, 1879-08-17
Correspondent Has an In
terview with Mrs.
Sprague.
Her Account Of Last Thurs
days Meeting with Her
Husband.
Her Life Has Been q Constant
Burden for Thirteen
= Years.
She GiYes the Origin Of the Ex-
Governors Dislike for :.
Conkling,
And Denies in Toto All the Scan
da|ous Reports Concerning
Herself
soragus's Mind Unsettled by Business
Troubles and Strong
Drink.
She Will Make the Whole Truth Known
sprarus's Mind Unsettled by Business
Troubles and Strong
Drink.
She Will Make the Whole Truth Known
at the Proper Time.
THE WIFE.

Ata<<4-+"*
yrw ToR6, Aug. ia dispatch to the ST.
says; 1 party Of LAWYERS and personal friend
Of Gov. Sprague were standing ut the Norar.
window when Your correspondent drove VI
to Canonchct to-day. The correspondent
was invited to step into small
rrtiring-room where the Governor va
sitting. Mr. Sprasuc's face Betrayed traces o1
the distress be has SO recently suffered, but he
rose and welcomed the visitor cordially witt
outstretched hand. He said very little beyond
the fact that he hoped By keeping his wife quie
and composed tor few days, aud beyond tht
reach of distressing influences, to induce I
frame OF mind in which she would come
70 an understanding upon her future posi-
ton toward him. For his own part, be pro
posed to. say nothing. The Governor: the1
turned to Mr. Watson aud said: "Take this
gentleman to Mrs Sorague." The CORE
epoDdeut was conducted up winding stair:
case Of richly-carred oak to the second floor,
into an elegantly Furnished apartment
MRS. spRAGUE
ocrupied 10 arm chair near the table. and rose
70 receive her guest. She was extremely pale,
but her manner betrayed only the slightest trace
Of agitation. Ooce twice her lips trembled, but
In general she preserved most admirable self
poise, speaking calmly but earnestly, aud with
q degree Of native cloQuenee aud grace which
would make a powerful impression on the
most obdurate- Eer language Was remarkably
clear and well chosen. IL hare sent
for you," she said, s'because wish
to correct some false impressions which have
gone abrond in regard to mr conduct at Thurs
DAYS meeting. didn't charge my husband, as
h.eh 1tn1 f,t1, r.
make the riolent attacks upon him which
/ hare been represented as doing
On the contrary, bore with meekncss
the unmanlr siurs and reproaches that he
showErcd on me, rot responding save when my
chile.ea's relations to NE were touched Upon.
lh2Se my storT to tell, and when the truth OF
this terrible business is known I know that /
shall be justified God knows I have no
reason to fear the truth. though for thirteen
locg years my lie has been
\ CONSTANT Burden
ind drag upon the. For years I have had
this thing writhing upon lnc, and
have striren with all my might to
Stand between ms husbands wroug-dot11s
aud the prhlic. / have done it for the sake OF
ny children, not for apy affection that existed
between us, for there has been none
for years. This whole miserable
affair, into which Senator Conkling has
been wantcn1y dragged without particle
ol reason or excuse, organized in a, business
s1ansactiE4 between himself aud my husband Of
50 trivial natcre that you would be astoni=hcd
that anF sane man could consider it source Of
jealousy. For years have known Senator Conk-
ting; just as, from the position OF mr father
and Of my husband, I have known scores Of
other public men in Washington. Il have known
hin from the time 'sa5 a child, and u,y bus
band has known him for years. TWO years ngo
they were On perfectly good terms. was visit
Ing at my house, Ed:ewood. near Washington.
and when Dy husband came on to visit u7e
Senator Conk1ng was one OF the gentlemen
who called upon U.s. Up TO that time his name
had never been mentioned BY my husblnd 9TH
er"lse than With respect i year ago last duly
Ar' sprasue sent on to me in Washington
lot Of young colts and young horses and fillies
which nc had picked ont for his own uso at the
windlng-up OF his estate He wished me to use
those l Vaotcd tor rid ing and driving,
and have, the rest pastured somewhere
near the city. He came on himself
ana WIS looking about for place to pasture
tnem when Mr.. ConkiinS told him OF some
1f4ner IN The neighborhool that was
saktng care Of his (Mr. Coaklt,g's)
horse 3lr. Spraguc accepted the suggestion
with pleasure, and Mr.. Conklin:. introduced
lin to the farmer. When October came the
man sent me his bilt, which l forwarded to Air.
sorasue in Rhode Island., The bill Was sent
ssssln aud again, aud |
ALWAYS RETURNED UNPAID,
uath Il began TO feel scaudalized; then the |
GAo applied to Seaator Conlsin:y. aud even |
threatened to sue him, having, by his introduc-
oon o1 ny husband, become surety for its pay |
n'ent' Hr. Conkling Was finally forced |
~ ~ write to Mr. Sprague, telling
~" the position in which lie !
vas p'aced, and On subsequent visit to Wash
as9on again called on Mr.. Spraeue aud asked
ulm 10 settle it, He told my husband that he
could not be expected to pay any !ady's bill,
,es1t Of all married lady's, and that
" propose it, but that he (slr. Cookling) would /
I'VE ny husband the money to pay it out OF his
."n pocket, ard let him repay it whenever he
'oalo@ When heard Of this t
I WAS NATURALLY INDIGNANT
ula cnlded my husband for allowing the Senator
mase such au offer, and said that would
ea' anything had to raise the money rather
n@n accept such assistance And ret this petty,
" a'eapflble sQuaohle was the commeucsmcuto
~ ny husbands jealousy against Mr..
'oosttng. Even after that he consented to re-
s''e MIA, and voluntarily went on to Wash
lk'on IN April last to get the Senator's
s2' opinion in regard to the troubles between
naseit and his creditors. There was perfect
~ eatlle cordially between them, although
!. .eee y scandals now charged had been known in
aso ogton Tor Years. There is :;
NOT WORD OF TRUTH
ali OF these atrocious reports. alr. Conkling i
efer paid me any attention that wife could
y aonorahly receive from her husbands
teao' and it is false. to say other
'se: Mt. Sprague was simply worked upon
. a's business troubles. which have been cul-
mating for years. and by his indulgence in
*one drink He regarded every Que, no mat
: now honorable, who was friend Of mine as
.nterloper aud intFiguer against him. His
NVutT and hatred of that nonr German /