SHE CURES “SICK” PEARLS JUST BY WEARING ‘EM – SO CZAR GUARDS HER
This is Tortola Valencia, who has the peculiar gift of being able to cure “sick” pearls by wearing them. After reposing a few weeks on Tortola’s bosom pearls which have lost their luster are said to recover their original ‘brilliance”.
Tortola is a “Spanish dancer, just now the rage in Paris. Her strange effect on pearls resulted-in a commission from the czar of Russia, who has sent her a magnificent pearl- necklace to wear and “cure.” It was originally made for Catherine the Great of Russia.
While Tortola wears it she is guarded day and night by detectives employed by the French and Russian governments.
(The Day Book., March 28, 1912)