V(. .
THE OBECrON STJNfrAY JOTJKHAL, . PORTLAND, SUNDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBEB . 5t 1920.;
f Umy rmncts fiope) .w jSms "J
The Startling History of This Fascinating
Stone, the "Curse" That Has Followed
Its Owners for Fourteen Centuries and the
THE story of May Yohe's career
will be told from week to week
in these pages by May Yohe
herself. Few plots in drama or fiction
equal the extraordinary real life ex
perience of this remarkable American
girl.
Something, indeed, seemed to sud
denly cast its sinister shadow over her
life and pursued her relentlessly in
America, in Asia, throughout Europe,
and even in South America. This is
certain, and perhaps others may be,
that the "curs of the Hope Diamond
had something to do with it."
Jean Baptist e Tavernier came into
Fiossession of the stone in 164a, stolen
rom the sacred golden statue of Rama.
Tavernier sold the diamond to King
Louis XrV. Tavernier was torn to
pieces by wild dogs. Mada mede Mon
tespan, who wore the jewel, was aband
oned by the King. Nicholas Fouquet,
Intendent of France, who borrowed it
for a festive occasion, died miserably
in prison. Queen Marie Antoinette,
who wore it, was beheaded. Beautiful
Princess de Lamballe, who wore'it, wag
torn to pieces by a French mob. King
Louis XVI., who owned it, was be
headed. Hendrik Fals. the diamond
merchant's son, who stole it, was a sui
cide in London in 1830.
Francis Beaulieu. who sold it, died
In misery arid want. The first of the
Hope family who bought it suffered a
long series of misfortunes. Lord Fran
cis Hope, the grandson, suffered finan
cial reverses, scandal and unhappy
marriage.
Simon Frankel, New York broker,
who bought it, met financial difficul
ties. Prince Ivan Kanitovski, next
owner, was killed by revolutionists.
Lorens Ladue, to whom he loaned it,
was murdered by her lover.
Zubayba, the Sultan's favorite, who
wore it, was killed by - her master.
Abdul Hamid paid $400,000 for the
atone. He was dethroned.
Mrs. Edward B. McLean, of Wash
ington, D. C, bought it, wore it, and
was sued 'for $180,000 by Cartier, the
Jeweler. Her only son, Vinson Mc
,ean, the "Hundred-Million-Dellar
Baby," was. crushed to death. The ex
traordinary record of this sinister
jewel is related on this page, frbm
week to week, for the first time by
this remarkable woman whose own life
was blighted.
CHAPTER IX.
(Continued from
Copyright, 1920, by International Feature 8ervlce, Inc. ;
THE news of my marriage to Lord
Francis, after our six months' trial
ol life together, of which I told last
week, fell Ilka bombshell over London
as, Indeed, It did over New York. London
Johnnies staged many celebrations the
night of the announcement in the all-night
clubs and at theatre stage doors. Proud
and distinguished was the Johnnie who
could boast of having had a supper with
or an Introduction to the new Lady May
yclept May Yohe. .
Now I,- the poor dressmaker's daughter,
was in line for the strawberry crown of a
dnchess. for my husband was heir to the
Duke of Newcastle, one of the most con
servative and wealthiest Dukes In the em
pire. The Duke was my husband's brother.
He is childless, so at his death Lord Fran
cis will become the Duke and if Lord
Francis should die first then his oldest son
will Inherit.
As the prospective Duchess of New
castle I vat In line to be mistress of fam
ous Clumber Castle, the Newcastle seat
since time Immemorial. This old -castle
la filled with old masters, wonderful fur
niture and art treasures of Immense value.
The estate consists of 35,600 acres of land.
Directly In front, of the castle Is a lake
covering a hundred acres; and throughout
the immediate grounds are numerous
pieces of old and priceless statuary.
When I was formally Introduced to so
ciety In London al the prospective Duch
ess of Newcastle I wore, for the first time,
the great diamond.
This was a dinner given by Lord Alfred
de Rothschild. It was my first society
recognition, and my presence caused a
great sensation. .
The Prince of Wales was to be a guest,
but he arrived late. When he came Ins
there already wrs a tacit agreement
among the others that they would snub
5oor little May- Yohe. The Countesa de
lannin walked b me with her nose' up
raised, looking me over quite supercll
Uously. The Duchess-of Edinburgh, whose
husband bad Just accepted the crown of
the grand duchy of Coburg-Gotha, walked
up to me, looked at me and walked away
aa stiff as you please. !
But when the Prince came In what did
he do but walk straight up to me. When
I curtseyed he said :
"So glad. Lady May, to see you here.
Now I know we won't be dull. I donl
know where they have put me, but I hope
they have put you beside me."
Of course there was a scurrying'; about
to tee that I was placed beside him. 1 Then
It was funny how the Countess de Mannln
and the Duchess ot Coburx-Gotha fawned
upon me. M readers may be assured I
gnuoDea uem gwa ana pieniy. 1 :
About B o'clock In the morning, the din
ner still in progress, I said to the- Prince 1
goodness, it M Cutting late and I have
Story of! the Ruined
Life of MayYohe,
Who Once Owned It
and Wore It
J
ilMa
.XL-
May Yolie and Captain Strong at th Famous
Roman Dinner They Cave fat Japan; Tb
Dinner Lasted Thre Days and Nights, and
Included the Rarest ef Wines and Cordials.
It Cost $20,000, Which Mar Yeh Paid.
GunU Included Famous Stage Beauties,
Wealthy Tourists1 : and Tovng Diplomatic
Attaches, as Well as Native Officials Soon
After This Bacchanalian Event May Yehe's
Money Ran Out and Captain Strong Bgaa
Pawning Her Diamonds.
r.
last Sunday.)
a rehearsal at 10 o'clock. ( Fve got to go
home."
"But I can't get lip," eaM the Prince.'
"What's the matter? Are you glued to
your chair?" I asked.
"My dear little lady," sild the Prince,
"don't you know my brother, the Duke of
Coburg-Ootba, is a reigning monarch now,
and no one can get up until he does? But
wait. I'll fix if t
He caught the eye of the Duke and
made a sign. The Duke rose at once.
Prince then got up, took my arm and
lea me to the stairway and saw me dqwn
the steps. After that I was as popular as
Lady Francis Hope in society as I was as
May Yohe on the stage.
I was very happy when I went home that
morning with the Hope Diamond blazing
about my neck. ;
My experiences in London society will
make a chapter of this stoyy all by Itself.
I am going to tell about them a little later
on. I want to tell now, after describing
Lord Francis's entry into my life, how
differently the other entered it how Put
nam Bradlee Strong, the Beau Brummdl,
the cosmopolitan and roue, came, lured by
the Hope Diamond and his hopes of acquir
ing it and others of my costly Jewels.
' The glamor of this social prestige wore
away. I was happy, however, with my
husband, despite certain shortcomings, of
which, I suppose," every good man must
have his share. Lord Frances liked to
read a great deal he used to read a book
when I thought he ought to be reading me.
He Jlked to hunt, too and I often felt that
ha might have spent some of the time
hunting ways to enamor me that he spent
hunting ways of trapping animals or
catching fish. .
In 1900 I was finishing a trip around the
world with Lord Francis4-a trip I shall
tell of later, which brought me much
adulation and lavish entertainment Dur
ing this trip I met many famous men, and
. some of them obtained Lord Francis's per-
miss Jon to make 1 me presents. Captain
James Holford; of the Horse Guards, for
instance, was a guest of Lord Francis on
board the Hope yacht atCowes Just be
fore -we started on this .trip. During the
evening he said to me:
-v-You are the most beautiful little woman
I have ever seen. Lady May. I wonder If
your husband would object If I should send
you a little souvenir to 1 remember tht
t evening by? I told him tc ask Lord Fran
. a -1 -
cis, anaae cua so. Months later, when
we were at.Ashantl, South Africa, thre
was delivered to me at the hotel a pack
age which when opened disclosed a dia
mond necklace, Iwith a! huge diamond
penuonu . wua 11 was a card on which
. was written simply, "The souvenir I spoke
of. Wear It and think ef va vim in.
you for the splendid, little woman that
yon are." ;
The carl was signed Holford.
..1 ?- it." - .. ..A
5 3Hrs
1
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r i? r-
May Yoke's Adopted Japanese
Daughter, Miss Yori Komatsu.
Captain Strong pawned that jewel later
for $9,000.
We were sailing, Lord Francis and I,
from New York to Southampton as the
last leg on our world wide trip. On the
same boat passage was booked for Cap-
tain Strong, who had been assigned by
President McKlnley to France for the
army manoeuvres there. I never had met
Captain Strong, but my attention waa at
tracted to him when he came aboard, ac
companied by a group of army officer
friends, who had come to see him off. He
was a striking figure in his dapper uni
form, very military and romantic. Some
one' told me he was the son of the former
Mayor of New York and one of the hand
somest men in the regular army.
My cousin, Thomas Parke, a Phlladiel
phia broker, was on board, going with us
to London. That evening Tom came to
me, saying, "I find I have an acquaintance
on board. Captain Strong. He wants to
meet you. He said he was struck by you?
beauty, and when he learired you were
Lady Francis Hope he begged me to pre
sent him."
I told him I would be pleased to meet
Captain Strong, and he wa? presented as
soon as Lord Francis could be found. My
cousin confessed to me that evening that
he had not known Captain Strong, but
that the latter had obtained an introduc
tion through the captain of the boat.
Throughout the trip Captain Strong was
most attentive. He cultivated Tom as
siduously, and these two become fast
friends. My cousin was a great admirer
of me, and Captain Strong, learning this,
sang my praises day and night to htm.
Tom brought me all the good things Cap
tain Strong had to say about me, and I
was quite flattered, for Captain Strang
soon became the life of the ship. He was
a fascinating man, with a suave gallantry
which charmed women. I never have known
a woman who; after being thrown fa Cap
tain Strong's company for a while, did not
fall la love with him wife or maid ! op
widow. It was always the same. 1
Lord Hope paid little, attention to my
activities. He professed to he pleased that
I should enjoy myself, and was satisfied
to be a spectator to my triumphs. Captain
Strong was most respectful to him and
seemed to know Just how to humor htm.
Strong drew me out about my early ex
periences and was wonderfully sympa
thetic when I told. htm. of my early trpu-
(G) 1920, International Feature Berne. In
I .-.-." &i:f - 'Jv."t'f J " .;-;HvV : ; . .v I
May Yohe In Her Japanese Home
in Yokohoma, Where, She and Mr.
Strong. Were Happy for a Time.
This Villa Was Originally Built
for King Edward When, as Prince
of Wales, He Made His Famous
Trip Around the World.
bles snd enthusiastic when I recounted my
successes. He knew men and women at
tached to every court in Europe,- and was
a splendid conversationalist.
He made no advances to me at all dur
ing; the trip. Had. he done so I would have
repulsed him without hesitation. Instead,
though, he talked to me of my husband,
and congratulated me for keeping "an
English lord" in love with me. "They are
so careless about their women usually, you
know," he said, echoing Just what was In
my heart, and once they have caught
them think the romance-Job is done. In
stead, a man should be a sweetheart al
ways, I think always planning to humor
his wife, to surprise her with little unex
pected attentions, to keep her on the same
distant plane she occupied as his fiancee.
You should be happy to have found a Brit
isher who still remains your lover."
Of course. Captain Strong knew I hadn't
found a Britisher who thought it worth
while to still be my sweetheart. He Just
acted as if he thought that, knowing that
he was hitting me in a vulnerable spot,
without my realizing that he knew. Un
consciously I began to think how much
happier I would be and how much brighter
the world would be if my husband were as
attentive and thoughtful as this Captain
Strong evidently would be if he were In
my husband's shoes.
When a woman begins to think of that
comparison between ' her husband and
another man she is slipping. It the other
man is clever he will land her for the fall.
And Captain Strong was beyond all things
else clever'.
When we reached Southampton the Duke
of Newcastle met ns with a special train.
Strong was near by when the Duke ap
proached and was presented to him. Lord
Hope made the presentation, saying to his
brother, "Captain Strong is good friend. '
He made the trip across very pleasant for
us."
The Duke invited the Captain to go up
to London with us on the Duke's train, and
during the trip he extended this invitation
to include dinner with the ducal party at
the Carlton.
That evening Lord Francis Invited Strong
to accompany us and' spend a few days at
Folkstone, a country place of ours. My
mother was staying here while we were go
ing around the world. H accepted, of
course, and during the next few days there
he almost Ignored me, so busy was he with
attentions to Lord Francis. I instinctively
knew, however, that he was playing a game
Sure enough, after a few days, when I
announced that I was goln-g to Paris to
see some theatrical agents who wanted to
give me alluring contracts. Captain Strong
announced that, he, too, must make a trip
to Paris, and expressed the hope he m&ght
see me there. Lord Francis spoke up at
once: "Why don't you two run over on
the same boat? You will be company for
each other, and I will know May is in good
hands."
. Captain Strong expressed delight, but
- doubted that I would want to be bored"
with him. I was quite willing, however,
and so we went to Paris on the same boat,
Captain Strong very attentive and kind.
In Paris he sent me candles and flow
ers jevery day. My couNin came over to
help me with the contracts, and Captain
Strong took him into his hotel, and now,
with my cousin present to make a party,
took us everywhere to all he best restau
rants and theatres. He Just showered me
with his courtesies, and as we saw more of
each other I began to notice more and
more a sort of sadness In his eyes, an
. ineffable, wistful longing, whenever he
looked at me.- Tom saw It, too, and Joked
me about it. I began to feel sorry for the
Captain, for I thought perhaps he really
had "become smitten with me during our
many hours together, and was trying to
hide his feelings. My readers will see
how gradually the ground went out from
Under me, and how cleverly Captain Strong
pulled the strings that tugged at my heart.
Always he stood before me, toy meal of
the devoted, impulsive, romantic man ' I
Would like my husband to be. Meantime.
Lord Francis was paying little attention
to me letting me go about ray own affairs,
always kind, tut never exhibiting any of
the little .tendernesses which , are so dear
to a woman.
After my return to London, having re
fused to sign the contracts offered erne,
1 my agents in New York cabled me to come
over for the-TGIddy Throng." Lord Fran
cis said he could not come, but for me to
go along and return for a while, f I could,
before rehearsals. I said goodby to Cap-
Qfsai Britain Klfats Keserved.
VPP"
"
May Yohe and Her Jinricksha
tain Strong in the presence of my husband
and boarded the boat What was my sur
prise When the boat sailed to meet Cap
tain Strong on deck. He laughingly said
he could not bear to say goodby to me so
shortly, and that he was going as far as
Cherbourg and stretch the ceremony of
parting that far anyway. This Just struck
me as a rather delicious escapade, and I
entered into he spirit of L
Presently I found myself thinking more
about Captain Strong's whereabouts, what
he was dolus, what he might be thinking
about, etc., than of the same things M con
nection with my husband. When I caught
myself at this errantry I put such vagrant
thoughts aside, but it was such a Joy in
my life, this having someone who seemed
to be thinking of Just me all the time, that
I was not as firm with .myself as I should
have been.
There came a time when I was yery 111
with pneumonia. Meantime Lord Francis
had come to America with his brother, the
Duke, for some tarpon fishing In Tampa
Bay, Florida. I had never written Cap
tain Strong even so much as a postal card,
but a friend of his in New York, who
called upon me occasionally, must have
cabled him that I was ill. As fast as a
boat could go to America the Captain
came over, and much to my astonishment
walked Into my room at the hospital .one
morning as early as the nurse would ad
mit him. Of course, he brought a huge
cluster of flowers, and was almost broken
hearted when the nurse assured him there
was nothing he could do for me. He asked
if he might not come each night and sit
on a bench In the hall Just outside my
door Just to make sure, he eald, he
would be close If some emergency
should arise. The nnrse smiled and told
him she was afraid his presence, watch
ing, waiting, would worry me. When he
had gone the nurse said to me: "That Is
the kind of man God ought to give every
woman."
I only laughed a little, but I found my
self agreeing with her. The Captain's
apparent deep concern over my condition,
his eagerness to sit on that bench outside
my door all night long, willing to Just sit
there with the knowledge that he was
close to me, even it not with me, was
more soothing to me than I would ad
mit I thought of it all that morning
and then that afternoon came the reply
to a telegram my physicians had sent dur
ing the night to Lord Francis.
My physicians had begun to fear for my
recovery. They had wired my husband as
follows:
"Wife dangerous condition. Recovery
not assured. She asks you hurry here."
, The reply read:
"Sorry can't come now. Midst of fish
ing season. Departure would seriously
disarrange trip. Advise of developments.
HOPE."
I dropped the telegram to the floor. That
instant I become the property, body, sofaL
and mind, of Putnam Bradlee Strong
although, neither he nor I knew it yet
Captain Strong read the telegram. He
came orer to me, put his irms around me
tor the first time, and said:
"Poor M&ysle im sorry. But I knew it
all the time. When you are well you are
going with me." v
And when I was well I did go with him 1
to the ends of the earth, sacrificing every
thing a woman holds dear, only to learn
that it was all a clever game, that Captain
Strong was after, not me, but my half
million dollars' worth of Jewelry. '
. We decided to elope to Japan. Captain
Strong had left France without leave and
was being sought by General Corbin, the
Adjutant-General. So we went to .San
Francisco secretly, assuming the names of
Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Hastings, and taking
with us eighteen trunks, five dogs and- two
servants. I will tell later something ot
and Picturesque Native Attendant.
our experiences on this flight across the
continent.
When we arrived in Japan we set about
finding a home for our honeymoon at once.
Captain Strong had a little money. He
explained that he could not draw his army
pay, as he was practically a deserter, and
that it had not been safe for him to get
any from his family but that he would
later. I had plenty for a while, however,
something like fifty thousand dollars la
cash.
We found a house on the bluff outside
Yokohama, a beautiful little palace-bungalow,
that had been built for King Edward
when he visited Japan aa the Prince of '
Wales. We paid $300 ar month rent for the
house, which Included beautiful furniture,
which we soon supplemented with rare
ivories, carvings -and other beautiful
things.
When I paid my first visit to the place,
after Captain Strong had arranged the
lease, the door was opened by the cutest
little Japanese maid servant I had ever
seen. I fell in love with her on the spot
and adopted her. Later I brought her to
the States with me, and she has been as
my daughter ever since. She is married
now to a wealthy Japanese In New York.
Her name then was Yori Kamatexu.
We gave many beautiful banquets at our
house on the bluff. Captain Strong liked
playing host with my money and he had
many friends in Japan. He had begun
negotiations with the army authorities,
through his family, for a discharge, and
was able to see his friends and entertain
them. Our house became the mecca of
diplomatic officials and toarists. One ot .
our entertainments was a wonderful
Roman dinner served after the vogue ot
Nero, beginning at sundown and lasting
through three whole days' and nights. To
this we invited many fascinating people,
some ot the stage beauties then visiting in
Japan, some of the younger diplomatio
men and some ot the European ized Japa
nese officials.
We all dressed In Japanese costumes.
The rarest of wines and cordials were
served, and to each guest Captain Strong
and I gave a little diamond as a favor.
The dinner cost us something like $20,000.
We spent a great deal of time running
about In Jinrickshas, visiting the old tem
ples and being entertained by the Euro
pean colonists. Captain Strong was every
thing a sweetheart-husband should be.
He could not hold himself from spending
money, and I gave hlnj freely of what I
had. When he couldn't think of anything
else to do he would walk into a cafe, shoot
out all the lights and tell the proprietor to
send a bill for the damages to me. I paid,
and thought It was great fun. Once to
amuse him I put on all my Jewels and rode
along Theatre street in Yokohama during
a temple celebration blazing- with dia
monds and pearls and rubles.
When we began to run out of money the
Captain came to me one day and said he
knew a friend who had plenty, but who
was not close enough to him to make him
a loan. If I would let him take a Jewel or
two, he said, he would pawn it with this
friend and recover it later when his money
came from the States. I told him to take
whatever he wanted. He took the $50,000
diamond necklace Captain Holford had
given me and went away with It He came
back ; later with $9,000, saying he had
pledged the necklace with his friend for
what he thought we would need. Later I
discovered that he bad sold the necklace
to a Japanese who had only $9,000 to his
name. Captain Strong told him to produce
the money and he wouldn't bother about
gold? any further. .
That was the beginning. It was not long
before my last little diamond had gone,
transmuted into . money, into Captain
Strong's pocket
(To Be Continued Next Sumdayi.