The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-10-25
olRt WHO MARRIED A KING
Romance Of OLE Portugal Harking
Back to Springfield.

Back to Springfield.
The recent deposition of King Man
uel Of Portugal and the events in the
young kings life that led up to it will I
no doubt bring back to the minds of
some OF the older residents OF the
city the story Of Elsie Hensler. the-i
Springfield girl, who married king /
and became the Countess Edla. The |
king she married was Don Ferdinand
II Of Portugal, a greatgrandfather Of
King Manuel. Elsie Hensler lived In
this city about 60 years ago. probably
for about four years. Her father.
Conrad Hensler, was a humble tailor
and according to the directories of
Springfield In 1S4S and 1852 first con-
Quoted a small shop on Stockbridge
street and later was employed as a
tailor with G. M. Law. who conduct
ed tailoring establishment on Mar
ket street.
II is supposed that Mr.. and Mrs.
Hensler came from Switzerland to
New York when quite young. Con-
rad was probably a German Jew and
Elise was not without the racial char
acteristics. IT is said that Elsie
or eliza as she was called was born
In Boston in 1886. Just how soon the
Henslers came to this city Is also in
doubt. there being no record Of the
residents prior to that time. AT all
events they lived here several wears
and are distinctly remembered. Elise
twas one of the trio that composed the
North church choir when that church
was organized The Henslers we're
humble peonle and lived simply. The
DAUGHTERS Elise and Louise. were well
received here and were given good
musical education. especially Elise,
who had uuite remarkable voice.
Signor Guidi an italian. Mt the time
n well known teacher Of the voice.
took an interest in Elise and II was
when cignor Gnidi wen 10 BOSTON that
tho Hensiars went there. largelv
thronoh his Influence He believed
thot Elise had future as singer
land wiehed har 10 no whore no conld
CONTINUE teachinc he- Tho Hensler
Girls wont among pood peonle Of Bos-
ton and louise who is remembered
&c the rreftier ~ tho two. Girls mar
'red wealthy Roston physician nam
Cd Glade
Ti'Sa uenslar after har removal
with ho- family n Ros'on. continued
her etudias She then became n sin
rrer ord doroer. thnueh unfortunately
the cloes ~ hor worlr was not sunh ps
ltn auour = wonderful futuro How
avar eha was nerSeverant IN ha~ WORK,
ard rrcoreeead 81 we'll that ehe not
loniv anroarad IN corcnrt IN tho lar0a
oiiles ~ THE ccun'rv hu4 alsn in Tu--
oro whara che sano hafcra rovaltv
" vas ,rhfa sirc'no IN ishnn. sew
orol voa~c ns.~~ tho aoa4h 70 N~nen
Noria ,bat r,'no rard'napd henrd
bc- vcico nud sais Tho attraction that
'od hi,., ~ -',nrrv har.
rordino.,l wac tho +i.niar kiro ~
D~~.nc~l ha~in~ haau Tho enoord hue
N",-S - .Nrae- Na~i~ IT NJ port-~oi
rordinand ,ra-ried Nraria IN 1905.
vrLon hn v.as On Tho cuaar d'ed IN
tc=o ond no was raqorf dur'rg tho
ITfffNCFf'N ~ I'VE cfNV RaFfFff W.
voc no Fother ~ tho araaes'-atad
viro rn~'os tho Grandfather NJ tho
lderored Zinc Manuel Tho ra0orcv
--dad IN tos5 and IN Tune IN. 1860 no
lnnrried Mics Hens'er Whom tha
rr~onoar nownrs dnridei tha tiro
had como ~ -pssore cuair W = NOV
>rohr. following tho overthrow Of the
ID
sore m ro-S onneida-ahia ~~oser-e
was hrnu0h. IN hno- uro~ TerdirarS
10 'nduoo hi-r N acoont Tho vacant
'hrcra. p-. h'e vito could rnva- no
~,oe~ 90 crair. o~d 70 &c noes'hia shnt
shis foot air,na 'ndueod hi--, ~ -aFueo
no tnnw fhat mo avioencies ~ etato
-rouid -ornira fhat ha -,a-~v ro-.,o
], darohto- ~ roval house. 'hortoh ~
to uers,or would aiwavs he countess
rd'H With nc wuch honor ard state
ae ~ choea - o'va hnr.
THE ahsoi,.9o rAfrsai On his ~a-4 ~
nrcnnt tho throra ~ cnoin With III
.ho ror,n "-d sriardor 90 ROYALTY IN
ovohnnSe Cor tho -n-,antic life that
no Voc nrinr with HE r,o-ooratic
Vito. nod far.roach'-~ norsenuar zoe.
Tho co-nlications and iealousies re-
sultant IN the attemnt IN End kino
qccentable tn all the mowers helned
10 bring on the Franco Prussian war
| and Alsace and Lorraine went hack
10 Germany. whence thew had been
wrested by Napoleon Ronaparte.
In consequence of these peculiar
historical facts, which geographically
practically changed all western Eur
ope, Elise Hensler. Countess Edla. be
came famous throughout the world as
"the woman who changed the map oI
Europe" During the life of the kInt
they lived In the beautiful castle d
Cintra. II Is certain that their III,
was above reproach. In 1885 the kinE
! died and after that the countess liv
led in retirement In n cottage near tn,
lcastle.
Some OF her Springfield school
mates are still living. for she wat
, zone OF the early pupils OF Ariel Par
IRISH In the high school, which stool
on the site Of the present police build
Ing on Court street. The name an
pears in q catalogue OF the alumni Is
I sued In 1857 properly spelled Elise
. though she was known 10 her school
y mates as Eliza. In her young girl
; hood she was figure at concerts an,
! entertainments given by the higl
u school pupils. II she Is still livinI
she is about "a years old-Sprine
? Geld Republican.