Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-08-21
Mrs. laatc sprague.

Mrs. kafc sPrasue.
! cccEtsrGndert Ct the Louisville Courier
Journal Er.,iug from Block Island, describes
Mrs. Sp:asue thus:
kate Chase was not pretty Si1l. She bade
fair to b handsome woman, which she is.
But tWcuty years ego sho was tall. gangllng,
pslo faced, With Gnc, expressive eyes aud ser
peGinc movement, not unlike that of Nodes
ka. though, Of course, less graceful. 1t is not
true that she has always been vicious. Ii Is
n05 tfug that she tuprd rich fool into one
aldnd marriage.
1t is true. and only true, that, in q single
affair ct Columbus, she caused her father ini
ntc anxiety and trouble, and that, during the
last two or thrao years, her connection with
Mr. C0nkIlng has been the occasion Of deal
ct ugly talk at Washington. Sho is ambitious,
restless, fond CT admiration and used to ii; o
power 10 her day, and not willing. With tho
close OF 1t, to sink into obseurlty.
L make bold to give it as my opinion that
there have never been any criminal relations
between her aud Mr. Conkling. although Mr.
COnkng, cut OF base. overWeeuing love of
himself would rather have it appear so than
confess himselfso great fool az to have gore
such lengths and wrought such ruin. aud got
nothing moro than a mouthiul of kisses |
know that this view OF the case is exposed to
somo ridiculc. The lioentious spirit OF the time
can see nothing but its owe image behind the
curtain that ooacea!s tho presence Of man and
o woman. when 10 doubt" says this spirit,
"caEl it adultery" Yet nothing is commoner
than the ic7ersc, even Whrro tho proof seems
clGarGst.
10 this particular business it is worth no one 8
while to consider Governor Sprague, lis ia,
and has long boon mere sot. All that his wife
says OF HIN Is within tho mark. 1t is perhaps
tue that II he had shot Mr.. Cooking dead. no
Jury IN New England could have been found 10
convict him. but, as Le did not, he sinks out of
account AS poor creature, who i'll treated his
wife aad left her pretty much to hor Own de-
vices.
She Is what sho lS-an X bello, dethrOnod
queen still young, still fond of pleasure, not
yet resigned 10 Tho cs5 CT position aud prestige,
Gnd Conscious IT augmented charms. Alone 10
q capital which has never been over tuueamish
or very rigid in It's social limitations. Mr..
Cc0klug c0mcs her way. Mr. Conki1g, the
friend OF her father, tho Jupiter Tonans of her
party; the most brilliant, sud apparently. the
most daahiog among the political leaders OF the
day 90 artist IN scenic ELECTS. professional,
II NOT protested lady killer.
Sac Is only wGman, after oil, with . Wo.
MAI 4 limited knowledge and narrow sphere Of
| movement, ami sho thinks she sees 10 this prof
tered Intimacy O diversion from her domestic
grief and q revival Of at least port Of her for
mer sell. Que step leads to another; intimacy
ripens latO familiarity; familiarity into iudis'
cretl0u iDditctetion into reckless disregard OF
appearances aud public oriuioD. All this may
happln, Often has happened, without the literal
violation OF tho commandment which women
arc most taught TO clnsider and respect.
Mrs Sprsgue is cold and discerning, wo.
man Of the world. She may have been infatu-
atcd By Mr. C0nkling's snowy talents. Sho msy
hsvu been onraptured by MIR. Conklings prefer
ence, But She must lave known that her pow
or lay in resistance, in resorving something to
herself, in drawing the line somewhere. All
women. moro or loss, know that little, and it is
prcpGsiCrOus ~ believe that this elf.poised, as.
pifiaS woman-tho mother Of many children,
and with passions q@ite as lukewarm as belong
TO her condition and her clssS-wuuld give her
self completely sway, her hold upon her lover
included, and in all those years show no sign of
IL in hor manners and her aspect 10 the rest Of
tho world.
For my pant, don't bolisvo it. l believe her
to bo q Van and TO have alWsys been dsrng
Imprud6nt woman, not 3 wAnton, and must
Say that tho proVocation she hiss had from her
husband, and tho course which MIR. Conkling
HIS pursued. together with tho Wretched plight
i'll which i know her now 10 be, I'll mo with 9
sympathy l mover expected to feel for her. She
Is the daught tor OF ono of the greatest men this
country ever produced, woman in distress,
abused and browebcsten by her husband, be-
t'ayod aud deserted by Eor lover. and that is
enough for me.