Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-06

The Facts About Miss Hensler's Mar.
riase to Dom Fernando.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 5,

WASHINGToN, ID. c., Jan. 3, 1886.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
In your issue of the Sd inst. you publish an
article from the Paris american Register con.
corning an American girl who became the wife
of the late Dom Fernan do, of SaXe-Coburg
Gotha, at the time of his being regent OF the
kingdom of Portugal, in which she is repre-
sented as the mistress instead of the wife of the
distinguished foreigner. This is a misappre-
hension, and therefore desire to make the fol-
lowing statement:
For six years prior to July 10th, S54, at
which date 1 emigrated from Boston to Kansas,
and later to Colorado, California and Nebraska
my present residence, 1 was employed in the
merchant tailoring establishment of Charles
A. Smith, old state house, Boston," Among the
cutters there seaman named Adolph
Hensier, with whom and his family was ac-
quainted, and occasionally visited their resi-
dence to hear the daughter sing and play upon
the piano. Her voice was superb and her exc
cution wonderful even then, while quite young,
and having had but little instruction.
This young and beautiful girl was afterward
recognized by the poet, Prof. Longfelow, Mr..
Appleton and other influential and wealthy
citizens of Boston and Cambridge. as having
talents or genius of a high ORDER and they de-
termined to send her in charge of her father to
Europe to complete her musical education
which they did. There she made rapid pro-
gress, and at her debut in opera the audience
was large and enthusiastic. Dom Fernando
was present, Il widower, his wife, Marie, queen
OF Portugal, having died some dozen years pre-
vious and he at this time was regent during
the minority OF their son, now reigning king of
Portugal.
Fernando found himself desperately en-
amoured of the fair singer. aud often spoke OF it
quaintanee and offered her his hand, which
was accepted. Their marriage in consequence
of certain church, state, financial, family and
speedily removed, was secret, performed by a
civil magistrate. Portugal was Catholic
country, and when Fernando married its
queen he was a Protestant, but surrendered
himself to the church, as Protestants are re-
quired to do before they permitted to
marry q Catholic, especially Catholics OF high
rank. Moreover, he was regent, his property
in Portugal. his wife a Protestant, be therefore
felt compelled to keep the marriage secret
world and have it ratified by the church and
the state, which was done upon his son reach
ing his majority and assuming the scepter.
Fernando, his wife and her family and friends.
1t subjected the wife to unjust suspicious, which
was severe trial to the husband, and
says, at Ia q historical fact that
he was most earnestly and consistently
Mr.. Longfellow and Mr.. Appleton, while the
wife was under cloud, and they both spoke i'm
the ''highest terms OF Miss Hensier. Mr.. Apple
ton did not hesitate to affim that from what he
knew of Miss Hensler she was Dom Fernando's
wife, or would be-" Mr.. Appleton knew that
she was his wife, but added the words "or would
secret They all knew 1t, and we're satisfied
the father and friends Of the wife. Had it been
otherwise Longtellow and Mr. Appleton were
not the men TO approve OF such conduct.
When Fernando was offered the crown of
Spain he declined 1t because they would not ac-
cept his wife as queen. She was u Protestant, and
they could not do SO under the laws of the
kingdom. Again she was not of royal blood,
aud the old grandees Of Spain would not accept
any other as their sovereign.
Some may question the wisdom of Fernando
in keeping his marriage a secret, claiming that
he should have sacrificed everything and made
it public. Be this as 1t may, 1t gives no one the
right to say that the marriage was not legal and
the pair not husband and wife In the truest
sense.
Dom Fernando, with his cousin, Prince Al
bert, husband OF the queen of England, sympa-
thized with the north during the rebellion, and
manifested 1t whenever opportunity was given
him. He entertained right royalty our
Americans were cordially welcomed to his
palace. S. F. T.