The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-09-18

T]HE mystery Of why the American
Duchess OF Oporto. who was the
= much-married Mrs. Nevada Van Val.
kenburgh. left London, came quietly TO
America, stayed few weeks and as quiet
" departed, has at last been dispelled.
The visit was mystery because II d not
usual for Mrs. Van vaikenbufsh, who be-
fore she became a royal princess. was
known as Americas Ten Million Dollar
widow. TO appear in the country OF her
birth without giving out a number Of di-
versifed opinions about things in general
II now leaks out that the purpose OF the
American Princess's visit was an expen-
siye and certainly weird tribute to the
memory Of her royal last husband. the
uncle of ex-King Manuel Of Portugal
Prince Of Braganza. and the next In sue
cession to tho Portuguese throne when the
revolution kicked that throne into the dis
card. Exiled from his country and denied
by hard-hearted republicans the honor due
his birth, his widow determined that he
should not be without them in death.
crownless he had lived. but crowned he
should lie-indefinitely!
And he should have his place AMONG his
ancestors in the historic mausoleum Of the
Portuguese kings at Lisbon, where the. de-
parted royalties Of the former kingdom lie
in Theoretically sealed coffins that date
back hundred years before America was
discovered.
Furthermore, republic or no republic, her
husband should have a funeral BETTING his
rank and commensurate with the gratitude
she felt for lifting her from the compare
tive obscurity Of an American dollar
princess" into the ranks Of real royalty.
But how could all this ambitious pro
gramme be effected?
The Duchal1nxpe Oporto's life has been
one that has trained her in the overcoming
Of obstacles. One Of six sisters. and borr
I'm little Western town Of poor but emf
nently respectable parents. her first prob
lem was how to get away from It. she
married Lee Agnew. an inventor. they
came East. The romance did not progress
wen and she divorced him. Her youthful
bcauty and charm had won the heart OF
william Hayes Chapman. many times .
niIlionaire, and the day after her divorce
was granted she married him. Chapman
was then seventy-six years old. He only
survived the marriage for Q year and died,
leaving her With q fortune Of at least ten
million dollars. She went abroad. ana Of
thirty. endowed with riches and beauty,
created a sensation; became. indeed. the
rage IN Paris and other European capitals,
and had in her train many royal and noble
suitors.,
Then Philip Van valkenbursh. who was
f,fty.ive and worth about twenty million
dollars. paid court to her. He cut her out
from among the titled swains and the two
we're welded at the st. Regis Hotel IN New
Work. But after few months this 70
nance also went wrong and Mrs. Van Val
lenbureh secured divorce with very
snBstantiai settlement. n
Then. with more millions and her beaut!
nnimpaired, she became the bride OF ex'
King Manuels uncle, the Prince OF Bra
sanza ana Duke of Oporto. The little
Western girl, one OF six sisters. was ?
naval Hiehness and entitled to all that
went with the rank, for her husbands roy
slty was as real as the dollars and beauty
which had secured him.