The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-03-01, Page 55French beauty of fore
won diamond's rights
for women!
You' vx good reason to he
grateful Io a ravishing young
French beauty named Agnes
Sorel if you now own or have
high hope~ of acquiring a
diamond some day.
I'he reason? Way hack in
1444, Agnes enterprisingly
snatched diamonds out of the
male domain and made thorn
fashionable and romantic for
women to wear.
It seems hefore Agnes, ac-
cording to the Jewelry Indits-
Iry Council, diamonds were
considered strictly for mas-
culine wear. Believing that
the diamonds' unmatched
hardness gave men extra
strength and courage,'kings
and noblemen wore- them
into battle. Women. with the
exception of a few liberated
royal ladies, didn't wear
them at all,
I'a1ien1 plotter!
Then there 'was Agnes.
daughter of a poor but nolle
French family. Through f;rrn-
ily connections. she was ap-
pointed a lady-in-waiting to
the royal court of('harles VII
while still in her teens. This
was the same Charles for
Who rrr-•Joatn of Arc had fought
and died some years hefore.
Agnes. who" idolized Joan
and Joan's quest to free
France from the English, was
att. r^a_et.ed-tn--t-hte •.y.oting-
monarch.
While a promising, heauty
even in her teens. Agnes, try
as she might. could not catch
the eye of the King, who was
constantly • surrounded by
beautiful women. i"t took
several years—until she was
. history reports, hefore
Agnes could plot a scheme to
impress Charles.
An •important royal ball
was tai take place. and Agnes
was determined the King.
would notice her this time.
She borrowed all the dia-
monds she could from her
male relatives, and took them
to a Parisian - jeweler request-
ing -that he Make. them into a
dazzling necklace.
She chose a lustrous low-
cut gown that spotlighted her
graceful neck. Creamy white
shoulders a.n}i comely
curves. • •
When young Agnes swept
into the ballroom, every eye
in the room was riveted on
her. I'he royal page an-
nounced "her presence.. and
when the King looked up. he
gave an appreciative smile
and hecktined her near.
Whether it was the flashing
diamonds, or the blooming
beauty of'.the young maiden:
Agnes caught the King's eye.
and walked into his life to
stay.
Het dt.$'vely, figure. chestnut
hair, deep blue eyes and flaw-
less complexion caused him
to'nickname her the court's
..Dame de Beaute" (Lady of.
Beauty). and in fact. he built
an impressive palace for
her—the Chateau de Beaute
near Paris.
'i'hrough the. King's influ-
ence. Agnes was elevated to
an enviah•Ic social
position—she became a
style -setter and popularized
the custom of women wear-
ing diamonds.
" Not ,just `pretty face'
Agnes Sorel was the first
officially recognized King's
mistress. and. gained official
status because of this. Histo-
rians say. reports the Coun-
cil, that Agnes was more than
just another pretty farce. Re=
memhering the goal of, her
idol, Joan of Arc—that of
pushing the British out of
Burgundy—Agnes is cred-
ited with,aiding and inspiring
Charles to do just that.
She not only provided en-
couragement, hut cold hard
cash as well. arranging loans
from important merchants to
help finance the Kings ar-
mies.
While the beauteous
Agnes lived a story hook
life—hearing four lovely
daughters to the King, and
remaining his favorite—she
did not as they say, "live
happily ever after." -
Legend lives on
Some scholars believe she
died in 1450, giving birth,
while others hint darkly she
was poisoned by someone.
The guilty party, or parties,
were purported to be every-
one from the King's own son.
who resented his father's
mistress usurping his
mother's place, to one of the
merchants who had loaned
the King money. The King
was so indebted to the
moneyman that Charles dis-
credited and imprisoned the
merchant to cancel his debt.
Whatever the cause of her
death, .Agnes Sqrel to this
day is a national heroine in
France where she is honored
fur her beauty. fidelity and
patriotism. But women the
world over will remember
her as the girl who was the
diamond's hest friend, mak-
ing diamonds fashionable for
the fair sex! •
My lady carries love within
her eyes All that she looks on is...._.... ,... :.
made pleasanter; �•
Upon her path men turn
to gaze at her; °
He whom she greeteth feels
his heart to rise.
—D.G. Rossetti
Page 17
66 The Square
Goderich
524-6572
y.•J e. .' ri.,•ll. /, Nils �}�.
We invite this year's lovers to come
in and see our extensive and varied range of
exciting ring settings
470
And, you have the choice. Choose from as many
different styles as there are ways to
Sqy."I love you", or, we can have your own design
made up especially for you.
For you sir: our promise that the diamond will be the
best value for your money available.
We also carry exciting gifts for
the Bridal party,
as well as an excellent selection of
China, Silver and Crystal ideal for
shower and wedding gifts.
'Please Come in...We'll take care of you!
(Do you think it's because
she's the manager of the store?)
Could. be.
But then it's hard to say.
Everyone.gets the V.I.P. Treatment at Irene Hill.
Here Mary Costello and June Robertson help Sheila
choose her dream trousseau. (from boss to customer...
that's a switch!) The choice is not an easy one either.
And Sheila knows it. What with the excellent
selection o'f,Spring Fashions she Inas ordered. Just about
everything you can think of, from co-ordinate suiting
t3 -luxurious evening wear, All in the
latest fabrics and colours for this
spring are in stock and priced just right.
At Irene Hill they have what you want and are
always available to help you with your selection. To help
you make just the right selection for you. Come on
out to Suncoast Mall and get the old .
V.I.P. Treatment from Sheila, June and Mary at
Irene Hill. It's fun, and -satisfying.
LADIES WEAR
Suncoast Mall
OPQN: MON. to FRI. 10 to 9
SAL 10 toe •