LOVE-LETTERS WORTH FORTUNES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6138, 26 March 1898, Page 3

LOVE-LETTERS WORTH FORTUNES.

('I it-Bits.)

Love-letters that cost .£7OO are not sent every day. A rich young miss recently received a billet-doux which was a triumph, nofc of the suitor's, but the jeweller's skill. It was a dainty tablet of gold of wonderful thinness, a lace-like border of the precious metal imparting an appearance of delicacy calculated to entrance the most fastidious ; while a short but sweet message was written in diamonds cunningly set in a heart of frosted silver. This costly production -wa. not sent through the post; it was delivered in a handsome casket by a messenger, who rode a snow-white palfrey.

Nearly six months was occupied in completing the unique love-token, the diamond characters necessitating care in selection and setting. It cost the spendthrift suitor jusfc -6700.

A musical lover sent no fewer than a dozen wonderful letters to his fiancee, each of which cost; him j£2o. Words of endearment were set to sentimental strains, the parchment sheets being lavishly gilded and edged with valuable lace. The gilding and ornamentation were the work of a famous Japanese artist ; who likewise exhibited his skill in decorating the box which conveyed them.

An extravagant beau entranced the maiden of his heart by having a lovely collar of lace worked by peasant women in a design of hearts, each one bearing words of spider-web delicacy .and lover-like constancy. As the laceworkers were unaccustomed to any but the orthodox patterns, a special design had to be framed for their guidance, and dozens of collars were rejected as unsatisfactory before the perfect article was produced. Irrespective of the designer's fee, the lacemakers received, without murmur, the .£2O asked, and a luxurious wrapper of satin and gold cost £5 more. Then came a wooden box, of no common beauty, finally a wrapping of thick packing-canvas, and the web-like love-letter was sent by registered post. Altogether this ephemeral affair ran away with neaiiy .£SO.

Procuring a diamond of excessive value, a titled gentleman wrote a heartburning epistle to his lady-love, having a facsimile of the composition made in (miniature and fixed on the underside of the gem. A setting of gold and enamel was given to the stone, and \ a jewelled (microscope was attached by a fairy chain to the priceless ornament. The love-words could be Clearly read through their diamond covering by using the magnifying glass. Crystal and microscope now form the centrepiece of a marvellous bracelet given by the groom to his bride on their wedding-morning.

Loving a young lady whose father was pecuniarily distressed, a wealthy gentleman hit on a novel mode of forwarding a love-letter. He wrote out a cheque for .£IOOO, added a margin of gummed stamp paper (on which he indited a loving epistle to his wife-to-be), and sent it to his heart's darling. A small note enclosed explained the whole affair. The girl tore off the margin, gave the precious paper to her father, and happiness reigned supreme.

Losing the nail 'of her third linger, and finding that it refused to grow, a society belle suffered the insertion of |a pink, shelllike shield in exact imitation of the natural product. Her^a»c«jobtained measurements of finger and shield, and, unknown to her, • commissioned a jeweller to reproduce a similar shield in gold, on which were engraved words of constancy. So fashioned was the valuable plate that ifc fitted under the natural-looking nail, the lady being thereby provided with a double fingercovering. When so inclined the pink cover could be withdrawn from the finger-tip, revealing the gold in its engraved beauty. This is perhaps the most unique love message ever received by a betrothed bride.