Monday, September 11, 2316

    Tracking the Infanta - 1893 (Part 1)

    June 9th, 1893
    K. Shaw
    Chicago, Illinois


    Infanta Eulalia of Spain
    The Chicago newspapers have been abuzz for weeks now about the upcoming visit of the Infanta Eulalia of Spain.  The World's Columbian Exposition is, after all, intended in part as a celebration of the arrival of Columbus on this continent and Eulalia is an indirect descendant of the woman believed to have funded that journey, Queen Isabella I.  

    The title of Infanta is given to all Spanish princesses. Her full name is Maria Eulalia Francisca de Asis Margarita Roberta Isabel Francisca de Paula Cristina Maria de la Piedad, and at twenty-nine years of age, she is the youngest member of the Spanish Monarchy.  Eulalia and her husband,  Antonio de Orleans y Borbón, were received at the White House late last month, along with other members of the official Spanish delegation, including a descendent of Christopher Columbus.

    Chicago society was eager to prove itself equal to the challenge of hosting royalty, so Eulalia discovered, upon her arrival in the city, that she had a full itinerary of dinners and luncheons in her honor straight through until her planned date of departure.  Press accounts concerning the Infanta were glowing for the first few days, although readers of the Tribune were a bit suprised to learn her Highness is a smoker. Stories hailed her as beautiful, gracious, and even democratic, noting that she was willing to dispense with the typical trappings of royalty and preferred a simple handshake to a curtsy or a bow.  

    Some of her hosts and hostesses have now, however, dubbed Eulalia the Infanta Terrible.
    After several full days of official duties, Eulalia has decided that enough is enough.  She toured the Exposition yesterday with Chicago mayor, Carter Henry Harrison, but this seems to have simply whetted her appetite for more Fair and fewer formal engagements. With only a few days left before their planned departure, both she and Prince Antonio seem determined to enjoy what the Exposition has to offer. (They aren't especially inclined to tour the Exposition together, however.)  Earlier today, Eulalia decided to dine informally at the German Village on the Midway Plaisance rather than attend a formal luncheon being planned by the Committee on Ceremonies and if the official histories are correct, she will do so again tomorrow.  Apparently, she prefers frankfurters over fois gras.  


    Residence of Mr. and Mrs. Potter Palmer, aka Potter Castle
    Tonight, the Infanta was supposed to spend the entire evening at the home of Potter Palmer, but she put in a brief, perfunctory appearance and announced that she was leaving to walk around the Fair. And so, I am here at the Midway Plaisance this evening, disguised as a reporter, in hopes that she may be more willing to speak with a woman journalist than she has been to speak with the male reporters who have dogged her every step. I know from my research that she will later be a staunch proponent of women's rights, but I'm curious to learn whether she has already arrived at this sentiment or if it is something that will develop in the coming years.   I have left the Kodak camera behind, however, as I'm concerned that she may object to being photographed.  

    I'm also eager to get the scoop on tonight's dinner at the Palmer residence.  Because, whether it was intentional or not, the Infanta has apparently offended the unofficial First Lady of Chicago, Bertha Honoré Palmer, who also happens to be next on my research agenda.  Mrs. Palmer, the President of the Board of Lady Managers for the Exposition, is the reigning queen of Chicago society and the city's legend holds that the Infanta complained that she was expected to suffer the indignity of being entertained by an "innkeeper's wife."  There's no official record of that slur, however, and the Infanta toured the Exposition's Woman's Building with Mrs. Palmer earlier in the week, so I'm hoping to get the real story behind the rumors.
    Learn more about the 1893 Columbian Exposition and the Infanta Eulalia:
    Photo Credits:

    Posted by Tanggal 10:05 AM

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