THE PRINCE'S GIFT.
Among the many amusing reminiscences of tbe Prince of Wales' tour^ the Whitehall Beview mentions an experience of the cleverness of an Indian jeweller in one of the great cities. His Koyal Highness was desirous of adding to his store of jewellery for presents — never very large, and then running short— a bracelet which he might present, either to the Viceroy's niece, the fair cousin of the Com-mander-in-Cbief, or some other young lady of high officialism who had been his partner in the danoe on two occasions. Inspecting the stores of one of the most celebrated Indian jewellers for this purpose, his .Royal Highness was shown a bracelet composed of magnificent emeralds, a gem now of tbe higbeat fashion in the East, as was the opal with us some few years ago. The Prince became possessor of tbe choice gems at once, and took the earliest opportunity of presenting them, with some kind and gracious words — as is bis wont — to tbe young lady. Proud of the Royal giff, flattered by the Royal esteem, and delighted by the floe emeralds, the lady wore the bracelet on her arm at the next ball. After two or three dances, becoming exhausted with the heat of the room and her exertions in such a temperature, she had retired to a seat in the conservatory, when ber companion and partner suddenly addressed her with the question, " Why, madam, what can that be on your arm P It is all green running down!" fehe looked, and with a borror that can well be imagined iv that country of snakes, beheld trickling from her wrist, a serpentine stream, minute but palpable, green and slimy ! The emeralds on the bracelets had melted with the .extreme hent. They were glass, artfully pierced and pencilled witu some green fluid, or tome composition soluble with heat ! Need we say that on the Prince hearing of the miserable catastrophe the fictitious gems were returned with somewhat more than Royal indignation to the tricky tradesman, thenceforth divested of all courtly patronage ?
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM18760822.2.19
Bibliographic details
Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 206, 22 August 1876, Page 4
Word Count
342THE PRINCE'S GIFT. Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 206, 22 August 1876, Page 4
Using This Item
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in