The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-17

IsBoN, August 16-(special. )-Twice
threatened with assassination, GO
ing in hourly danger of bodily
harm, arrested and thrown into prison.
Wnere she was kept for almost eight
nonths awaiting trial reduced to her
last penny in her efforts to do the work
she has marked out for herself, the brav-
est woman in Portugal resolutely stands
her ground. While youthful Manuel and
his well hated mother are pink teaing in
the safety of their English home while
the aristocracy of Portugal have fed to
the four corners of the world before the
aNenging hand of the republic, this lone
woman. a daughter of one of the great
est of titled Portuguese families, has re-
fused to bulge.
Dona Constance Telles Da CANA has
naved all these dangers because she has
big heart. 1t is not through any excess
slve loyalty to the Bourbons that she has
rlsked her all. The daughter of the Count
Of Cascaes and the granddaughter of the
Marquis of MIA her family has more
than its share of blue blood. In unbroken
senerations she traces her line back TO
Nasco Da CANA, explorer of India, a hero
of whom Portugal through all the ages
since has been Justly proud. Her family
werf intimately associated with the royal
family. many Of them holding appoint
waiting to Queen Maria Pia.
But while her relations were within the
charmed circle, Dona Constance had lit
tie sympathy with the court She seldom
made an appearance at even the more
important court functions. Instead she
gathered around her at her home small
but select circle of men and women, who,
like herself. were interested in literature
music, travel and in philanthropy.
Arose in Revolt
Thus her life might have run its smooth
course to the end had not Lisbon risen
in revolt against the extravagances of
Queen Amelia. Thousands of those inti-
mately connected with the court fled with
Manuel and his mother while others who
wished to remain in the stricken country
and do their part toward building a bet
ter and a happier future soon followed.
forced out by the enmity of the more
radical republicans But Dona Constance
was made of sterner stuff. She knew that
she had work TO do in the new order and
she was not long in deciding what it was
to be.
With the coming of the republic, and es-
pecially with the coming of the two at
tempts that were later made to re-estab-
lish the monarchy, hundreds of prisoners
were taken. These were thrown into the
only prisons available-in the majority of
cases dark, damp holes, which under
years of monarchical neglect had long
before ceased to be fit for human habta-
ticn. From these death traps the polit-
icai prisoners cried aloud for help. 10
make matters worse the machinery of jus
tice, none too easy working under the
monarchy, disorganized by the political
uplleaval now, with the unexpected in
crease of cases awaiting trial, became
clogged. with the result that scores of
prisoners against whom there was little
oc no evidence were kept months in foul
prisons.
Here was Dona Constanca's work ready
10 her hand. She would succor these po-
ltical prisoners. Many of them We're of
her own class, reared in ease and COM
fort, whose greatest trial in prison was
in being compelled to wear prison gar
ments and eat the common food of the
criminals who were their companions.