HIDING RUSSIA'S PRINCESS GROWN JEWELS.

Lake County Press, Issue 2136, 20 September 1906, Page 2

HIDING RUSSIA'S PRINCESS GROWN JEWELS.

When the Czar of Russia sent the crown jewels to England, he saved from (he mob a fortune that would be enough to enable him and his family to live in opulence for ever. Ncwhere else in the world is there such a collection as these, and it is impossible' even to guess at their value. Under ordinary circumstances they are kepi in the treasorc-hcuse adjoining the Palace of the Kremlin, in Moscow, and few persons are admit ted to see I hem. In this treasure-house are thrones, any one of which represents a fortune For instance, there is the throne of Alexis, studded with 1,233 rubies, 87<5 diamonds, and other precious stones in proportion ; there is the throne of Boris, which was presented to him by the romote Shah of Persia, ornamented with hundreds of large pearls and turquoises; there is the ivory throne brought from Constantinople, in 1 17"J, by Sophia, on her marriage with Ivan the Great. Of crowns, sceptres and orbs there is a bewildering array, for Nicholas is not the only Czar of all the Ilussias, but is Czar of Kazan, of Astrakhan, of Poland, of Siberia, of Kherson, and each of these once separate kingdoms has its own crown. Then again, each Emperor, almost withcut exception, has had a special crown made for him, and all of these are a part of the Romanoff family jewels. The present Czar's crown is that

of Pet or the CJreat, adorned with '.190 diamonds, surmounted by o cross of five large diamonds, rising on nn immense uncut ruby. The crown of Vladimir Ifonomachiis, who married a daughter of King Harold of England and succeeded to the throne of Kieff in 111.'? is of gold filagree on a base of sable surmounted by a plain cross sot with pearls, its lower part encrusted with pearls, rubies and diamonds, and on iis dome a topaz., a sapphire, and a ruby, each of extraordinary size.

The crown of the Kmpress Catharine 11, is encrusted with 2,536 diamonds. and one enormous ruby. That of Michael HomanolT, founder of the present dynasty, is surrounded by I'."! precious stones and surmounted by one gigantic emerald. The crown of the present Kmpress is said to be unequalled in the world for t lie quality of the stones that form it ; there are one .hundred of these, each a large and absolutely perfect specimen.

Tin' royal orb has upon it, a huge sapphire, holding a cross of diamonds ; it is cucircleil by two broad bands of diamonds and contains a piece of l lie true cross of Christ. The sceptre is tipped by the famous OrlolV diamond. one of the largest and most valuable in the world. Kach crown, each sceptre, and each orb—and there are hundreds of them —is a mass of the rarest precious stones, while the insignia of the many orders, the sword of state, the collars of the i rdor of ,St . Andretv and the imperial seal are till formed

At «•;>«-li coronal ion i'iivovs from all tin- I rihnt ary Stall's present broad and salt in the (’/.at' un solid gold plains and in solid gold salt, cellars. Morn than a thousand of these arc [lilnd ii|i in the treasure-house, gifts from Khiva. Bokhara, Sainareand, Vaknisk and many other distant, snmi-iinlnpendcnt countries which recognize the Czar as Suzerain. Besides these there are ancient tapestries and tons of gold plate, which is usiil only on ceremonious

Tin* royal robes of emperors and empresses, all encrust ed with gold and jewels, are also preserved ; that of Catherine 11. is so heavy with gems and bullion that it used to take twelve ehatnherlains to support the train. The wedding dross of the present Czarina is there also ; what it is like may he imagined when it is known that it cost. ,C 10,000. Another priceless treasure is a huge goblet carved out of one enormous amethyst, with a hunting scene cut till over its surface. In the midst of all this barbaric splendour rests the crown of the Crimea, a simple gold band, unadorned with jewels.