Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-13
known as the Conkling-sprague affair, ha

Conkling Sprague scandal had finally reach
ed its elimination. Private dispatches from
New York confirmed this view and increase
the sensation.
THREE YEARS AGO.
The intimacy between Senator Roscoe
Conkllng and Mrs. Kate Chase Sprague be-
gan about three years ago. It began by Mrs.
Sprague seeking Senator Conkling to be-
friend and assist her in saving the property
known as Edgewood, which is situated few
miles northeast of this CITY. This estate is
all the patrimony Salmon p. Chase bequeathed
his two daughters. It is lovely suburban
home, but its value is not great. Here the
later chief justice of the supreme court of
the United States passed the latter years of
his life. Although he had been long in pub
lie life as Senator of the United States, Sec
rotary of the treasury, and
CHIEF JUSTICE
of the supreme court and always extremely
economical, the savings of his long life did
not exceed $4,000. At thu time of his
death his sole property was Edaewood, and
the value of this was greatly diminished by
the shrinkage in real estate consequent upon
tho panic of 1873. In addition to this, the
vast improvements made by the board of
public works, as engineered by the Washing
ton ring, entailed such enormous assessments
upon this property that it would have scarce
ly sold for the tax liens against it. When
ex Senator William Sprague, of Rhode
Island, married Miss Kate Chase,
THE sPRAaUEs, OF RHODE ISLAND,
were mllionaires, and the Senator not only
controlled the politics of the State, but he
and his family, from this princely income,
we're among the most liberal contributors
to the Republican national campaign fund.
Miss Kate Chase was in face and form one
of the loveliest women that ever graced
Washington society. Her wit and vivacity
of conversation equaled her wonderful phys
ical perfection and combined to make her
one of the most fascinating creatures of
modern times. She was shrewd, keen
woman of the world and
HER AMBITION
for social and political distinction was the
canker that eternally gnawed at her heart.
The pardonable desire to see her father Pres
ident of the United States was far exceeded
by her ambition to preside in the White
house and reign as tho first lad, in our Re-
publican court. Her understanding was
naturally broad, and from childhood she had
bsen the pet and companion of her father,
and thus affairs of state claimed more of
her attention than the fopperies and frivol,-
ties of society. Indeed, these latter became
interesting to her merely as they proved to
be aids to hasten the accomplishment of the
RULING PASSION OF HER LIFE.
In the intrigues which were rife in 1868
and 1864, and had for their object the sub
stitution of Chase for Lincoln as the leader
of the Republican party in that Presidential
campaign, Miss Chase was no insignificant
actor. Later, in 1853, when the then chief
justice had grown conservative and longed to
be the standard bearer of the Democracy,
Mrs. Kate Sprague, the wife of the Senator
ial millionaire of Rhode Island, was still
more important factor in national politics.
The marriage to sprague was
NOT LOVE AFFAIR
at least 80 said the gossips of the national
capital. Whether it was or not, it has not
proved happy one.
RosCoE's GALLANTRY.
The attentions which Senotor Conkling
paid Mrs. Sprague during the first year of
their intimacy was not very marked. The
scandal did not become the topic of social
gossip until about two years ago. Then they
began to appear frequently in each others
company at social dinners, public receptions,
private parties and public amusements.
Senator Conkling's family has not resided in
Washington for five or six years. The ill
health of Mrs. Conkling and the distaste of
Miss Conkling, the Senator's only child, for
Washington society, was the excuse given the
| public for their absence. It was, however,
no secret to the initiated that
L1A1soN OF THE SENATOR
with the wife of federal official we'll known
| in New York was the real reason for the
abandonment by Mrs. and Miss Conking of
the society of the national capital. The re-.
lations of Conkling to this woman did not
cease till some time late in the year 1876 or
early in 1876. Coincident herewith the
scandal of his dsvotions to Mrs. Sprague be-
gan to grow apace. For year they at
tracted but little attention outside of official
society. Within this circle, however, they
| were the subject of more or less comment.
The house of Southern Senator who knew
Mrs. Sprague IN her girlhood days in Ohio
was for long time
THE TRUSTING PLACE.
Upon one occasion the Senator gave din
ner- party, to which, among others, Conkling
and Mrs. Sprague were invited. She came
late and her admirer early. There were three
or four of the guests present and in the par
lor when the door-bell rang, and the we'll
known voice of Senator Conkling was heard
at the door. He inquired very particularly
of the servant who had arrived, and, the
name of Mrs. Sprague not being mentioned,
he asked particularly if she was there. Being
answered in tho negative, Conkling with
drew. Guests who arrived subsequently were
somewhat astonished to find
THE SENATOR FROM NEW YORK
and servant bearing an immense bouquet
of the rarest and costliest flowers standing
in the vestibule. The night was Indictment,
and Mrs. Sprague was the last to arrive, but
here Conkling remained until she made her
appearance, and then as the doors were
flung open by the servant the assembled
guests in the parlor saw the Senator, in his
courtly manner, with whispered words, pre-
sent the token of his admiration. From
this time on Senators slyly talked with each
other OF this and other occurrences, and the
tongues of
The FEMALE aOsslPS
in that circle wagged INCREASINGLY. By and
by Mrs. Sprague began to be q constant at
tendant upon the debates in the Senate.
After time her steady appearance in the
gallery set apart for Senator's families began
to be noted by the outside world. It mat
tered not how dull and undressing the
proceedings might be, the voluptuous form
and bright, bewitching face of Mrs. Sprague
| were rarely missed. Comment followed, as
! matter. Of course, aud wicked paragraph