The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-05-25
A FAIR AMERICAN.
Aud How She Brought About the
FraneO-Prussian War.
A Royal Romance interviewer with the
Events thAs Led to the Terrible Con.
dict Over the Spanish Succession
in 1901.
baltimore Americana

elgners with too great regard Tor material
advancement and prosperity, but the fol-
lowing authentic narrative provides for
chile contradiction ofthis theory, in one par
ticular, at least, while it also illustrates the
erroneousness of the idea held by some that
actresses are not often the peers OF women
in private life in disinterestedness and no
bility of character. About twenty years
ago, Donna Maria, the reigning Queen OF
Portugal, died, leaving her throne to her
eldest son, Dom Pedro v, who was then
minor. His father, Don Fernando, of SAKE
Coburg, the Prince Consort of Donna Maria
was, on the death of his wife, appointed
Prince Regent, during the minority of his
son. When relieved from the Re-
geney he made visit TO Italy,
and on one occasion, while attending San
Carlo Theater, at Milan, he fell in love with
one of the artistes, the heroine of our story,
and his proposals were accepted, but to their
union there were impediments. She was
plebeian, and also of a different creed, and in
Portugal, which is Catholic country, the
union of a Catholic with one of an opposite
faith is strictly prohibited. For these, or
some other reasons, their union was delayed;
but after some time she became Roman
Catholic, and was created Countess by the
King. The marriage was one of the NOR
gsnatic class.
By the way, it may be here mentioned
that her husband, judging from his tone of
voice, might be taken any day for true
born Yankee, for he speaks English with q
true Bostonisn twang. Whether in this he
has been the pupil of his wife, or has
adopted the 81 guess" out of love for Uncle
Sam, is not known. And to the credit of
his wife it must be said that she faithfully
observes the rules and regulations of the
Church of her adoption, and insists upon her
household doing likewise.
About the time of their marriage the
revolution in Spain broke out. Queen
Isabella was dethroned and banished, and
for time the House of Bourbon ceased 10
reign. Spain was for long time in the
! market and several attempts were made to
procure satisfactory purchaser for the
aristocratic Kingdom. First, it was ruled
by martial law, then it changed toa Repub-
Lie under General Prim, and subsequently
was transformed into Kingdom, and the
throne was offered to Amadeus, the second
son of Victor Emmanuel. The Spaniards,
however, ahOt Prim, and the borrowed son
of the King of Italy then King of Pied
mondl, fearing assassination. at the earnest
solicitation of his wife, fled to his home in
sunny Italy.
AT this time there were in Spain, besides
\ the Republican and Amadeus parties, other
important factions; for instance, thu Carl
ists and Iberians. The last party embraced
t,.ose who proposed that Spain should be
offered to the King of Portugal, that both
Kingdoms should be united under the name
of she Kingdom of Iberle. The Court of
Portugal was sounded on the subject, but
the Portuguese, to whom tradition is every
thing. were by no means disposed to sell
their Independence to those from whom in
= past ages they had won it at the cost of so
much blood. And still the Spaniards hest
tated in choosing their Monarch from the
many native aspirants or claimants to the
throne, for whom they seemed to have no
great liking.
Nothing daunted with their previous fail
ures, they made another attempt, and this
time deputation in the name of the Span
ish Cortes and people was sent to Lisbon to
offer the throne to Don Fernando, the father
of the King of Portugal. The deputation
was favorably received, and with the con-
sent of the King, Don Fernando accepted
the Spanish throne. Everything promised
success, and the Spanish King-elect sub
|. scribed to all conditions save one. He was
mot to make his American wife Queen Con-
kQrt of Spain. This was sine qua non with
he Spaniards. Fernando objected and pro-
tested, but his protestations and objections
!. were of no avail. He might make his wife
q Duchess or even Princess, but Queen of
Spain she was not to be.
Don Fernando would not decide, and re-
luested the deputstion to see the Countess,
Ypromising 10 abide by her decision The
Spanish mobiles waited upon our heroine,
and explained the object of their visit.
What was said by her when she found her.
self marked out for Spanish degradation is
known only to those who spoke and heard,
but it is on record that it was well for the
Spsniards that our American lady had left
her six-shooter on this side of the Atlantic
She is said to have been very angry, and
finally to have ordered them to leave her
presence, and carry to their ign ble country
this message: when and wherever Don
Fernando is King, then and there the Count
ess, his wife, shall be Queen" Her husband,
hearing of the fat of his consort, declined
the honor of reigning King of Spain, and
wishing the mobiles better success next time.
dismissed them, and they, regretting that
Christopher Columbus was ever born, re-
traced their steps homeward, thanking San
1ago that they and their country were pre-
served from the taloRs of the American
tigress Tor eagle.
Finally, as forlorn hope, the Spanish
throne was offered to Prince Hohenzollern,
q protege Of Bismarck, and pet child OF
William, King Of Prussia. 1t was favorably
seceived at Berlin, and, backed by Prussian
favor and legions, the Prince had every
cope Of quieting the stormy elements that
Tor some time had made Spain the laughing
stock OF all nations But Napoleon Ill, of
France, unwilling to tolerate Prussian
| ruler on the south as he had on the east of
| France, declared that he would consider
such an arrangement for the throne of Spain
a casus belli against Prussia. The cry of
ks'On to Bsrlin!" reached throughout the
rench Empire. and the sad sequel, so well
Known. followed in rapid strides. France
was defeated, her Emperor dethroned, and
he 0ed to England, where he died an exile;
William, King of Prussia, became German
Emperor; Victor Emmanuel entered the
Papal Territory, and made Rome the Capitol
OF united Italy; Paris was pillaged and
almost destroyed by the Communists, and