CHARMS THAT SOVEREIGNS WEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 249, 17 October 1908, Page 16

CHARMS THAT SOVEREIGNS WEAR.

SOME CURIOUS RINGS. The Emperor William of Germany possesses a ring, which has a very curious history (says lire. 11. r.ratley, In a book entitled, -'The Power of Gems and Charms." published by Gay and Bird. London). It is the talisman oC the family. Legend relates that since the time of the Elector John of Brandenhiirgrk, every ruler of the House of Hohenzollern has, when dying, if possible, handed a sealed packet to his successor. This packet contains a ring, in which is set a black stone that was dropped by an enormous toad upon the bed of the wife of the Elector immediately after she had given birth to a son. the toad afterwards mysteriously disappearing. The stone was zealously taken care of. and the father of Frederick the Great had it set in a riu K . Schneider, the librarian of William 1., declares that he witnessed the handing over of the precious packet by (idling, the treasurer, to his Royal master on his accession; and he further asserts that he read the full account of the stone to the Emperor, who fully confirmed it. The rinc has ever since been worn by the head of the House of Hobcnzollern. William 11. wears it on all great occasions, and he has great repect. like every IJobenEollern. fur the curious old jewel. FATAL OPAL OF SPAIN. A well known story is I hut of the Spanish opal: and many are the Spaniards who believe that the long series of misfortunes that has befallen Spain and tbc present dynasty comes of a cursed opal ring that a neglected beauty spitefully bestowed upon Alfonso XII. The opal is of a very large size, and of brilliant colouring. It is set in niliprou gold, nnd has tin other jewels about it. The ring belonged to a famous beauty aud adventures!!, the Comtesse de CnsUglloue, who was in the glory of her beauty and pow.-r during the reign of Napoleon 111. Among her most ardent admirers was Alfonso XII., then an outcast and n preteuder. When he became King, ana married one of his own Royal blood, the jealousy of the Comtesse was aroused, aud h<>r hatred was terrible. A few mouths after the Kings marriage he received a package from the Comtesse, containing a beautiful opal ring, of rare colouring. It was called a wedding Klft. and a memento of the friendship the King had held for the Comtesse. Tho, King showed it tn his wife. Queen Mercedes. who was charmed with its beauty, and begged to keep it. Alfonso gave it to her readily, and she slipped it on her finger. From that moment she commenced to nil, and iv a few months she . died. The ring fell from her dead hand, and the King gave it to his grandmother. Quecu Christina, who died a few mouths later. Next the ring was given to Alfonso's sis- ' ter. the Infanta Maria del Pilar, who wore It. but ii few clays before she died of a mysterious sickness. The slsier-iu-law then came into posses- ' sion of it. the youngest daughter of the Hue and Duclicssc de Moniponsicr, and in three months the young princess was dead. After this series of fatalities the King de- ' termined to keep the ring himself, and 'j he slipped it ou his little finger: but he '■ dlil not wear it long, as his unhappy life 1 shortly crime to an end. 1 CZAR'S STRANGE CTIARiI. I The Czar of Russia is said to be very , superstitions, and to have great confidence |! hi relics. He wears a ring in which is embedded a piece of the True Cross, and it is \ said to have the virtue of shielding its wearer from any physical danger. It was originally «vi» of the treasures of the Vati--1 can, and was presented to an ancestor of * the Czar for diplomatic reasons. ' The value which its owner sets upon the ring is shown by the fact that he will never, if possible, move any distance witha out it. Some years ago he was travelling - from St. Petersburg to Moscow, wheu he .- rtnjr. t The train was stopped immediately, and a c special messenger sent back in an express 0 for It: nor would the Czar allow the train r t> nif-vc until eight hours afterwards, when L the messenger returned with the ring. ' 0 I: is said that when his ill-fated grandfather was so cruelly assassinated he hac ' l*fr the ring behind him.