Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-04-02
MISCELLANEOUS.
A Yankee Queen.

TEE WIFE OF KING FERDINAND. OF POR-
TUGAL, A BOSTON GIRL, THE DAUGH-
TER OF A POOR GERMAN SHOEMAKER,
AND AN ACTRESS.
1t is not generally known that one OF
the Queens of Europe at the present
time is an American lady Of decidedly
humble origin. She is the wife of King
Ferdinand, Of Portugal, who, finding the
duties OF his Office uncongenial to his re
tiring tastcs, abiicaied few years ago,
and making, during trip to Paris, the
acquaini ce Of very good locking
actress, of,rcG Ler. in 1869, his Eeart
and his hand, which che joyiully accept
ed. They y ere married with consider
able pomp at Lisbon, and the actress, al
though she is no reigning Queen, is
treated !y her royal relatives with all
the respect due TO her husbands exalted
rank, and she is addressed as {" my sis
ter" By Qaeen Maria Pia, the daughter
of Victor Emanuel, and as "!Ier Maies-
fy" BY hcr attcnd..n and servants
Kiag F-rdinsnd's wife was born in
1910, in roston, where her father was a
poor German shoemaker, and she has
many acquaintanccs in New York. Her
name previous TO her marriage, was Eliza
Eersler. She attended the public schools
of her native city until she was fourteen
years Of age. She was then beautiful,
rosy-che.k ked girl, with large blue eyes
and wealth Of golden ,inglets.
Moreover, she possessed very fine
voice, and an operate manager, who
heard her sing at a school examination,
prevailed upon Ler old father TO let him
send her 20 renowned music teacher
aud have her prepared for the stage
The old man joyfully consented.
Young Eliza proved very excellent
pupil, and two years aiterward che made
her debut in this city at the Academy OF
Music, in Afdiii's opera, d" The Spy"
Although Nine. Lagrange sang in the
same piece, Miss lIensler achieved de-
cided success. and was engaged for the
season. Her brother, or cousin, who had
enabled her to appear at the Academy OF
Music, was at TIE time leader Of the
chorus, and remained in that position for
several years afterward.
In 1858 Miss Hensler returned to Bos
ton, and appeared there en- the stage with
decided success. She then went to Paris
to study her profession more thoroughly
under Auber and Thomas, ard sang re
peatedly at the grand opera, without,
however meeting with much encourage
ment. She was glad to accept an Ell
gagement at the regal opera of Lisbon.
where che tang fo- several years, and
became a great favori;e Of the public.
1t was there already, perhaps, that
King Ferdinand became acquainted with
and enamored of her; but the Kings
first wife was then alive, ana it was not
until after her death that be made ad |
ranceg to Mis- Eliza Hensler, who had |
lncanw bile returned to Paris, where she
made somewhat precarious living by |
giving music lessons. severe cold bav-
ing impaired the beauty and strength Of
her voice.
Her royal husband is said to be ez-
ceedingly fond of his Boston wife. They
have two children, and their happiness is
much commented upon in Lisbon, where
it is well known that the present King
does not live on the best terms with his
high born Italian consort. Y. Mirror
Evrpy dow fo- ,be last throa Ypoofhs /