Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-04
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 Ia
aware Of the most brilliant alliance ever
contracted by an American woman. He.
side II the glcries OF the dukedom OF
Marlborough or OF Manchester pale into
inslgnIncancc. For IL not nm American
woman queen 'iowagcr Of Porturnt,
The story OF q poor Boston girls rise
from oDacurlty to a throne reads like a
romance. She was singer. Elise Hons.
Ter by name. and waa born In a tlttl.
house In Pleasant street. Boston. In fgls
She was pretty and gentle aud endowed
with n voice 80 lovely thnt when auite
young girl she was engaged 10 siur n,
the historic Park Street church, which
had "a wealthy and arlsiocratlc conrre.
cation.
The remarkable quality OF her voice
attracted the attention Of some wealthy
musical dilettanti In the CONGREGATION
and they united In a subscription 10
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 n brilliant one. So splendid a sue.
cess did she score that she nj once re-.
celved advantageous offers TO sling in
the capitals Of Europe. and she sailed
away from her native land. never 10
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. He
was n widower. his wife. Queen Maria
dn Gloria II. having died In 1868. The
young and beautiful prima donna sang
the role Of Amina In Belilnis Ia Son.
nambula." Bcllini was then In the height
Of his popularity, and the exquisite
voice aud the ioyoilnoss Of face and
figure OF the prima donna, together with
the music and the poetry Of the role.
combined TO captivatc his maiesty's
! fancy. King Ferdinand was old enough
and experienced enough TO know h.
was In love. and he lost no time In
making the acquaintance Of the singer.
Now, King Ferdinand was man Of
leisure and had plenty OF time 10 devote
20 iovemaking. Ills wife. Maria dR Olo-
ria n. the hereditary ruler of Portugal.
had ON her death left TO him the fov-
eminent OF the country until the major
ity Of Dom Pedro V. the heir To the
throne. Dom Pedro nj this time had
come Into his inheritance. and his Ia
Their. King Ferdinand. at his own TO-
quest, had retired from public lie.
Therefore there were no reaaons ~
state 20 interfere with his rouance
Elise Hensier. however. received his at
tcniions very discrcetiy. She was i'm
pressed BY his devotion, and when he
asked her TO be his wife she was pre-.
pared Co accept him. King Ferdinand
was ready 10 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 po.
iiticaI life and was accordingly smiled
upon by the royal family of Portugal
During his years Of regency king Fer
dinand had ruled wisely aud well,
though In the troubiour state IN which
Portugal then existed there was always
danger OF revolution and a change Of
rulers.
June TO- 1863. Elise Hensier became
the wife of King Ferdinand. HIS
daughtcr-in-iaw. queen Maria da Pa
was present % the wedding and after
the ceremony kissed the bride. The lat
ter had previously been created Count
esu Of Edla by King Ferdlnand's broth
or. the Duke OF Sase-coburg- Gothn. IN
order that her rank might be more IN
accordance with his. Gifis were re-
ceived from royalty NIL over the world,
and 10 tho Cinderella story seemed
complete.
The king ana his wife spent nearly all
their time at the chateau Of clntra, one
Of the beautiful royal residences, There
they led an Ideal existence. surrounded
by all that wealth. luxury and royal hon
ora could give. The palace IL eneircled
by magnificent gardens, and these were
4 special care Of the king, Cor he was
a great boianlrt and lover OF rare
plants. The queen ana the royal fam
ily OF Portugal became greatly attach
! ed to ferdlnand'a wife. while she eaf'
rled herself with modest dignity
which many a princess might have imi'
tated with pront.
Thirteen years hFo King Ferdinand
died and ever since his widow has lived
Ia retirement In her palace.