Evening journal., 1912-12-21
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Monarch Who Preferr-
ed his American Vile to
a Throne
BY Holland.

AS l stated yesterday, Thomas Ball,
one Of the great sculptors of the
United States, who, before he became
a sculptor, had gained distinction as
a aritone singer who frequently ap-
peared with the famous Handel and
Haydn Society Of Boston IN oratorio,
was the unsuspecting instrumental
ity by which Elise Hensler, a Spring
field, Mass. girl. was brought from
obscurity first TO an important choir
position in Kings chapel choir of
Boston Mr.. Ball had heard Miss
Hensier when she was only about
Is years Of age sing in her music
teachers rooms at Springfield, and
was so greatly pleased with her
voice and manner that when, by mere
chance, he met her in Boston and
learned that she was seeking a choir
position there. he introduced her to
the choir master of Kings chapel,
who engaged her. After singing
there two or three years the mem
bers of that congregation subscrib-
ed to a purse which was large enough
to enable Miss Hensler to go to Eu
rope and perfect her voice. She af-
terward appeared in opera in Italy,
and then was engaged for lead ng
operate roles at the Royal Opera
House at Lisbon, Portugal. There
she attracted the attention of Ferdi-
nand, who was husband Of Queen
Maria and the regent during the min
ority of his son. After the death of
the queen, Ferdinand married Miss
Hensler, having created her the
Countess Edla.
Mr.. Ball was fond of relating this
romantic experience to his friends,
and he was especially gratified to be
able to say that the married life of
this American girl in one of the most
ceremoniOus of European court cir
cles was a very happy life and that
she was highly esteemed not only by
the royal circle, but by the people Of
Portugal.
81 never met Miss Hensler after
she left the United States for the
purpose of studying voice culture in
Europe" Mr.. Ball was accustomed to
say.
81 Just missed seeing her in Italy,
she having left Italy a short time
before ] left there and I should say
about a year after she made her sue
cessful debut in opera.
"But | had good reason to know
that she remembered me very pleas
antly and very gratefully. She ac-
knowledged to American friends who
met her that she owed her career in
music to my kindness to her when
she was a girl.
when I was in Europe. shortly
after the marriage Of Miss Hensler to
Ferdinand. made some inquiries
about the Portugal court, being a lit
tie curious to know what the exact
facts about this marriage were
81 was told that when Miss Hens
ler first sang in the Royal Opera
House at Lisbon she was greatly adj
mired both as a singer and as a wom-
an by Ferdinand and by Othermem-
bers OF the royal circle. AT the time
Miss Hensler appeared in opera al
Lisbon Ferdinand was a widower. His
wife, Queen Maria. died several years
before Miss Hensler went to Portu-
Sgal In 1869 Ferdinand was little
over so years of age, Miss Henslel
must have been about 81 or 80 years
of age Ferdinand proudly and open
~ paid his court to this accomplished
singer. There never was the slight
est breath of scandal. Ferdinand an
nounced that he was proud to have
gained her affection and her hand. III
was, in fact. so fond of her that wher
after the overthrow of the republic
/ about 1875, he was urged to accep
the throne he would not listen for al
instant to the proposition simply be
cause he could not, under Portugs
law. make his wife queen. He di
cause her to be made Countess Edls
and the lives Of this man OF royalt
and his American wife were idea
for, 7 think, about eighteen year,
The death of Ferdinand-I thin
about the same time that Genera
Grant died-terminated this Yer
happy marriage and I learned thf
although the Countess Edla was I
law no more than the morganati
wife of Ferdinand yet there was n
woman in Portugal more highly eI
teemed than She"