Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-02-21
FERDINAND,S YANKEE WIFE.
From a shoe shop 20 n Royal Pal
ace-What "Efer Majesty" Did In
New York.


From Shoe Shop 40 n Royal Pal.
ace-What "Ifer Majesty" DID in
New York.
From the New York SUM-
1t is not generally known that one ol
the Queens of Europe at the present
time is an American lady Of decidedly
humble descent. She is the wife of King
Ferdinand Of Portugal, who, finding the
duties of his office incongenial to his re-
tiring tastes, abdicated a few'years ago,
and, making during his "Trip to Paris, the
acquaintance Of very Eood-looklng ac.
tress, offered her in 1869 his heart and
hand which she joyfully accepted. They
were married with considerable pomp at
Lisbon, and the actress, although she IS
no reigning queen, is treated by her royal
relatives with all the respect due to her
husbands exalted rank, and she is
addressed as my sister" by Queen Ma
ria Pia, the daughter of Victor EN-
manuel, and as "Her Majesty by her
attendants and servants. aaa .l
King Ferdinand's wife was born in
1910, in Boston. where her father was a
poor German shoemaker, and she has
many acquaintances in New York. Her
name previous to her marriage was Eliza
Hensler. She attended the public schools
OF her native city until she was fourteen
years of age. She was then q beautiful,
rosy-cheeked girl, with large blue syes,
and wealth of golden ringlets More
over, she possessed a very fine voice,
and an operate manager who had heard
her sing at a school examination pre-
vailed upon her old father to let him
send her to renowned music teacher
and have her prepared for the stage.
The old man joyfully consented. Young
Eliza proved very excellent pupil, and
two years afterward she made her
debut in this city, at the Academy of
Music, in Arditi's opera, The Spy. Al
though Nine Lagrange sang in the
same place, Miss Hensler achieved a
decided success, and was engaged for
the season. Her brother or cousin, who
had enabled her to appear in the Acad-
emy of Music, was at that time leader of
the chorus, and remained in that posi-
ton for several years afterward. In 1858
Miss Hensler returned to Boston, and
appeared there on the stage with de-
cided success. She then went to Paris
to study her profession more thoroughly
under Ahber and Thomas, and sang re-
peatedly at the Grand Opera, without,
however, meeting with much encourage
ment. She was glad TO accept an en-
gagement at the Royal Opera of Lisbon,
where she sang for several years, and
became great favorite 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, and it
was not until after her death that he
made advances to Miss Eliza Hensler,
who had meanwhile returned to Paris,
where she made somewhat precarious
living by giving music lessons, severe
cold having greatly impaired the beauty
and strength of her voice.
Her royal husband is said to be ex-
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 of terms
With his highborn italian consort. ''.A