Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-10
MISS STEWART MAY
BECOME A QUEEN

~ FOrtugaIS throne as queen.
Miss Anita Stewart, who recently
married the Prince Miguel de Braganza.
is through her husband in direct line
to the place. and In connection with her
wedding ceremony every precaution was
taken so that later, should the oppor-
tunity open for her. there would be no
obstacle in the way.
This is said to have been largely due
to the planning Of her mother. Mrs.
James Henry Smith, who IL sanguine
that as a result of the ceremony held In
the little chapel of ST. Lawrence, Ding
wall, Scotland, an American girl may
vet be exalted to the second highest
place in the land now ruled by Manuel.
Just prior to the wedding Of the couple
it will be remembered that the Emperor
Francis Joseph created MISS stewart
princess. This was then thought to be
merely a pretty act OF courtesy on the
part of the Austrian monarch in favor
of his relative, the bridegroom, but now
it develops that there was more serious
purpose behind it. =
This was part Of the work of prepara-
ton.
AS q plain American girl, even with the
enormous wealth Of her mother behind
her, the bride could never have hoped
to ascend the Portuguese throne, but
as princess Of Austria there could be
no valid objection raised to her.
When announcements were first made
that the Duke of Braganza intended to
take for wife the daughter of the wealthy
Mrs. James Henry Smith of New York 1t
was said that marrying the, beautiful
American heiress meant that the duke
must sacrifice all his pretensions to the
throne on behalf of himself and his sue
cessors.
But an entirely different story develops
from information furnished by those VINO
gained the intimacy Of the prince during
his stay in the Scottish highlands.
Far from intending to resign any or
his hopes, the prince Is really very am
bilious to become king. and though he is
loyal to the present regime. and would
commit no improper act in order to ad-
vance his prospects. nevertheless he IS
anxious to reign providing the chances OF
life operate in his favor.
In arranging the wedding ceremony the
prince did not make the slightest con-
cealment of his hopes Had the ceremony
taken place in Lisbon. with all the high
est mobiles of the court In attendance and
with the king and queen OF the realm,
there, the royal significance Of the union
could not have been more strongly EN-
phasized.
The first striking incident came when
he insisted on following the Portuguese
custom Of having two wedding rings.
When he was questioned on that point
he said:
IT do not wish in any detail that our
wedding should violate one Of the laws
that are laid down for the ruling person
ages of my land. Should it come later
that there may be summons to the throne
for me. I desire 1t that not one legal
objection can be raised, that I shall have
conformed in every. particular with the
And so the princess has one ring and
the prince the other.
Three lives stand between the Bra
ganzas and the realization OF their am
ries and has issue there will ever be a
chance that the number will be decrea sed
First of all is King Manuel the boy
ruler of the nation.
How dramatically he came to the throne
through the streets Of the city, when
Carlos, the king. and Louis, the crown
prince, were stricken down by anarchists
This brought to the throne the boy who
too young to wed, nevertheless his mar
riage in a short time is assured, for diplo-
macy bothers not with questions Of youth
nor romance in determining who are suit
able matches for each in order to forward
the interests of nations
But until Manuel marrfes and has chill
dren there are only two lives between
himself and the husband Of the American
girl who aspires to the throne.
Both of these men are well ad-
ganza, the father Of the husband Of the
former Miss Stewart, the other is Dom
Pedro, the kings uncle.
Dom Pedro Is confirmed bachelor. He
is aging rapidly and he does not enjoy
the best Of health. It Is, indeed, not prob
able that he will long be in the way.
AS for de Braganza, father-in-law OF
the American princess, It is known that
he has no great yearning to wear the
crown that brought the violent death of
the last Incumbent OF the throne. and it
Is whispered that should 1t come to him
he would gladly. by route OF abdacation.
transfer It to his son. This Is the present
situation, and 1t IL one that offers album
dant hopes for the American girl who
would be queen.
To be in the direct line Of succession
in such cases means much, for statecraft
brings about many lightning changes, and
there is no telling at what instant some
upheaval in Portugal might enforce the
changing Of monarchs.
Should this take place. what a marvel
Gus triumph it would be for the mother
Of Miss Stewart, and what a never-to-be-
forgotten vindication for the name
Smith!
Smith, name deraded for many a
year as the commonsst OF American IT,
tles-to be worn by the mother of the
first American queen!
The wealth of Uncle Sans rnultimill!on-
aires has accomplished much. It has
carried the daughters of this nation to
the possession of coronets: 1t has put
them in the most exclusive life Of the
capitals of Europe; 1t has made them fig
ures at all the grand ceremonials of Lon
don, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Rome; but it
has never yet sufiiced to make one OF
them partner in the possession Of
throne.
Once an American girl married the
brother OF the worlds greatest ruler at
that time. Napoleon Bonaparte.
She was Miss Patterson Of Baltimore,
and she became the bride OF Jerome Bo
parte when he came to this country.
The wedding was legal; 1t had Issue;
there was a child. But the stern EN-
peror Napoleon declined to recognize the
claims of the American wife, and forced
a divorce that put stigma on her. The
weak young Jerome, unable to resist the
powerful orders OF his brother. gave way
and married princess.
1t was not until many years after that
the mother forced the courts OF France
to recognize the validity Of her claims
and the legitimacy Of her child.
But should Bra gamma and his bride come
to the throne there can be no legal OBJ
jecttons to her, for every fietail Of the
law has been compiled with.