guess work. That the treasures
are many and valuable seems certain
But the value Of these treasures has lost notb,,,
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 Dig words and many adjectives are nec
essary; superlatives are In demand. Dissertation
necessarily vague, should go about like this.
we nave learned to compute treasure In such
terms as King Solomon's mines the mines of the
Golconda, in the lavish magnifcence Of rho court
OF the queen of Sheba-and yet 1t is doubtful II
the treasures of Solomon the output of Golconda
Tor whole century, or the gems that bedecked
the Threats Of Shebas attendants all put together
would equal in actual value the hidden wealth of
the great temples and churches of Russia.
russian czars always have been hoarders of
jewels. The very barbaric splendor of their courts
the atmosphere of extravagunt luxury in which
these autocrats have lived throughout the i'm
perial dynastes all have contributed TO the tang
ible wealth Of the nations great stores Of rich
treasure.