BLAZING WITH DIAMONDS.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 59, 29 June 1908, Page 7

BLAZING WITH DIAMONDS.

Nothing in the way of costume ever seen on the English, or, indeed, any other stage has approached in value the wonderful dress worn by Miss Fannie Ward, the American actress, in "The Marriage of William Ashe," produced at Terry's Theatre (says an English paper). In a scene in "Kitty" comes on dressed for a fancy ball.as Venus, the actress first heard rating her maid. Then suddenly she bursts into her drawing room costumed as she intends to appear at the dance, with dazzling effect. Her whole body simply blazes with diamonds, set over a flesh-colored gauzy material that is only dimly seen between the glittering gems. On her head grows a crown-shaped tiara six inches nigh, consisting of rose diamonds and. brilliants set in a solid mass. Round her neck is a deep collar, flashing white fire from 300 stones of the finest water. Knots of diamonds are on heir shoulders, and over her bosom falls a pectoral, embroidered thickly with the same jewels, such as any queen might envy. Diamond clusters of various patterns are besprinkled all over her costume, and diamond buckles to her shoes. Most wonderful of all is the six-inch diamond girdle round her waist, with which drapery is looped up. On every finger of both hands diamonds and brilliants glitter and sparkle in almost blinding splendor. The gems are no mere stage gow-gaws, but every one the real thing, the costume being worth well over £200,000, for Miss Fannie Ward is the wife of Mr Joe Lewis, multi-mil-lionaire, and can afford to deck herself accordingly. As Violetta in "La Traviata," Melba appeared wearing diamonds valued at £IOO,OOO, but in the matter of gems the great prima donna is now completely eclipsed by the vivacious little American actress.