Evening star., 1924-05-04
Senorita Davila Named
For Heroine $ Role In
Opera Aida, by Verdi
Has Resided In Washington
Since 1920, When She
Came as Bride From Porto
Rico.

The handsome young wife OF
MIR. Felix Cordova Davila of Manai
Porto Rico, has taken until recently
a minor part in social affairs, for she
has been mourning the death of q
young daughter about two years old
There is another infant daughter
who was born in Washington just a
month ago, and who will soon be
christened with all the state per-
families. Her name, however, has
been selected, and she is to be called
for the heroine in the great Verdi
opera aida" Sonora Davila has
been in Washington since 1920, when
she came as 4 bride, after her hus-
band. after being resident commits
Sioncr for four years, was elected to
represent Porto Rico as a delegate III
the American Congress. She was,
sionGr, Senorita Patria Martinez, and
she comes of d family prominent in
the former domain of Spain and In
this country as we'll.
Sonora Davila has two brothers
living in New York, DR.. Arthur
Martinez, who is a rising young
physician. who made all his studies
in the American metropolis, and a
younger brother. Frank Martinez,
who is in business. A young sister
is to be married this evening, and
the entire connection of Davila, Mar
tinez and Lopez will witness the
ceremony in the lovely old Spa nish
church of New York city. which has
been the scene of so many interest
ing events associated with Latin
Americans. The bride is Miss Alice
Martinez, and her husband-to-be is
Capt. Antonio Lopez, L. 5. A. a re-
ception will be held Immediately
after the ceremony, at which several
hundred guests are to be entertained.
The delegate from Porto Rico and
Sonora Davila left Washington for
New York on Friday, and will be
the guests of Nine. Martinez, who
has come from her home in Managua
for the nuptials. Capt. Lopez is TAX
ing his bride to Marion, S. c., for
the honeymoon, and he will later
spend some weeks in Porto Rico,
where he and his bride have many
relatives.
Educated in Convent.
Sonora Davila and her sister were
educated in st. Elizabeth'S Convent,
near Lakewood. n. j., and, in conse-
quence, both ladies are practically
bi-lingual. Though many Cuban and
Porto Rico families send their daugh-
ters to this country to be educated,
St EliZabeth's Convent has not been
patronized by them extensively, since
no Spanish at all is spoken, and the
SEQ and more boarding pupils are
almost exclusively Americans. But 1T
was selected for this reason, since no
one would understand Spanish, even
If the sisters spoke it. They are
fluent conVersationalistS, and few can
detect an accent in the wife of the
Porto Rican delegate. She is partial
to American papers and books and
visits Congress quite frequently, now
that her health is restored.
Senior Davila is a native of Vega
Baja, which is in the northwestern
part of the island. Sonora. however.
comes from rich and fertile coffee
district, which is to the south. but
both she and her husband know every
inch of the historic island, which
was the scene of the first landing of
Columbus in the northern hemis-
phere. Senor Davila is scholarly and
eloquent. and was for some years on
the bench of his native land, and his
reputation as a lawyer was estab-
lished before he had reached his
middle twenties. The Davilas have a
pleasant and hospftable home out
18th street northwest, and theY are
popular in the congressional set and
in Latin American circles as well.
They anticipate an active spring and
early summer as many friends and
relatives are expected in Washington
towards the first of June.