THE MYSTERY OF TUXEDO.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 30, 26 July 1890, Page 9

THE MYSTERY OF TUXEDO.

The diamond star which Mrs Henry Parish, jun., lost recently at the Tuxedo Club ball promises, if not soon found and restored to its owner, to become as famous in NewYork’s social annals, says the Herald of that city, as the diamond ring of Mrs Frederick Stevens, now the Duchess de Dino. It will be remembered that at a dinner given a score of years ago a ring with a diamond of rare -beauty, which so attracted the admiration of the guests as it glistened and glittered on the hand of the fair hostess that it was passed by request around the table for individual inspection, did not return to Mrs Stevens. It will also be recalled that some days after the dinner the ring, but without the diamond, was anonymously returned, and that the name of a young scion of a prominent family, a guest at the dinner, became somehow associated with the missing diamond, whose disappearance was never satisfactorily explained. But all this was ‘ once upon a time. ’ Certain philosophers and students of history aver that events of a similar nature recur at periodic intervals, and New York society is again afforded thesensationofa mysterious diamond disappearance. The ball at Tuxedo was a gay one. In the pretty but not large circular ball-room attached to the club-house there were gathered on the fatal evening some 200 of the most representative members of the metropolitan social world. Supper was over and the cotillion had begun. Deftly did ‘ Cassie ’ de Khan steer the eighty couples through the ‘ myriad of mazes ;’ softly and sweetly did Lauder and his men weave the magic strains of Strauss. The lights illuminated a fair scene —fresh faces, rich gowns, Hashing eyes, and rare jewels that sparkled with their fair wearers’ movements in the dance.

Among the dancers none was more constantly on the floor than Mrs Henry Parish, jr., formerly Miss Susie Ludlow, and the young wife of the son of a prominent Wall-street banker. A graceful dancer and a popular young matron, her hand was constantly in demand. On her neck, attached to a necklace, gleamed a magnificent five-pointed diamond star which elicited admiring glances on all sides. ‘ It’s a family heirloom,’ she replied to a question of a lady sitting beside her, ‘ and I value it more than I can say.’ Then she rose to take her place in a figure just arranged. The waltz over, she was returning to her seat when she suddenly stopped and a low cry of dismay startled her escort. To his question she answered : ‘ My star, my diamond star, is gone.’ Search at once began and the dancers gathered around. To countless questions as to where it had gone, how she discovered it, etc., Mrs Parish could only reply : ‘lt has only just fallen; it was in its place a moment ago.’ Every inch of the ball-room floor was searched, but the star did not appear and a low murmur ran around the room : ‘ Where could it have gone ?’ The dance proceeded and the evening wore to an end. With two trusted servants Mr Parish and the club manager inspected the floor, the seats, every nook and corner of the room, but without success. Mr Parish inserted an advertisement in the New York papers offering -S5OO reward for the star if returned to his office. Thus far the star has not reappeared. Not a person was present who has not a recognised position in New York society, and all knew each other well. There were no servants in the room when the star was lost. Is it not a mystery ?