Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-10

The rare gems of the Orient, the
jewels of kings and historic and ro-
mantle stones that played their part
in the fate of nations now adorn American
Womanhood
Both England and France are viewing with
growing concern the exodus of privately owned
paintings and bric-a-brac Spain is becoming
rooflsss because Of the popularity of her beau
tiful old tile In Miami and Los Angeles But
for the embargo on italian masterpieces,
America might by this time have stripped the
UNI Gallery and carried OF the Columns Of
Trajan.
These monuments Of the past are conspicu-
GUS. Their presence in space and time would
make their removal matters Of International
moment. But heirlooms OF the past, equally
priceless, find their way here unobtrusively in
compact jewel packages and suddenly appear
as adornments 20 the garb of fashionable
American women.
It is true Queen Mary still wears the great
Cullinan diamond to certain state functions and
the crown collection still boasts the Kohnoor,
obtained from that fabulously rich potentate,
the Rajah of Lahore, by the East India Co., and
presented TO Queen Victoria. It is also true
that the Portuguese royal house continues to
carry large portion of its private wealth In
the form Of that expensive bauble the Braganza
diamond.
But the famous black pearls Of Prince Felix
YOusOupod now grace the neck of Mrs. Peter
Goelet Gerry, and the wonderful Seven-foot
chain of diamonds that Catherine II wore so
regally now dazzles the eyes of the guests of
Mrs o. H. p. Belmont Not even the jewels
OF Ferdinand's lady, who pawned them for
TRANSATLANTIC exploration, have been kept invio-
late. Her blue-diamond necklace cost Leland
Stanford $274, O00-enough to have kept Colum-
bus sailing for the remainder of his life
The total value of the gems owned in Amer
lea runs into billions; the annual imports now
total about $75,000,O0o and the family collec-
lions Of denoted and outcast royalty from all
parts OF the world eventually trickle into the
United States,
"0WING to the fact that jewel collections in
the United States are not held intact"
said Witherbee Black, president of Black, Starr
81 FroSt-Gorham, Inc, whose family has ham
died precious stones for generations, ut is not
possible to keep track of family jewels Besides,
many people shun publicity regarding their pos
session of priceless stones. But there is no
doubt that grand collections are in the strong
boxes Of wealthy Americans and many of our
millionaires are very discriminating buyers.
THE late william c. Whitney had excellent
taste and an unusually keen sense of values.
His hand would reach unerringly for the
choicest pieces in tray.
Late one evening Just before Christmas,
after doors were closed, knock drew my
attention to a late conner. On discovering MIR.
Whitney, admitted him. BY chance beau
tiful piece set with diamonds had just been
finished and a group of us were admiring it.
Mr.. Whitney gave it a brief but searching APP
praisal, learned the price was $4,000 and took
it.
Women are not lacking in astuteness as
gem buyers. One Of the shrewdest was Mrs
Coils p Huntingdon. She was no less a con-
noisseur OF jewels than her husband OF
paintings. There is no better testimony to the
accuracy of her judgment than the purchase of
the wonderfully matched necklace Of oriental
pearls which We had collected
''The price of 100000, which seemed so
enormous at that time, proved an investment
of unusual return. OF the seven strands in
this necklace, five were broken up and sold
separately at wholesale after her death; they
brought several times the price she paid for
the necklace.
Peggy Hopkins Joyce owns about $4,000 900
worth of jewels and when sold to her the
famous 100000 bue-white diamond there was
a belief that this was press agents fiction But
Miss Joyce bought this gem herself.
There seems to be a common opinion that
such valuable ornaments are owned but not
worn. have seen women wearing jewels worth
100000 at Palm Beach.
Jewels are the most beautiful form of hui
man decoration. The instinct for adornment
is about as old as the human race, and no
traveller or scientist who returns from exhuming
old civilizations studying those which stin
exist fails to mention IN his descriptions the
type and quality of decoration which distin-
guished that period.
'The feeling has grown up that it is bad
taste for women to wear gems in abundance
or at all times Of the day. Such canon is
contrary to human nature and is the result OF
the prejudice engendered by those whose pos
sessions do not include beautiful jewelry.