The herald., 1895-09-29

was born December 2, 1925. His baptismal
name Is astonishing by its length to
Americans, who rarely get beyond two
Christian names. l give it as matter
of curiosity, viz, Pedro d. Alcantara John
Charles Leopold Salvador Bibiano Xavier
de Paulo Leocadio MichaelGabrielRaph
Gonzaga. l must say, however, that Dom
Pedro ii. never used more than two of
his names, viz. Dom Pedro H., his Off
cial title. always employed in signing
state documents and in signing letters
when in Brazil, and Dom Pedro d Alcan-
tara Tor D. Pedro d'Alcantara), when out
of his realm. l have letters from him
signed when in and when absent from
Brazil. The title Dom (Dominus) is Pc
culiarly Portuguese and is only given to
mcnarchs, princes and bishops.
The first time that the outside world
ever heard of Dom Pedro IL. was IN the
short message of abdication BY his father,
Dom Pedro l., and also in the last letter
ever written by Dom Pedro /. on the
shores OF Brazil. the first is brief and
effective: "Availing myself of the right
which the constitution comedies me, de-
clare that I have voluntarily abdicated in
favor, of my dearly beloved son, Dom
handing of this abdication to the waiting
messenger was scene Of great emotion,
for the emperor burst into tears as he
said; "Here is my abdicatIon. May you
BIZ happy. 1 snail retire to Europe, and
leave tho country that have loved dear
ly and that still love-" Dom Pedro III.
then became emperor at the age OF q. I'M
der regents chosen by the parliament.
More touching still is the letter referred
to as being the last written by Dom
Pedro l. in the New World. Alter his
abdication be went. by the invitation of
the British admiral. on board the English
irigate Warspite (the same man-of-war
that afterwards brought Lord Ashburton
to the United States in 1912 to negotiate
with Daniel Webster. then secretary OF
state, the northeastern boundary ques-
tion.) On board of the British vessel, in
sight of the city of Rio de Janeiro, the
magnificent bay and the lofty mountains,
he penned the following touching letter.
wherein is not only MANIFESTED love for
bis son, but a deep solicitude for the
land he was about to leave forever:
MY beloved son and my emperor, very
agreeable are the lines which you wro.e
me. 1 was scarcely able to read them,
because copious tears blurred my sight.
Now that | am more composed, l write
this to tnank you for your letter. and to
declare that as long as life shall last affec-
ton for you shall never be extinguished
in this lacearted heart.
ITO leave children, country and friends
is the greatest possible sacrifice, but to
bear away honor unsullied, there can be
father; love your country and my coun
try; follow tho counsel of those who have
the care of your education; and rest as
sured that the world will admire you, and
that will be filled with gladness at hav-
ing a son so worthy of the land of mis-
birth. l retire to Europe; it is necessary
for the tranquility of Brazil, and that
God may cause her to reach that degree
of prosperity for which she is emlnently
capable.
''Adieu my very dear son Remember
the blessing of your affectionate father,
who departs without the hope of ever see-
ing you again.
I'D. PEDRO D'ALCANTARA.
ION board the Warspite frigate, April
IL, 1884,
In my next communication l shall give
some pesonal recollections of Dom Pedro
extending over period
of forty years, and l shall also give an
account of the causes why Dom Pedro III.
was forced from the throne which he so
long and honorably occupied.
Copyright 1895 by r. Garner Curran.)