Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-07
PRINCESS PERKINS.
The Spanish Infanta Who Married
a Plain American.
4 STORY THAT has 4 SAD SIDE
A Match With Royalty That Met
No Opposition.
TROUBLE AFTER MARRIAGE.


Miss Wheeler of Philadelphia (whose mat
rimonial woes are now before the public
made a semi-royal match when she became
Countess Pappenheim. Many other Ameri-
can girls have. by marriage. acquired rank
and title among the European nobility. but
there is only one instance of an American
entrance into a really royal family circle
and that entrance was effected by a man!
More marvellous yet, the marriage was
unopposed by the brides family. notwith-
standing the fact that she was q Spanish
Bourbon.
The certihcation Of this emarkable mar
riage may be read in the register Of the
Church Of st. Louis Of the French. Lisbon.
Portugal, under head of marriages., date
November Il. 1870 as follows:
Charles Allen Perkins of Syracuse, N. Y.
secretary Of the American legation at Lis
bon (born in Salisbury. Conn, United States
Of America. on the 18th day Of September.
1S40), son Of Zehiel Perkins and Alathia
Northrup Perkins of the United States of
America belonging to the Anglican church),
and the Princess Maria Isabella FRANCHISE
de Gurowski (born at Brussels, Belgium.
the 10th day of June. 1S47), legitimate daugh-
ter Of Ignacius Micislaus, Count de Gurow-
ski. proprietor. and of her most serene royal
highness. Isabella, Ferdinande. Josefina del
Carmen, FRANCHISE Felicie. Rafaela, Ro-
mana Joaquina Carolina Bourbon de Bour-
bon. Infanta of Spain. On the part of Mr..
Perkins the ceremony was witnessed by t.,
following Americans: Charles H. Lewis,
minister resident Of the United States;
Henry s. Dimon, consul general; o. G. Oils
son, rear admiral. U. 8. navy; h. NJ Fol-
ger. U. s. navy.
The story OF the Marriage.
When Mr.. Perkins marriage to the Prin-
| cess Isabella took place the Spanish Bour-
bons were pretty well scattered throughout
continental Europe. owing to the recent ex-
| pulsion Of Queen Isabella from Spain. The
Infanta, with her daughter, the Princess
| Isabella, had come to Lisbon to seek the
protection and hospitality Of the King Of
Portugal, which they were enjoying when
Mr.. Perkins first met his future WIFE,
From the correspondence extant it seems
| that no obstacles blocked the course OF true
love Even the religious perplexities at
| tending marriage between Catholic and
Protestant were smoothed away. The holy
| father granted "A dispensation of disparity
| of religions" Mr.. Perkins binding himself
| by a solemn promise that the children OF
| the marriage should be brought up in the
| Catholic faith.
Among the many brilliant festivities
given in honor Of this union Of son OF
democratic America with the daughter Of
an Infanta of Spain was q grand ball on
| board the United States frigate-of-war. the
Franklin then lying in the Tagus. Admiral
Gibson commanding. The honeymoon was
passed at Cintra.
Queen Isabella was living In exile at
Geneva when her cousins marriage to the
American took place. She not only gave
| her royal sanction, but most substantially
| attested her consent by settling q hand
some dowry on the bride.
Geneva was never exactly suited to the
| tastes Of Queen Isabella as a place Of resi-
dence, SO at the conclusion Of the Franco
Prussian war, the royal exile. with her
large suite. went to Paris to enjoy life on
the $4,000 a year allowed her by the Span
ish government.
High Life In Paris.
At the earnest solicitation Of Queen Isa-
bella MIR. Perkins severed his connection
| with the American legation at Lisbon, and
with his princess wife, went to Paris, where
| they established themselves in royal style
| On the 18th Of February, 1873, a son was
born to them, who received in baptism the
name Of Alfonso, in honor of Queen 1sa-
bella's only son. the future King of Spain,
| then a student at Vienna. Alfonso gra-
| ciously consented to be godfather for his
namesake. The child was held at the font by
| Queen Isabella, and the ceremony, which
| took place at the Apostolic Nonciature, was
performed with all the pomp Of royal
| christening. Count Gurowski represented
| Alfonso. The queens daughter. the Infanta
Isabella accompanied her majesty. The act
was signed by Mr.. Washburne. American
minister to Paris; Mr.. Reid. consul gen.
eral Of the United States: Monsieur Du
Plessy Princess de Valcaros and Mr.. Hoff-
| man. secretary of the American legation.
| Queen Isabella presented magnificent dia-
| monds to the mother and infant. To Mr.
Perkins she gave a miniature portrait OF
| her son encircled with precious stones.
Another son was born to Mr.. Perkins and
| the princess at Paris In 1876. He was given
are today living in Madrid with their
| mother.
| At the time of the birth Of the first son,
as indicated by the name given him, and
the selection Of his sponsors, Princess lsa-
| bella and Mr.. Perkins were apparently
loyal supporters Of Alfonso. 1t was Pc
.riod when the crown Of Spain seemed
thrown to a number Of claimants for a
| general scramble. While Don Carlos was
stirring the cauldron Of European politics
| into constant bubble. toll and trouble, his
wife. Dona Marguerite. was also very &C.
| tive. She was residing near Bordeaux,
| France with her children. Although she
had never seen her cousin Princess Isabella
Perkins, she entered into a most affection
ate correspondence with her, promising bril-
| liant rewards and great preferment for Mr..
| Perkins at Madrid when Don Carlos should
| come into his own.
| Yielding to his wifes wishes and Dona
Margarites persuasive letters. Mr.. Perkins
took a fatal step. from the consequences
| of which he suffered to the day of his
death. Openly going into the ranks OF
| the enemy by joining the Carlist Club at
Paris, he employed his facile pen in writ
| ing a series of clever articles for the Car
| list press.
Down went all these hopes and schemes
| when on December .. 1874, Alfonso was
proclaimed King of Spain.
Among one Of the very first prescribed
| by the new government was Mr.. Perkins
The father Of King Alfonso. Don Fran.
cisco d'Assis, was living in Paris He had
always shown a great friendship for Prin-
cess Isabella Perkins. BY his earnest ef-
! forts she regained the favor Of the Span
| ish court and was allowed to enter Madrid
| with her two sons. After a time the prin-
| cess succeeded in modifying the feelings
| Of the young king towards her husband.
| and Mr.. Perkins was permitted to reioin
his wife and children at the Spanish capi-
| tai.
H0rassed at Court.
1t was soon found by the princess and her
Yankee husband that the young king was
powerless to overcome the vengeful spirit.
Jealousy and natural distrust Of the Span
| iards. The courtiers of Alfonso took no
pains to disguise their contempt for the un-
titled partner Of the princess Mr. Perkins
became conscious Of the fact that he wa q
under constant surveillance. Everything
written inimical to Alfonso was attributed
to his pen or inspiration. In an tmprudent
moment the harassed man wrote a confden
I Il