Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19


tanned its authority, the riches and gems
were respected. It so happened however, that
the Peishwas viewed the holy relics with less
generation. They were tribal looters-seeking
gain well as power. An independent group,
nominal heads of a great confederacy, the
PeiShwaS helped themselves freely to gifts,
whether sacred or profane And in the course
of their wars they pilfered Golfers and temples
alike-and so came into possession of the
Nassak.
Then England, following the ways of en-
pire, found her soldiers in India. Early in the
1800's certain Capt. Briggs defeated Bajerow,
an iconoclastic leader and last of the Peishwa
conquerors. The British seized his baggage.
And in hidden nook, Capt. Briggs discovered
the hidden Nassak.
Thus the historic diamond found its way
back to London, where the soldier presented it
to his particular leader, the Marquis Of Has
tings, under whose command the Indian opera
tions and invasion had been conducted. And
the marquis, with further generosity passed
it on to the East India Company. Being a
commercial concern, the company eventually
put it on the market and it passed to the Duke
of Westminster.
The fame of the diamond spread through
the court circles of Europe. 1t was the fashion
of the moment to possess some treasure Of art
or jewelry, passing these ON from one genera
ton to another. The influence of the Orient,
with its fabulous ceremonials had just begun
to invade regal circles.
And the Duke of Westminster distin-
guished himself and created vast spotlight
for himself by appearing on Queen Victoria's
birthday wearing the eyes Of SILVA in the hilt
of his sword.
TT was this same duke who possessed 1.-THE
Blue Boy" the Gainsborough painting
which became one Of the most valuable in
art history. Both the painting and the dia-
mond passed from the hands of the Westmin-
sters at the same sale. M. Mauboussin, then
an exclusive French jeweler, purchased the
gem.
And such is the irony of time and change
that today, turning at Madison avenue into
Fifty-first street in New York. you will come
upon the marble front of Mauboussins, a
modernistic transportation from the Rue de
La Paix.
Instead of the turbaned and devoted guardian
of India, a trio of suspicious-eyed gents from
a detective agency stand at the portals They
wear the conventional blue coats of the average
doormen. They wear braided trousers and
braided caps, and they give the appearance of
having guns within easy reach of a quick right
hand.
Unless is known and accepted, a detour
must be arranged up a flight of stairs and past
a barricade of doors.
FINALLY emerging into the room of the
Nassak, the usual scene to be encountered
in a swanky jewelry shop is faced.
A dozen glass-top tables are spread about
the room. Beneath the glasses wrist
watches and cigarette cases. rings and pen
dantS; brooches and unset stones.
At the tables sit statesmen displaying endless
baubes to endless parades of fasfionably
dressed women. Few have the slightest interest
in anything save their own purchases.
From its own case, the eye of SILVA looks
impersonally on. It catches first this light
and that. What religious and mythical sig
nif1cance it may have had seems lost to all but
a few students and experts who drift in. The
curious are drawn by the knowledge of its
presence.
It has even taken on a monetary value
though it is doubtful If it could be purchased
for less than kings ransom. Something like
half million dollars is said to be its worth
Although it's a rather fantastic parking place
for one of the dozen historic diamonds.
The Koh-i-noor found its way to the crown
of Queen Victoria. The Orloff was lost in the
confusion of the Russian revolution and has
were driven to their deaths by the rising mobs
of peasants and soldiers. The regent is in the
Louvre. But what has become of the Grand
Mogul the NZam and the River Of Light?
Only legends concerning them remain.
THE Orloff, with weight of 1876 carats, was
of doubtful origin. 1t said to have
been stolen from sacred temple in India, and
finally came into the hands of Catherine II Of
Russia via Prince Orloff with whom she carried
on her historic intrigue.
The Roh-i-noor weighed 102 carats, but lost
some Of its weight in rscutting. IT had been
h"ndca Gowl through long line of Indian