The Indianapolis journal., 1886-01-10
DOM FERNANDo,s WIDOW.
Testimony to the Marriage of Miss Henslez
Why It Was Kept Secret.

Why 1t Was Kept Secret.
Washington Special
The American Register of Paris. having
recently called in question the statement that
the American girl. Miss Hensler, was really
married to Dom Fernando, of Saxe-Coburg, ak
the time Of his being Regent of the kingdom
of Portugal. Col. S. F. Tappan formerly of
Boston. furnishes the following as the facts in
the case:
"For six years prior to July 49, 1854. at which
date emigrated from Boston to Kansas. and
later to Colorado, California and Nebraska imY
present residence), [ was employed iu the mer-
chant tailoring establishment OF Chas. A. Smith,
old State house. Boston
Among the cutters there was German named
Adoph Hensler, with whom and his family L
was acquainted, and occasionally visited their
residence to hear the daughter sing and play
upon the piano. Her voice was superb and her
execution wonderful even then, while quito
young and having had but little instruction
This young and beautiful girl was afterward
recognized by the poet Longfellow, Mr.. Apple
ton and other influential and wealthy citizens OF
Boston and Cambridge as having talents or
genius of high order, and they determined to
send her, in charge of her father, to Europe TO
complete her musical education, which they did.
There she made rapid progress. and at her debut
In opera the audience was large and enthusiaS-
tic Dom Fernando was present widower,
his wife, Marie. Queen of Portugal, having died
some dozen years previous, and he at this time
was Regent during the minority Of their son,
now reigning King of Portugal.
Fernando found himself desperately enamored
of the fair singer and often spoke of it as 'slovB
at first sight" He made her acquaintance and
offered her his hand, which was accepted. Their
marriage. in consequence of certain church,
state financial, family and social complications,
which could not be easily or speedily removed,
was secret, performed by civil magistrate.
Portugal was Catholic country. and when Fer
nando married its queen he was Protestant
but surrendered himself to the church, az
Protestants are required TO do before they arc
permitted to marry Catholic, especially
Catholics of high rank. Moreover, he was
regent; his property in Portugal his wife Protest
ant. he therefore felt compelled to keep the mar
riage a secret until such time as he could pro-
claim it to the world, and have it ratified by the
church and the state. which was done upon his
son reaching his majority and assuming the
scepter. This course of secrecy was considered
wise by Fernando, his wife and her family and
friends. 1t subjected the wife to unjust sus-
pcions which was severe trial to the hus-
band, and as the writer of the article you quote
says:
st is a historical fact that he was most earn
estly and consistently devoted to her."
This same correspondent met Mr. Longfellow
and Mr.. Appleton, while the wife was under a
Miss Hensler. Mr.. Appleton did not hesitate to
affirm that from what he knew Of Miss Hensler
she was Dom Fernando's wife, s'or would be-"
Mr.. Appleton knew that she was his wife, but
added the words. "or would be" to prevent a
premature disclosure of the secret They all
knew it. and were satisfied, the father and
friends of the wife. Had it been otherwise,
Longfellow and Mr.. Appleton were not the men
to approve of such conduct.
When Fernando was offered the crown Of
Spain he declined it, because they would not ac-
cept his wife as Queen. She was a Protestant,
and they could not do so under the laws of the
kingdom. Again. she was not of royal blood
and the old erandees of Spain would not accept
any other as their sovereign. Some may ques-
ton the wisdom of Fernando in keeping his mar
riage secret claiming that he should have sac
rifcsd everything and made it public. Be this
as il may. it gives the right to say that
the marriage was not legal and the pair not hus-
band and wife in the truest sense. Dom Fer
nando, with his cousin, Prince Albert. husband
of the Queen of England, sympathized with the
North during the Rebellion. and manifested it
whenever opportunity was given him. He en-
tertained right royalty" our navy and army Of
fcers visiting Lisbon, and Americans were cor
daily welcomed to his palace.