Arizona republican., 1893-02-28
A ROYAL VISITOR.
Donna Maria Isabel de Borbon, In
fanta of Spain.
The Distinguished Lady Who Is to Rep
resent the Spanish Queen-Regont and
King at the Worlds Column
bian Exposition.

! Her Royal Highness the Serenisima
Sonora Infanta Of Spain, Donna Maria
Isabel de Borbon y Borbon, who is the
eldest sister of the deceased King Don
Alfonso XII, and consequently the
aunt Of the present king, has announced
her intention of visiting the worlds
fair shortly after its opening. AS the
infanta has been connected with many
of the important events of Spanish his
tory during the latter half of this cen
fury, the promised visit of her royal
highness will be doubly interesting,
says Harper's Weekly. She was born
in the royal palace of Madrid, on the
Goth of December, 1851, and married to
Sandman prince, his highness the
! count of Girgenti, who died within a
short time. During the revolution in
Spain the infanta Isabel joined Queen
Isabella ii. in Paris. Being endowed
with high courage, she helped to make
more bearable the exile of her august
parents and brothers during those sad
days in the Palais de Castillo, when the
royal family of Spain felt more grief for
the misfortunes of their country than
for their own troubles. After the resto-
ration OF the legitimate monarchy, and
On inc rcIuth Vi ALFONSO Al " 'He
throne of his ancestors, the king was
accompanied by the Infanta Isabel,
who shared with her royal brother,
justly called The Peaccmaher," the
triumphs of the first years Of his short
but most glorious reirn. She crowned
with laurel the victorious KING VINO
mad terminated the civil wars that had
raVaged ms basque provinces Navarro,
and ms island OF CuDa' cunsoung at the
same time those he had subdued
knowing them only as her country
men, she gave them her treasures to-
gethcr with her love and protection.
Some time afterwards King Alfonso
married ms first cousin, the daughter Of
the duke OF honJpnnsler, the beautiful
Queen Mercedes, and upon the early
death OF the queen the lnianta was Il
great consolation to her bereavcd
brother whom she dearly loved. After
he died she devoted herself in turn to
his august widow, the present queen
regent of Spain. Donna Maria Christina,
a model queen. wife and mother and
the perpetuator on the throne of St.
Ferdinand ~ the traditions of Donna
Marin dc Molina. The Infanta Isabel
has ALWAYS been the constant compan-
ion of the regent and of the baby king.
The Spanish people, and particularly
the people of Madrid. idoIize her be-
cause charity is her first virtne. and her
constant thought is to help the poor
and comfort the unfortunate. To this
nurnosc she devotcs most of her income
sustaining hospitals and asvlums, and
snnnlcmcnts this work with her per-
sonal visits to the poor and sick. She
is also Datroness of all Snanish indus
tries and arts Enthusiastically fond
of music, and of all the fine arts. she
presides over concerts and constantly
organizes exhibitions, being always sur
rounded bv the Leading authors and
artists She knows bv heart the gems
of the rich classical Spanish literature
as well rs most Of the modern. and is
acquainted with the works of other
countries. She speaks Portucuese.
French. Italian. English and German
rs fluentIv rs her own Language. and
her conversation is very bright and full
of talent.
Some of her leisure hours are devot-