Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-04
health, beauty. intelligence and all the

health, beauty. intelligence and all the
other essentials for o graceful queen. but
she is a Protestant and 1t is a serious
question whether she would be willing to
change her religion. Several of Queen VIC
torias granddAughters have done so, how
ever, includingl the czarina and her sister.
the widow of the late Grand Duke Sergius.
Both were LutheranS. but joined the Greek
Church before-t were married.
In all other respects everybody interested
recognizes that the Princess Victoria would
be a suitable match. and eminently quail
fed to Sit upon the throne of Spain. The
English newspapers are quite favorable to
the cholce. The Duke of Connaught and
his daughter, with other members of the
family have recently visited southern
SPAIN landing at Cadiz and going across
the peninsula via Seville, Cordova and
GRANADA to Valencia. where they resumed
their voyage to Egypt and are now the
guests OF Lord Cromer at Cairo. The fact
mat they did not go, to Madrid caused con-
siderable comment at the time, but it was
explained that their visit to the Spanish
capital mad been postponed for more favor
able weather on their return from Egypt in
the spring, when they intend to land at
barcelona and cross the upper part of the
peninsula, via Madrid to SanAndar. the
principal Atlantic seaport of northern
Spain.
another reason than the climate might
nave anected their plans. While the Duke
of Connaught and his daughter were bask-
ing in the sunshine of Andalusia, the Arch
duke Frederick of Austria a brother of
the mother queen of Spain. was her guest
at the royal palace in Madrid, accompanied
by his two daughters the elder of whom
the Archduchess Gabrielle, is also eligible
1or the hand of the king and has the sup
port OF the conservative element of Spain.
The Kings Cousin.
She Is several months younger than AL
phonso, and is gifted with all the graces
that could be desired. She is his first cou-
SIM The kings of Spain have usually mar
RED their cousins. That is the habit of the
Bourbon family, but the marriage of near
relations is discouraged by physicians and
the church Many people think that the
queen mother would like to see her son
marry her brothers child, and that she in
Vlted Ferdinand and his daughters to visit
Madrid IN order that the young people
might naturally acquire an affection for
each. other. But others are convinced that
her heart has for years been set upon a
union between Alphonso and his second
cousin. the Princess Louise, a daughter of
the late Count Of Paris, claimant for the
throne Of France, and aid de camp to Cen
eral Mcclellan during the civil war in the
United States.
Louise is one of the most beautiful prin-
cesses In Europe, two years older than AL
phonSO, and half Spanish. Her mother was
a daughter of the Duke of Montpenser,
sister of Mercedes, the first wife of AL
phonso XII. and her elder sisters are the
queen OF Portugal and the Duchess of
Aosta Of Italy. The mother, widow Of the
Count of Paris, is one of the wealthiest
women In Europe. She has large estates in
southern Spain near Seville, upon which
she spends most Of her winters, while in
summer she occupies splendid villa the
Italian lakes. For years she and her daugh-
tiers have been regular visitors at the royal
palace at Madrid. Louise and Alphonso
have been playmates from childhood and
many people who are intimate at the Span
tsh court believe that there has been an
understanding between their mothers all Of
this time
The Princess Victoria Louise only daugh-
ter of the Kaiser of Germany, has also been
mentioned as an eligible candidate for the
Spanish throne; but that is scarcely true,
because the young woman Is Protestant,
and is only thirteen years old.