The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-07-18
COnkling and Mrs. Sprague.

| pendent ct the Louisville Courier journal,
it may not be amss to take some notice
of the gossip. Both lady and gentleman
are well known outside of Washington,
as we'll as in this city, where they Doth
have passed many evcnt(ul years. One
writer on the subject says that 1t is a
Washington custom for husbands to 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.. Buchanan's
administration, and the other two of later
date.
Senator Sprague made one memorable
speech while he was in tine Senate. AS
we'll as l remember, after so many years,
it was speech against capitalists, and
in favor of labor. This was strange, as
he represented capital. | forget how he
logged it in, but he denounced Washing
tor 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 Spanker, 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
so clever, so 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 even
fate. Had Mrs. SprAgue such husband
as the Senator from New York, she would
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 a wife with only lovely womanly
attributes. She has a pure woman's do
mestic traits of character. She and her
daughter, who is one of the sweetest
specimens of lovely young girlhood, keep
aloof from the wicked capital, and make
home pleasant for the man of the world
and disappointed politician, when,
wearied and disguised, he retires to
purer atmosphere. Mrs. Sprague's hus-
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 eX Senator, has de-
voted himself to business. He and his
wife have appeared to be on the most
| friendly terms. He visits her at Edge
wood, and she makes calls upon him at
Providence, r. l. Mr.. Chase purchased
Edgewood few years before his death,
and built a 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 Elgewood. When the board
of public works was improving the out
skirts OF the city, Mrs. Sprague, or per-
haps her father. wished the Improvements
to extend to Edgewood. which was to be
cassed 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 coutis
Gated, as had been done for persons less
prominent. Now, why is II woman gift
ed with beauty, intellect, and the art of
fascinating, if they are not to be used in
self-defense in just such case! The
Senator from New York is by no
means a champion of women. Ladies
may call at the capitol, and send
card to him, but in nine cases ont
of ten he will refuse to see the lady.
He will join Mrs. Spraguc 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
farmer for six months rent due the
lady, 90 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
tractcd attention. Gossips handy their
names, and neither seems to care two
straws what is said. They just keep on
the same way, aud 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 Solons. 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 necessity
of woman understanding the art Of man
aging men. 1t is easily done if the woman
has beauty, and has made this her
speciality. If Senator Conkling had ever
been known to perform an act of kind
ness except from selfish motives, interest