Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23

livery year on his birthday the Aga Khan
- spiritual ruler of 10000 900 Ismaih
- theretical) Mohammedans receives his
weight in gold and has always seemed salts
fed. This Is not surprising because at the
last official weghing-in the Shadow Of AL
lah" tipped the scales at 275 pounds, lot of
man and lot of gold equivalent to about
S140 $50 in American paper money.
For his birthday in 1915, these devout
though heretical followers promised TO do
even better for him. That year Will be the
diamond jubilee Of his spiritual leadership
and so they announced that he would then
receive his weight not in gold. but in dia-
monds Since diamonds are worth far more
than their weight in gold. this seemed like
good idea at first. After consultation with
experts however the Khan was beset with
doubts and sent out a hint that the spiritual
boss who is now 63 years old. would rather
have his old-age security paid on the usual
gold basis.
Alas too atei Hundreds Of collectors We're
already touring the Agas spiritual Empire in
India East Africa and Central Asia and had
turned in more than half bushel Of the
gems proving that the diamond drive was
too popular 10 be called off These passers OF
the hat or rather the turban are among the
very few collectors who get no commission
in this world and they are not supposed to
viii come in the Mohammedan paradise and
the payoff will continue through all eternity
The enthusiasm with which sheiks and
other wealthy dignitaries dug into their jewel
chests was enough all by itself TO make the
Aga, whose fun official title is His Highness,
Sir Mohammed Mouana Hazar Imam Sarkar
Sahb Shah Aga Sultan Khan III. somewhat
suspicious that there was an Abyssinan in
the woodpile Private reports confirmed his
worst fears that the drive had not been
started right.
An ounce Of pure gold is worth exactly
the same whether in one single nugget or
loose gold-dust but with diamonds it is an
other matter a flawess blue-white 25-carat
diamond is worth a small fortune all in one
piece but cut into tiny flakes or chips it be-
comes of almost negligible value and still
smaller as diamond dust cheap that it is
used as an abrasive.
Most unfortunately the collectors not
told to specify size or anything but just weight
and the Aga was more panied than surprised
to learn that most Of the donations were
"crumb-size" The news about the fairly large
stones. of which there appeared quite few,
was even worse. It was whispered that these
were mostly with flaws
But even with flaws they should be worth
a lot of money and should help pay the many
bills of his lovely wife the Begun Aga Khan,
who was formerly employed in French candy
shop and loves lovely things.
SO the spiritual leader, who is known
also as The Supreme Reason" reasoned that
the estimate of S25.OOO,oOO cash value given
by his followers was over-optimistic And
that was not the worst of it. Even if the
stones were to be of large size and such
quality as to be worth that much today,
delivery is to be made in 1915. four years
away. which is something else again.
BY that time, if taxes keep mounting,
there won't he anyone but the Aga with enough
money to buy even one diamond to say
nothing of S25,OOo.OOO worth Now if it were
gold Uncle Sam would take it off his hands.
He even buys silver. but nary diamond
At present the Aga is marooned in Switzer-