The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-30
A REAL
AMERICAN
QUEEN.

| When Americans boast OF the brilliant
matches made by young women OF their
nationality with noblemen OF foreign
courts. not one out OF a thousand IL
aware OF the most brilliant alliance ever
contracted by an American woman. Be-
side it the giories OF the dukedom Of
Marlborough or OF Manchester pale into
/ insignifcsnce. For is not an American
woman a queen dowager OF Portugal?
| The story OF a poor Boston girls rise
/ from obscurity TO a throne reads like .
romance She was a singer. Elise Hens
/ Ter by name. and was born IN a little
house in Pleasant street. Boston. in lsSs.
She was pretty and gentle and endowed
with a voice so lovely that when quite
a young girl she was engaged 10 sing az
the historic Park Street church. which
had a wealthy and aristocratic eongre-
cation
The remarkable quality OF her voice
attracted the attention Of some wealthS
musical dilettanti in the congregation.
and they united in a subscription to
send her abroad. where she could enjoy
the advantage OF the training OF the
best musical masters
Her debut was made in New York and
was a brilliant one. So splendid a sac
cess di5 she score that she at once re-
ceived advantageous offers 10 sing IL
the capitals Of Europe. and she sailed
away from her native land. never 20
come back again.
Her first appearance abroad was in
the Opera House. Lisbon In the royal
box on the first night Of her appearance
sat King Ferdinand OF Portugal lie
was a widower. his wife. Queen Maria
da sGloria II, having died in 1883. The
young and beautiful prima donna sang
the role OF Auina in Belllnrs La Son
nambula." Beliniwas then in the height
Of his popularity. and the exquisite
voice and the Ioveliness OF face and
figure Of the prima donna. together With
the music and the poetry OF the role.
combined TO captivate his maJestysl
fancy. King Ferdinand was old enough
and experienced enough 20 know he
was in love. and he lost no time IN
making the acquaintance Of the singer.
Now. King Ferdinand was a mar OF
leisure and had plenty OF time 20 devots
TO lovemaking His wife. Maria ia Gle
ria II. the hereditary ruler OF Portugal,
had on her death left te hiTa the gov
eminent % AA4t NNNAANAF "sAAAt Ns+N my
ity OF Dom Pedro V. the heir 70 the
throne Dom Pedro at this time had
come into his inheritance. and his Ia
Their. King Ferdinand. at his own re-
quest. had retired from public life.
Therefore there were no reasons Of
state to interfere with his romance.
Elise Hensler. however. received his at
tentions very discreetly. She was i'm
L ~ rgk ~
asked her TO be his wife she was pre-
pared 10 accept him. King Ferdinand
was ready TO marry her in the face OF
any protests which his family might
have to make but they had none. HIS
marriage with an opera singer would
remove him more than ever out OF 20
itical life and was accordingly smiled
upon by the royal family OF Portugal
During his years OF regency King Fer
dinand had ruled wisely and well.
though in the troublous state IN which
Portugal then existed there was always
danger Of a revolution
June TO- 1852. Elise HenEier became
the wife OF King Ferdinand H.s
daughter-in-law. Queen Maria Ia Pa.
was present ST the wedding and after
The ceremony kissed the bride The lat
ter nd1 ITfAtVGaaF bF1AA II NNAAaA-
ess OF Edla by King Ferdinand's broth
er. the Duke Of SaIe-Coburg-Gotha. In
order that her rank might be mors IN
accordance with his. Gifts we're re-
ceived from royalty all over the world.
and so the Cinderella story seemed
complete
The king and bis wife spent nearly ali
their time at the chateau of Cintra. one
of the beautiful royal residences. There
they led an IDEAL existence. surrounded
byaH that wealth. luxury and royal hon.
ors could give. The palace Is encircisd
by magnificent gardens. and these were
a special care of the klng. for he was
a great botanist and a lover OF rare
plants The queen and the royal fam
ily of Portugal became greatly attach
81 70 Ferdinand's wife. while she car
ried herself with a modest dignity
which many a princess might have imi-
isted With profit.
Thirteen years ago King Ferdinand
died. and ever since his widow has lived
ia retirement in her palace.