DR. FRANK CRANE’S DAILY EDITORIAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 177, 17 October 1927, Page 14

DR. FRANK CRANE’S DAILY EDITORIAL

BAIT FOR CRIMINALS (Copyright, 1927) AN ostentatious display of gems or other valuables, implying Immense concentrated wealth, is a lure to the criminal. Wearing expensive jewellery is not only bad taste, but it is advertising to somebody to knock you down and rob you. A certain woman owns several expensive diamond rings and brooches which she keeps' locked up in the safety deposit valut because she is afraid to wear them. A Chicago society leader recently attended the opening of the opera adorned in diamonds and emeralds In a tiara, dog-collar necklace and bracelets, and was the observed of all observers. Doubtless she enjoyed the adornments, but she was also placing a premium upon those gentlemen friends who live by their wits to watch for her in some dark alley and get her valuables. At the wedding of the Princess Astrid millions of dollars’ worth of jewellery were displayed. . When so many people are struggling very hard to make a bare living it does not set very well with them to have this enormous wealth flaunted before them. One has a right, of course, to do as he pleases with his money and to own an expensive gem or so if he likes. But It is best, all In all, to keep your jewellery in a safety deposit vault at the bank and wear paste. If you are known to be rich everybody will think your gems are genuine and if you are poor they won’t believe your gems are good even if they are of intrinsic worth. On the whole if you are going to display anything, we should recommend paste. The argument for simple attire and lack of ornamentation is not based upon any religious feeling, but simply upon the question of good taste and a fair consideration for your fellows. Simplicity is safety, and one way to abate the criminal activities of the world is not unduly to tempt them. And, by the way, if you are going to give your wife or your sweetie something to make her happy, would-it not be better to buy a bond which produces regular interest than to give her a jewel which produces nothing?