The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-13
DUCHESS OF ARGOS.
The American Wife
of the Spanish
Minister.
AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR ENGAGEMENT
Dewey Was Once One Of
Her Ardent Adj
mirers.


Of Aeccs, who have been enjoying the
festivities of MISUNDERSTANDING he-Sea,
VIII be established IN the former Span
ish legation on Massachusetts avenue
and Eighteenth street. Washington,
and the ''hospltalities'' so long inter-
rupted by "hostiIities" will be resumed
with new interest and additional
charms. for the home Of SPANS repre-
sentative win be presided over by a
genial host and a most gracious Amer
lean hostess.
Recent events, writes the Washington
correspondent Of the Philadelphia In
quirer, both at heme and abroad, have
proven beyond question of doubt that
there is no calling or position that an
American girl" is not capable of I'LL
Ing, and 20 this American duchess the
appointment of her husband to this
country at most trying time. was
largely due. And the friends Of both
the minister and his wife regard the
selection as a most happy one.
A cousin Of the duchess, and one of
her most ardent admirers, says of her
that "she is the only woman whom he
has ever known who always says the
A4SAI lAAllS dL me IASQL llIley ana IN
this hes her greatest charm, for her
kindly thoughts are born of a lovely ma
ture and truly generous and noble
heart.
AS Miss Virginia Woodbury. Lowery.
she was a great belle Her. admirers
were not limited to scores Of lovers. n
but were rather the friends both did
and young Of all walks Of life with
whom she was in any way brought in
contact, for she won the lasting admit
ration inspired by genuine womanly
women.
She was educated at a fine finishing
scnool In Philadelphia, and later con-
tInued her studies abroad She speaks
FRENCH With a charming accent and
mas recently become quite proficient in
spanish She is musical, and this was
one OF the reasons Captain Dewey.
now the famouSadnliraI and hero. found
IN Miss Lowery such a congeniaI spirit,
her voice Is sweet, rich contralto.
ana she also plays well, with unusual
expression. q
It is a web known fact that "Cap-
tam Dewey was one of the most ar
uenl ADMIRERS of Miss Lsowery, now the
WiIe OF the representative OF the coun-
Try whose navy Commodore" Dewey
destroyed on that memorable May day;
ana YET he knew at the time that she
was betrotted TO the DISTINGUISHED for
eigner, and in consequence his atten-
tlonS 10 Miss Lowery were decidedly
platonic," for the Captain mereIv
called, as any other friend OF the fam
ily would The duchess relatives have
Deen very much annoyed at the sensa
Ilonal stories Of how Admiral Dewey
was rejected lower ana regarded
hated rival. % ms
captain Dewey knew then that Miss
LoveHy was pledged to another-had
she not been the story might have
read very differently.
but the Deweys, Woodburvs and
LoWerys have been old friends for
years and today among them exists
warm friendship and the best of good
IeeAn8s IN fact, there are no mora en-
tnusiastic friends of the greatest rsaro
OF them All than these same Washing
ton families
The Duchess of ARGOS adds IN her
olner accomplishment a rare talent for
art. Some years before her marriage
she sent water color of her own de-
sign to a Boston exhibit. The picturs
was widely commented upon, and high
~ praised, and was thought to be The
Work OF some famous man artist
MS American wife of our newest
iorelgn diplomat comes from a long
line or distinguished New England an7
csssry-. her mother was the daughter
q Lew woodbury., who had been gov
srnor OF New Hampshire and secrafa ~
OF the treasury and secretary Of the ma
during the administration of Pres
ldend jackson. At the time If Rte
death he was associate Justice ~ az
supreme court Of the United states
Inc Woodburys are proud Of their
lineage. John Woodbury. the pioneer
member OF the family, reached these
SHORES three years after the Mayf7ower
1s.oep nef hrst cargo of pilgrims. The
,Wooopnry homestead at New Bever-
iey, mass, still preserved. a place in
which the duchess holds a. great in
terest, is one of the oldest in New Eng
land. :" l-iis
There was an alliance years ago he
tween the Woodburys and BIairs Of
In appearance, the Duchess Of Arcos
is tall and pleasing, her hair is IF
chestnut brown, and she has bealItif1II
expressive dark eyes. She and her hus-
Dand are handsome couple indeed as
ne is very fair, of the CastiIian tvne
rather than the darker Spanish. ~
everyone knows, Of course. nv tbis
unie' tnat the Spanish minister and his
Wife waited eighteen years for each
ether and the romance of their lives ia
one OF the most beautiful on record
Fart OF that time Count Brunette was
IN far-away country in South Ameri
ca. where he was appointed minister
after leaving Washington, and where
II TOOK by the slow steamers several
months for letter to reach him. Bur
IN all these years their faith, their love
and their devotion remained unchanged
ana eighteen years after their betroth-
al they were married, four summers
ago, in New London, Conn,
The parents of the bride. who felt
they could not have endured the senar-
alton from their only daughter the on
" objection they found. did ali in tbair
power for their happiness then. Miss
Lowery's mother helped her plan and
select her wedding outfit.
The Duke OF ARGOS is the first Spanish
grandee 70 wed a Protestant. an mus
ual concession Of the church. Al tha
time OF their marriage there was first
the Catholic ceremony, then a ceperonv
at the Episcopal church The Duke of
ARGOS gave bis bride splendid coIlec-
ton Of Jewels, heirioons, Including
necklace and bracelet of rare gems sal
in silver, and other ancient Jewels: AL
so a magnificent silver service. which
has done duty at many notable feasts
At the time Of the marriage of the
Duke and the Duchess Of ARGOS, the
former was minister to Mexico. and
they were IN Washington visiting and
being deliberately entertained when the
destruction Of the Maine occurred.
Later the Duke of ARGOS was made
assistant secretary Of state. and he and
his wife left an attractive home in Ma
drid when they came TO America.
Years ago, when Miss Lowery met
her future husband, Senior Don Jose
Brunetti. he was first secretary Of the
Spanish legation In Washington. Sc
nor Don Felipe Mendez de Vigo was
minister plenipotentiary from Spain
. ~ 40 rfr6 q reaf xrguu