ABOUT NECKLACES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21386, 14 July 1931, Page 13

ABOUT NECKLACES

There is something very fascinating about a necklace, whether it be of precious pearls or of beautiful beads. Abundant proofs exist that a love for them goes back to time immemorial. .When Tutankhamen’s tomb was opened some years ago it yielded a charming specimen, composed of stout vari-coloured beads of different materials, with a large admirably carved pendant. This encourages us to imagine that even the ladies who held their receptions in primeval “ dug-outs ” must have vied with one another as to who should appear arrayed in the most handsome necklace. Perhaps they even commanded their chiefs to search for the finest stones, shells, berries, or bones, or anything else they could string together to form this necklet of glory! During the early years of the Great War, Princess Mary made, and wore, a necklace of Venetian glass beads, which she had designed herself. It won so much admiration that her Royal Highness conceived a plan of making a large number for sale and devoting the proceeds to charitable purposes. A’ large supply of beads were sent from Venice, and the Princess started on her task. Six hundred necklaces were made of different sizes and designs, and sold at varying prices, from two to ten shillings. The desired amount of £250 was more than realised, and three valuable institutions reaped the benefit. There is sufficient evidence to prove that the cult of the necklace is not confined to one sex. What is the mayoral chain but a glorified necklace? Here also is > another indication that men are sometimes victimised by its lure. When Sir Roger Casement was being taken to bis final destination, before he suffered the extreme penalty of the law, he revealed his sense o? gratitude for certain service rendered by one of the special officers to whose charge he bad been committed. Before he said good-bye, Sir Roger took from his neck a coral necklace he was wearing beneath his clothes ( and, handing it to the officer, asked him to accept it in gratitude for his kindness and courtesy.