The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-06

Boston. Nov. e.-Miss Anna Perkins
elade. niece of the Dowager Queen OF
Portugal, was married In Brookline
few days ago in a beautiful dress given
70 her by her aunt, the only American
woman who ever became crowned
queen, and who now lives in luxurious
privacy on the beautiful Pena estate at
the mouth of the Tagus, in Portugal
The bride, whose aunt's career was al
most as romantic and magic rs that OF
Cinderella, has no royal ambitions. She
has married plain American. He Is all
the king ! want" she says.
The dowager-queen, who gave Miss
Slade her wedding dress and wished that
she might be happy, was Elise Hensler.
She was born Ga years ago in Boston.
Her father was a poor Jewish tailor
who lived in a back street Often the girl
who was TO be queen. and her sister,
Louise, delivered clothes at the homes of
their fathers patrons. They carried TO its
destination raiment that they had collect
ed for treatment in accordance with the
sign in the window of their fathers shop:
Pants Neatly Pressed"
HER VOICE WAS HER FORTUNE.
Elise. who was to be queen. had
younger sister. When the elder was le
years old she gave a concert In Spring
field. this state. where the family were
then living. and IL was her introduction
20 the musical world
The old tailor. eager for the success OF
his daughter, took her to Europe soon
after she was IS years old She sang al
La Scala and then in New York
SANG BEFORE THE KING.
The turning point in her career was
when she sang in the opera house of San
Carlos in Lisbon. The opening night OF
the opera was on the birthday of Don
Fernando. the king, and he sat In the
royal box with his eyes fastened upon the
fair American on the stage
lt was night OF triumph for the
tailors daughter. The king who had
married his first wife in the year of
Elises birth. was himself a musician.
lie be sme attracted by the voice and
manner OF the girl from over the ocean.
They met at the palace Of the king $
aunt. the Infanta Isabella. Don Fernan-
DO threw himself at the feet OF the Bos-
ton girl.
in Europe they keep up their old.tlme
theories that blue blood runs I'm the veins
or kings OF hue deeper than that I'm
those OF ordinary folk. To make their
social levels more equal Don Fernando
l.
Coburg. TO make her Countess OF Fdla
Don Fernando was first cousin 10 prince
Albert. the husband OF Queen Victoria.
The Queen Dowager and tailor's dauRh-
ter ~, therefore, a connect nv nnar.
riage OF the Prince Of Wales rho c..
man emperor. the Czar OF Russia and a
handful OF other kings and mobiles.
LIKE vICToRIAs ALBERT
Don Fernando. Ike Prince Alhor,
might be termed "sauaw man since hr
obtained all hts honors by his nnarria es
lie had welded Portugals queen. but I'm.
stead Of remaining Prince Consort, as Li.
bert did. the title Of king was hestov,sd
upon him. When his son succeeded ,s
the throne he became a sort OF Dowage,
king OF Portugal
To marry the American, Don Fernand,
had 20 obtain the consent Of his son. Tb,
American queen was not regarded a,
royal by the royal family. and aithoug,
she was the stepn other Of the king. hcI,
an inferior social position at the court
IL was a happy marriage. however. A.
Don Fernando was a man with charm
OF manner and temper and OF "A tempsra
rnent exactly suited 10 that of HIS Bos
ton bride
For bis wife he fitted up the old con
vcnt Of Pena. built on n mountain ~ Gin
ira. l5 miles from Lisbon amid gran,
and picturesque SURROUNDINGS
in the chapel Of the convent the mar
rfage was solemnized. Don Fernando an,
his wife led an idylic life. free fror
every care. domestic or political Tn
king devoted himself 20 gardening an
study. Their life at Cintra was SO happ,
mat In is@ Don Fernando said that h