, 1878-07-18
C0nkling and Mrs. Spraguc.

! pendent of the Louisville Courier Journal,
! it may not be ami.s to take some notice
of the gossip. Both Indy and gentleman
are we'll known outside Of Washington,
rs well as in this city, where they no,h
have passed many cventful years. One
writer on the subject says that it is Il
| Washington custom for husbands 10 see
but little of their wives, and not openly
object to their wives having aCknowl.
edged cavaliers. To this could say
that have never, during my long resi-
denCe here, known of but four Instances.
Two of these were during Mr. BuChannn's
administration, and the other two Of later
date
Senator SprNgue made one memorable
speech while he was in the Senate. As
well as | remember, after SO many years,
it was II speech against capitalists, and
in favor of labor. This was strange, as
he represented capital. | forget how he
lugged it in, but he denounced Washing
ton society, and said it was not safe for
husband to leave home in the morning
without barring the door. The suddenly
developed jealousy of Dolly" his wife,
Lady Gay Spankcr, was not more start
ling than was the idea of Senator Sprague
insinuating anything about his wife. And
perhaps the lady is only copy of the
dashing, fascinating Lady Gay, who was
50 clever, 50 frolicsome, and who refused
to be trammeled by what the world says.
If such man as Conkling had as ambi-
tious and fascinating a wife as Mr.,
Sprague, the pair could conquer oven
fate. Had Mrs. Spraguc such husband
as the Senator from New York, she wou Id
now be holding the highest position
which she has always coveted, and the
aim for which filled her heart during the
lifetime of her father. But Mr.. Conk-
ling has wife with only lovely womanly
attributes She has pure woman's do
mestic traits Of character. She and her
daughter, who is one of the sweetest
specimens of lovely young girhood, keep
aloof from the wicked capital, and make
home pleasant for the man of the world
and disappointed politician, when,
wearied and disgusted, he retires to n
purer atmosphere. Mrs. Sprague's nus
band has more good sense than was at
tributed to him during the two terms he
served in the Senate. Then he was ac-
counted grossly incorporate man, and
his wife was justified by many in her
seeming obliviousness to the appendage.
Since the failure of the Sprague mills,
William Sprague, the cx Senator, has de-
voted himself to business. He and his
wife have appeared to be on the most
friendly terms. He visits her at Ed ge-
wood, and she makes calls upon him at
Providence, r. 1. Mr.. Chase purchased
Edgewood few years before his death,
and built modest dwelling on the estate
The situation is very beautiful, and com
mands a fine view of the city. Mrs.
Sprague took Edgewood as her share of
her fathers estate. After her husbands
failure, her establishment in this city was
broken up, and she moved her choicest
articles to E1gewood. When the board
Of public works was improving the out
skirts OF the city, Mrs. Spraguc, or per-
maps her father, wished the Improvements
to extend to Edgewood, which was to be
clasSed as city property. No taxes have
ever been paid, and now they amount to
$50, 900. This is an inconvenient sum to
pay in lump, and Mrs. Sprague has no
wish that her property should be contis
Gated, as had been done for persons less
prominent. Now, why is woman gift
ed with beauty, intellect, aud the art of
fascinating, if they are not to be used in
self.defense in just such casel The
Senator from New York is by no
means a champion Of women. Ladies
may call at the capitol, and send
a card to him, but in nine cases out
of ten he will refuse to see the lady.
He will join Mrs. Sprague in committee
room, in the gallery, ride off with her in
her carriage, escort her about, engineer
her bill through the Senate, appear as
her counsel in Justices court, and sue a
farmer for six months rent due the
lady, go fishing at Great Falls, or do
anything else to win smile or be per-
mitted the honor of filling the position
of chief cavalier, and thus it has come
about that the great intimacy has at
tracted attention. Gossips handy their
names, and neither seems to care two
straws what is said. They just keep on
the same way, and Mr.. Clarkson Potter,
of New York, has introduced in the
House Committee the Senate bill for
the lady's relief from taxes, and every
body says they won't Fay cent if Mrs.
Sprague is not taxed like Others, and the
lady is quietly enjoying the triumph of
power over the nations SoIOns, and will
sail for Europe as soon as the bill for her
relief is duly passed and signed by the
President. And all this proves the henecessity
of woman understanding the art of man
aging men. It's easily done if the woman
has beauty, and has made this her
speciality. If Senator Conklng had ever
been known to perform an act Of kind.
ness except from selfish motives, interest
in Mrs. Sprague's behalf would not have
excited any comment but for so dig.
nifed and naughty Senator to plead a
lady's suit in a justice court for paltry
sum aroused people to question his mo-
tiyes. The farmer says that Mrs. Sprague
owes him $3.50 for eggs, butter, and
| ~ 4