Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-14
GOSSIP at C0nk's. Home.

The statement that Senator Conkling had
an alteration with ex-Gov. Sprague, of
Rhode Island, at Narragansett Pier, created
little or no surprise at the Senator's home.
For years his neighbors here have been pre-
dieting some such outcome of the gallantries
for which Conkling is noted. Before his
marriage he was gay boy, and just across
the Mohawk river, in the neighboring town
of Deerfeld, is youth whose presence
strongly suggests the senior Senator. When
this sllght-minded yokel comes to Utica, the
initiated wink knowingly, and contemplating
the curl that bangs the boys forehead they
murmur "Roscoe.''
HE GOT HIMSELF DIsLIKED.
The feeling against Conkling in Utica has
been or owing in bitterness since his refusal
to come home to attend his daughters we'd
ding. Shortly after adjournment of the
session he came here, and although his
daughter and son-in-law live on the same
street with him, distant only two blocks,
Conkling has not called on his child, neither
has he recognized his son-in-law.
When young man Conkling's
amours gave his father great uneasi
ness. The old gentleman, who was model
of virtue himself, frequently admonished
his headstrong son, but to no purpose
When Conkllng became sultor for the hand
of the lady who afterward became his wife,
Gov. Seymour, the lady's brother, strongly
objected to the match. Conkling persevered,
and on one occasion Gov. Seymour invited
him to the door of the Seymour mansion
and showed him down the steps into the
street. Roscoe triumphed, and for the sake
of appearance peace was patched up be-
tween the two families. When, in 1868,
Seymour was q candidate for the Presi-
dency, Uticans were at first surprised at the
vehemence of the denunciation of the gov
ernor by brother-in-law Conkling, but pres
emily it became apparent that the young man
was paying off an old grudge of his precari-
GUS courtship of the governors sister. The
governor, who is deeply attached to his sis
ter, paid no attention to Conkling's abuse,
and the result was that after the lordly Sena-
tor had traduced him for some months he
made show of friendship for his distin-
guished relative. Gov. Seymour, with
characteristic nobleness of character, never
alluded to the more than partisan abuse
which Conkling heaped upon him in the
memorable campaign of 1868.
THE BUSY TONGUE OF SCANDAL.
OF late years Conkling has been much sep
arated from his wife, and scandal has been
busy with his name. 1t has been understood
here that, becoming enamored of the wife of
Pension Agent Howe. of New York, he sus-
tanned intimate relations with her for some
time. The husband sued for divorce, and in
very short time he was dismissed from the
Office of pension agent. Conkling's name
has been mixed up with that of Kate Chase
Sprague for some years past. It is we'll
known in Washington that the Blairs, the
Sitgreaues and the Jessops have frequently
ignored the lady in question because of her
the hyperion curl. Miss Blair, when con-
versing with Utica gentleman, has alluded
to Mrs. Sprague as "that person" When
the ex-Governor's wife was in Columbus,
Ohio, she was also tabooed socially.
al INFATUATED, CLEARLY.
A prominent official of Oneida county,
speaking of the Narragansett Pier alterca-
ton, here to- day, said: "Why, when was
in Washington that winter it was matter
of common report that Conkling was COM
pletely infatuated with Mrs. Sprague.
If he made speech she was in the gallery;
if he took carriage ride she was at his side;
her house was always open to him. When
he made his midnight speech Kate Chase
Sprague was in the ladies' gallery She
stayed until 2 o'clock in the morning. The
Senators would nudge one another and re-
mark: 'Conk's audience is al here.'"
Mrs. Sprague is handsome matron, not
quite 40, gifted with rare charms of person
and possessing brilliant conversational pow
ers. The senior Senator from New York
has found her society every way agreeable.
PRESS VIEWS.
The Utica Observer to-day prints col
umn giving mainly the version of the alter
cation that appeared in the New York World.
Editorially the Observer says of Mrs I.
Sprsgue: ut was either her misfortune or