The Dazzle Of Diamonds

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 187, 25 August 1937, Page 14

The Dazzle Of Diamonds

vKCari's Jewellery ] QOMEBODY once said that if the price ^ of diamonds had not been restricted, ■ as It is, they would be two a penny. ; This may be an exaggeration, but there : are certainly great numbers of diamonds • for sale and also in the mines, for they are not rare gems. The first diamonds were taken from the east to Europe. Ihe mines of Brazil were not discovered -until about the 17th century when, according to tradition, an Englishman found a number of native children playing a game like marbles with uncut diamonds of the first water. The South African mines were discovered in 1867, but there was^no lack of diamonds before these eomparatively modern *times. The men of the past thought highly of diamonds whieh often formed a large part of their investments. Neither land nor houses could be turned into money at a moment's noti.ee, but a wise man cduld escape with his fortune on his back in the shape of jewels, and if he landed in prison at home or abroad he could buy food, and often freedom, with his diamonds. Ihe historical description of dress throughout the ages points to the fact that men wore far more jewels, and espedally diamonds, than did women. Some months after her marriage to Henry VUL Anne Boleyn went in procession to Westminster Abbey to receive the sceptre and crown of Edward the Confessor from Cranmer and, as the procession went down Ludgate Hill it was noticed that the new Queen was dressed in white and that she wore a coronet of gold set with diamonds. But when compared with the jewels of her lord and master, Anne's paled into insignifieance. On Court days Sir Walter Raleigh appeared befoite his queen with diamonds to the value of £6600 on his shoes alone, and the pearl in his ear was considered priceless. Men were very lavish with their jewels in those days. Henry VIII. made no protest at having a few plucked from his person on certain occasions when he was surrounded by great crowds and when the Duke of Buckingham, favourite of James I., wished to attract attention and add more fame to his reputation, he scattered diamonds. His clothes were almost smOthered with the gems and some of them were tacked on so loosely that he could shake a few off at will, He often allowed them to fall in the path of ladies of the court who were quite eager to stoop for them. A diamond "was the prize offered by King Arthur at the famous jousts. Lancelot won eight, and when he presented them to Arthur's Queen, Guinevere, she threw them out of the palace wiiidow into the river below. For some strange reason diamonds have always caused trouble in the great romances of the heart, in spite of the fact that they are the stones dedicated to love, pure and etemal. , It Pays to .. & Ijook cheerful. All the world loves a smiling happy person, ahd will go out of his way to meet and show friendship to one so blessed. Walk with an air of well-being. Mere swaggering, has nothing whatever to do with it. Head held high in thankfulness for health, shoulders squared through exercise, step firm with determination to meet and conquer difficulties— this walk gives the air of wcllbeing. Shop with complete knowledge of ■vour needs, To *«>« vaguely for an

article gives the assistant the idea that you are a careless shopper, willing to be served more or less indifrerently. Join a society, dramatic, opcratic or literary. There, in company witfy others who share the interest, you \yill ftnd how profitably time may be spent and how pleasant it is to be able to exchange views and generally to broaden and enrich your outlook". Work for your living. In this way only do we come to know tiie real value of time and money, and how to spend both wisely and well, Keeping Flowers Fresh. The average woman cannot bear to see her house without flowers, and sometimes has to content herself with a few blooms which she must keep fresh as long as possible. The blossoms must be gupplied with fresh water every day— that is to say, have fresh water added to the other, for it is a mistake to replace the whole of the contents of the vase daily. Stems should be clipped slightly before flowers are replaced in the vases, and most people do this faithfully and automatically. Few seem to understand, liowever, that cut flowers need food and medicine, and that requisite doses will prolong their lives. A teaspooriful of bicarbonate of soda mixed with every pint of water encourages the cells of the stalks to absorb moisture. A pinch of salt is another helpful medicine to add to the water, which, except in very hot weather, should be given with the chill off. A solution of camphor will have equally beneficial effects. Indeed, camphor can be used with success to revive blooms which have unaccountably faded, and can be relied upon to give them a new lease of life. Hot water is sometimes invaluable for reviving flowers that have become jaded during a journey. The drooping blossoms should be placed in a wide bowl full of hot water and left in a darkened room or cupboard. By the time the water is cold, the flowers will have become quite firm and fresh again, and can then be placed in the usual vases with bicarbonate of soda, salt, camphor, or a few drops of permanganate of potash. Pot flowers will have a richer, deeper colour if soot water is given to the plants occasionally, while a piece of charcoal in the vase in which cut flowers are arranged keeps ihe water sweet. Another tip for cut flowers is to arrange them in a. bowl filled to within an inch of the top with sand soakcd with water. This method is used at flower shows, and the flowers keep tipright and quite fresh. Secretary to a "Star." Hecently I spcnt an hour with the secretary of one of the most popular film stars, who had engaged a suite in a famous London hotel. Her secretary had a room which interested me. There were numerous trunks standing on end, wardrobe fashion, some filled, no doubt, with papers as well as wearing apparel. The table held a typewriter, letters ancl papers. There were flowers— gor^eous ones, tied with ribbons— evidently •' the overflow of gifts from a "fan" audience. "Your hours on duty?" I asked. "An average of 16 out of the 24," was the answer, "that is, when we are on land. On board ship there isn't so much to do. The worst job is getting through the Customs— at the American end, anyway. Even my typewriter is not frec from inspection. The Customs offlcei : told me last time that a typewriter case . could tiust accommodate four auarts.' '