Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-08-15
Mrs. SPrague's Explanation.

Mrs. SPrague's Explanation.
Providence Journal. August al
Inc 81 iqhlloWing oil extract from private letter
10 1r1end, has been presented to us for pub-
cation 1t scarcely need be said here that we
deeply regret that any exigency should have
warrant the publication OF statement OF such
painful nature:
As you must have surmtsed, Gov. Sprague's
dissolute life and dissipated habits long ago in
terrupted our marital relations, though have
striven haId, through untold humiliation and
pain, to hide from the world, for my chidren's
sakeS, the true conditions Of a blighted, miser-
able domestic life. About year ago even this
poor semblance abruptly eliminated, after a
disgraceful orgte and arrest at Nantasket Beach,
with the circumstances Of which many people
In Rhode Island are not unfamiliar. l then
sought with my little girls, the neighborhood
OF old friends, and the shelter OF my honored
within the shadow OF his tomb, felt more
secure, less unprotected. Here kindly sym
pathy sought me out and though covert NAL
ice pointed some cenSOriouS comments, relief
came, and our circumscribed means were ade-
quate to our simple and quiet mode Of life.
Governor Sprague'S irregularities having been
his embarrassed estate, the contribution toward
the maintenance OF myself and children, with
out word OF explanation to me, was suddenly
cut down to palpably Inadequate sum. Even
this was remitted but for few months, then,
owing to a complete rupture between Governor
Sprague and The trustee, all TemlttanceS ceased,
anu lOI SIX UlOUIuS PAST UO money mas Dnel
contributed towards the maintenance of his
family or household by Governor Sprague. In
addition to greater wrongs, unpaid trades peo-
ple to whom he was indebted, have been urgent
In their demands for payment but he gave no
heed to the Indebtedness, even answering,
when pressed by me to find way to meet these
just demands and relieve me Of opportunities,
that 81 must look to my powerful Washington
friends for aid" and, to my deep distress and
modification, permitted, after q long delay, q
bill for carriage hire for bis mothers use, during
q n In
gentleman who had recommended to us the
stable from which the carriage was hired
This and other more unmanly exhibitions
brutality Of recent tevents-repetitions OF SINH
lar scenes OF violence and outrage enacted in
former years-has finally driven us from the
with scandal too cruel to be endured without
redress. Gov. Sprague's causelesS and sham..
ful persecution OF the childrens teacher Is lit.
rally true, as be tells the story, the real animus
ness to be subjected to the restraint at the
table and In the household OBJ servances of the
constant presence Of gentleman The attempt
to complicate Mr.. Conkling with this matter is
absurd. The two men never met. / believe,
have never seen each other. Gov. Spragues Id
decent affront to the guests in the house was
whom had met In very precarious condition
Of health, en- route for Narragansett Pier in
d1c anced to go m to Canonchet for quiet and good
ernor sprague's threats Of murder to
be done,' at the imminent risk of his life.
Mr. Conklfng was, OF course. as unconscious as
l that Gov. Sprague sought occasion to enact
the tragic role OF the injured husband; for, at
their last meeting not long since, Gov. Sprague
had sought from Mr.. Conkling not only legal
counsel, but accepted at his hand favor such
In his determination to overthrow Mr.. Chafee
as trustee. and hoping to join forces with the
creditor interest to drive him from his post,
Gov. Sprague had carried away from the count
ing room OF A. & w. Sprague the books OF the
Quidnick company, refusing to return them.
Mr.. Chafee, In turn, refused, until these books
were to permit Coy spague to hold
course, refused to permit him to draw any
money. This was the situation of affairs which,
by coming to Rhode Island, Ihad hoped, through
some Influence or other brought to bear on Gov.
Sprague to help to set right, and to secure by
some means maintenance for the four children,
for whose wants and education have been
conference with counsel employed by the.
firm achieved no results. Professor Ltnck
under contract with me for three months, was
and dismissed We had no ostensib!e means
for living at Canonchet without incurrlng ad-
ditional Indebtedness, to which I refused
to be party. In this awkward aud
who had already been consulted by MI.
Sprague. and upon whose judgment and
advice ! have safely relied in my ownmatters,
point there was In this proposed programme OF
opposition, and what results were likely to fol-
low that would benefit or provide for the
for this purpose, and was awaiting Gov.
Sprague's return to seek an interview with him,
when the now notorious outbreak occurred II
any hostile words were exchanged between
Mr.. Conkling and Gov. Sprague at Canonchet,
they alone know what tney were for no one
else heard them. What transpired 10 the VII
lage do not know beyond what is reported In
the sensational accounts given In the news
paCerS