Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1910-10-27


oMSN ganza, the eldest son OF
"" Prince Miguel. the pre-
tender TO the throne OF Portugal, and
grandson OF the man who actually
reigned as king TO that country from
1928 to 1894.
That question is being asked re-
peatedly today, now that the dynasty
of Braganza Coburg has been over
thrown by the revolutionary move
ment and King Manuel and the queen
mother have sought safety In flight
But. interesting as are the complica-
tons which confront one when he I'M
dertakes to investigate the history of
the royal family of Portugal, the con
tingencies which might admit of the
accession OF an American queen are
rather improbable of occurrence. and
they are not much more improbable
now that the republic has been pro-
claimed than they were on September
10 last. when the wedding took place
in Scotland.
The assassination Of King Carlos
and his eldest son, the heir apparent,
brought the present boy king to the
throne, and made the pretender and
his sons rather unwelcome in English
court circles. King Edward acquaint-
ed the Austrian emperor with his dis
pleasure that Portuguese revolution
should be fomented from Vienna, and
a revolution which. by inference at
lepst, might be identified with the
tragedy at Lisbon. The Duke of Bra
ganza thereupon was allowed to re-
sign his Office in the hussars, but his
sons were dismissed from their posts.
Ii was said that Prince MIGUEL was
looking for an heiress whom he might
marry. The story runs that he first
saw Miss Stewart when they were
febcw-passengers on a channel steam
er crossing from Calais to Dover. She
att scted him. He compassed all the
wiles known to the expert in the eff
fort to get an opening so that he
nj ht speak. None came. The young
lady and her mother kept a very
naughty attitude. But the mother and
daughter became very suspicious as
to the identity of the handsome young
that the guard lock them into their
railway carriage. But the persistent
prince took the same train for Lon
don, and when the ladies entered
their motor brougham he paid well
chauffeur who kept In sight OF their
carriage until 1t reached its destina-
ton.
Then all became easy The car
riage stopped in front OF a house in
Grosvenor Square. The identity OF
the Americans was quickly estab-
lished. The prince induced a friend
to take him to the house and perform
the necessary introductions. He made
his apologies for following them with
cleverness and suavity. He wanted
SO much to know them" He called
at the house a number OF times. The
mother did not think OF intentions"
until too late. When Ne declared them
there was a prompt refusal The
daughter must not enter upon the
life of political intrigue TO which the
wife of the prince would be destined.
But the affections of the young wom-
the consent of the mother was given.
Then I'm his turn the young prince
two weeks after the engagement to
Miss Stewart was announced made a
public denunciation TO all claims to
the throne of Portugal which he
might have been supposed 10 cherish.
Before the recent revolution, there
fore, the American bride can have
thought OF the crown Of Portugal as
but very distant possibility
hut now the republic has arrived
apparently. No one can say what the
future story of Portugal may be,
whether the republic will stay, or the
present royal family will come back.
or--and here lies the one possibility
of the American girl becoming a
queen--if the family of the pretender
will be called to the regal palaces of
the Braganzas. II is conceivable al
ways that the people will tire of the
newly-instituted form OF government.
that they will decide not TO allow
| King Manuel ii. 10 rule over them,
! and that they will invite the pretenl Ter
TO assume the throne which was re.
nounced by his father. II would not
be the first time in history that one
branch OF family has been exiled
and another put into power
That wedding in the little Scottish
church on September 10. 1909, was
hailed as the first royal wedding
which Scotland had known since the
( marriage of the ill-fated Mary, Queen
Of Scots. The people of the region
OF Dingwal made the occasion a
semi-public event. The town was
gaily decorated. and as big a bonfire
as ever blazed on a Scottish beacon.
hill was lighted on the slopes of Ben
| Wyvis, and around II danced the
| young people of the neighborhood to
Il a. xa,.aic Of hanninaa