The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-10


 Etwe
 The Thiers Pearls, Which Were HI UI
 Death, and Were Nursed and Love
 Back to Health. The Clasp of the
 Necklace Is a,Megnificent, Ruby. C ICK unto death, pining for the delicat
 tender caresses of beautiful womal
 the most famous pearls in the worl have miraculously been brought back life and assumed their former position 6 the most valuable collection ever a sembled.
 The recovery of the love-sick pear from what seemed like certain obliyio forms the climax of one of the most anna ing romances ever coneeived-a romano all the more remarkable because one { the principals was mass of inanimat things. yet pining away, dying.
 Fifteen years ago the Thiers necklac composed of 145 perfectly matched, gra uated rose pearls, was darkening, becor ing ugly, old and wTtnered in glass cas in the Paris Louvre. Pearl experts shoo their heads. Nothing could save then they said, but pearl mother" The wanted to be '1oved.'
 But the Thiers pearls had bee "sentenced for life" to the case in tt Louvre. They were as much prisoners { though they were confined behind fro bars. The pearl experts made care full examination of them and ruefully declared that their intrinsic value had shrunk to $25,0O0. Unless they were given the feminine companionship they craved they would surely die.
 Some of the French officials laughed fin scorn. It was impossible, they de. clared, that these inanimate things could be affected by an occult influ- ence that would bring about their destruction. But there were others who did not laugh.
 In time the Thiers necklace was missed frequently from it's case in the Louvre. Plausible explanations were given by the officials. But the pub lie was allowed to forget the famous pearls.
 A few weeks ago the world was startled by an announcement from the French Government that the Thiers pearls, whose value when they were reported dying was generously placed at $25,000, had just been sold to the New York firm of Cartier for the enormous sum of $65S, PA, mak- ing them the most valuable col lection of pearls the world has E ever known! How their rejuve. E nation was brought about is told A here for the first time. A The 'Thiers necklace was assem- ENE bled by the wife of AdoIphe Thiers, E first President of the Third French Republic, who was known. as the Savior of the Territory" Already a very rich man when he was married in 1888. he presented his bride with three most unusual pink pearls.
 Mine. Thiers loved these three pearls with a love that developed into a passion. With them as a foundation she started to build MI the necklace that was later to VI become SC eaRccSs. The wk5le world was comoed for suitable companions to the original three. Livery gem that was added to the cluster had to be of the same delicate rose color, of the finest quality, and of a shape that would fit in with the gradations of the necklace. Long after the Savior of the Territory" died, leaving his vast fortune to his widow, Mme, Thiers continued the search for rose pearls until three gor- geous strands were completed 145 gems in all.
 While she lived Mme. Thlefs spent hours every day with her treasures When they were not about her beautiful neck she would fondle and caress them until they were a mass of glittering light and life, Queens and princesses cov- eted them, and several fabulously rich Eastern potentates sought to buy them. But Mime. Thlers refused all offers.
 Mine. Thiers died in 1881. When her will was read 1t was found she had be. queathed the pearls, in trust, to the peop of France. It was specified, however, thi they must forever reposes in case with glass cover in the Louvre. So they wei placed in the Galerie d'Apollon, beside th famous Regent diamond, sole survivor the crown jewels of France. |..
 For decade they smiled alluringly vii 145 bright eyes upon the thousands visitors who came to admire their grei beauty. Then very gradually sadnel seemed to descend upon them. Foll said the light was going out of then Others declared 1t was only imagination