The daily gazette., 1879-08-14
WILMINGTON, DEL. THURSDAY, AUGUST IA. 1872
The ssandal by The ssssadls.

ID The Scandal by The 0sssads.
The excitement at Narrsgansett Pier
over the encounter between Senator
Conkling and ex-Gov. Sprsgue still con-
tinues at fever heat.
respectability to which the place 10 sscred
can check the aspic volubility of gossip
ing tongues.
Human nature is often superior TO the
most approved nllss Of self-restraiut, and
the old saying that 'speople will salk" re-
ceiyes new and vigorous illustration.
Weary Of discussing the trite topics Of
the Conversational Exchange, this sea-
side Varity Fair grapples . genuine sem
satlon with some such sense Of enjoyment
as the epicure has when Unexpectedly
confronted by fresh temptation for his
pampered palate. no..sl
Stimulated by the conflicting accounts
OF the affair, the all too willing immaginsr
ton Of the aristOcratjc community bids
good-by to every charitable prompting
and aails away into the cloudy ether Of
unlimited speculation.
And yet the real facts of the case will
appear clearly enough to anybody who
calmly analyses the stories that have
been set afoat. 1t Is evident that the
venerable pedagogue, Mr.. Lipck, who
cleverly improves the occasion to adver-
tise his devotion to the cultivation of the
youthful mind, was not the primary
cause Of the outbreak. He happened
TO be In the way at the time, and encoun-
tered portion of the fury Of the domes-
tic cyclone without having had anything
to do with its origin. The Ex-Governor
felt the god Of battles moving within
him, and as he was as impatient as be
was insatiate, he struck at whatever came
handiest. The Professor was astonished,
Of course, as he had right to be, but /
few moments reflection should have en-
abled him to comprehend the situation
and find compensation In the thought
that be was not annibilated ON the spot
His ex-Excellency heard on Friday
morning that Senator Conkling had been
visiting Mrs. Sprague. The tradespeople
OF Canonchet were talking about It and
wondering why the Senator had chosen
the interval Of Mr.. Sprsgue's absence
fiom home TO pay his visit. 1t was this
talk that set the whirlw wind in motion.
Sprague started for home a. fast as horse
flesh could carry him. On arriving he
immediately sought the Senator and, in
language that caused the auriculars of
the house servants to vibrate with emo
ton, denounced the great leader Of the
New York Stalwarts and ordered him to
evacuate the premises under penalty, If
he did not instantly obey, of receiving .
full charge Of buckshot in his Senatorial
diaphragm.
Ii was then that Mr.. Conkling made
the greatest effort Of his life. Rapidly
and yet msjestically-never forgetting
the grandeur Of bis Characterize gather
ed his carpetbag in one hand and his
umbrella in the other and strobe away
with. dignity that finds its only fitting
parallel 10 the dignity of Coriolanus re-
turning to his cabbsges. ...-....
The chronicler Of this hair-elevating
| episode says that the Magnus Apollo Of
the Senate "probably walked over san
dy and sun-bea.eH track as far a. the
bathing houses and then through the
poorest bit ofstreet In Narragansett Pier
toward BelliDgton's cafe" How like q
demi godi What other man, expelled
from the presence of one of the most fAs-
cinating women of her time, at the muz-
zle of . shotgun, would have walked
calmly through sun. blistered sands to as
suage the turmoil of his soul in country
eating saloon? The story ofa sagacious
boy who waits upon guests at the cafe,
and who says the great man was not ex-
cited, and that he ordered and ate lunch
of milk and crackers, is an appropriate
pendant to this strange, eventful history.
Most men under the circumstances would
have ordered broiled chicken or soft
shell crabs, bat ii is the privilege of i'm
perial natures, even after having been
cautioned to beware of exclusive buck
shot, to draw the line of distinction
sharply, and condescend to milk and
crackers.
Scarcely had he finished his frugal
meal when the diabOlical Sprague, arm
ed with revolver, again appeared upon
the scene, and applying to the placid
statesman an epithet that might have
made q brass rhinoceros shudder, ad-
monished him instantly to resume his
retreat from Rhode Island. Once more
the crested jay hawk of Oneida reached
for his umbrella and his carpetbag, and
without waiting to indulge the sad yet
tender fancies so natural to man In his
situation, forward marched to the rail-
road, depot, never 90 much as turning
round to blow bugle note of defiance
at the insolent foe.
In the light of such facts IS these Sem
ator Conkling's character stands wholly
transformed. The world had regarded
him as fighter, as man who gave blow
for blow, as sinewy, aggressive and un-
relenting belligerent. The world was
wrong. He is as meek as the Madonna;
a sort of Nineteenth century St. John;
q gentle, submissive, angelic creature
who, when smitten on the right cheek,
remembers his Sunday school days and
piously invites the smiter to try it on his
left. How could the world have been
80 mistaken?