The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-09-18
Misrfllany.
MRS. KATE CHASE SPRAGUE.

Hisrfllany.
MRS. KATE CHASE sPRAGUE.
The Prominent Part she has Taken
in Politics.
There are now in Washington many
who will remember tho hrst appearance
of Kate Chase in social circles there.
She was yonng, vivacious and beauti
fnl; thoroughly educated aud brilliant.
She had been the intimate companion
of her father ever since his entrance
upon the political arena. and more than
once had he relied on her taot and
beauty to pull him through sharp polit-
ical contests. In 1864, when at the
zenith Of her social power, she lent
powerful hand toward making her faith
er, then Chief Justice, the candi>
date Of tie Republicans for President.
She had been foi several years the
constant associates and chief conflant
of her father, and had become acqnaint
ed with his ambitions, his friends ana
his strength. She studied politics with
the zeal of q newly fsdged orator. and
devoted her whole mind and energies to
the one object Of placing her father in
the Presidential chair. 1t was part
of her ambition, ais" to reign rs the
first lady of the land. She often talk
ed with her friends on this subject, and
her marriage with Senator Spragne WAS
generally believed to be one that had
only this end in view. Sprague at that
time was immensely wealthy, and the
C',s,se p ,-sv. aedei p,q4eJr. snr" gre
also imperiously controlled the politics
of Rode Island, and his money and in-
fuence we're worth having in behalf OF
Presidential candidate. The scheme
failed however; Lincoln was renomina-
ted and Judge Chase became detached
from his party. In 1868. however, he
was prominently mentioned as possi>
BILE Presidential candidate before the
Democratic Convention, and his danght-
er, who had become Mrs. Sprague, again
took an active part in his behalf. She
was then recognized in Washington as
one o. the brightest, wittiest and most
fascinating women at the National cap>
ital. Her passion, as we'll as her apt
ness for politics and political intrigues.
seemed to increase with her social pow>
er. She cultivated phblio men until
che knew large number quite init
m ately. and even 80 late as 1875,
though known to but few. exercised an
influence upon the last Presidential
election which kept one mans mouth
and possibly changed the result alto
gether. Her acquaintance with Sena-
tor Ccnkling had ripened INTO relations
OF the most contiIential nature. his
believed that she exercised over him a
powerful influence. 1t is declared by
men who had frequent opportunities to
know Conkling's opinions during the
electoral struggle that he was withheld
by Mrs. Sprague's influence from pnb-
Iicacy declaring his conviction that Til
den Was rightfully elected President,
and that his hitherto uuaccounted for
vascillation was attributable to this
cause. At one time he boldly declared
that the frauds practiced in Louisiana
and Florida furnished the basis neces-
sary for An overthrow of the pretert
that Hayes WAS elected, and for the
swearing in of Tilden. He made no se>
cret Of his disgust at the efforts of John
Sherman and others to count in Hayes.
and it is asserted, agreed to make a
speech denonncing the fraud. but moth
ing came of it. Mrs. Sprague occu-
pied front seat in the members gal
lery of the Senate every day during the
exciting count, although nobody
thought Of her as anything but a spec
tator. The day that Senator Conkling
was to rise in his seat and demolish the
fraud arrived, and those familiar with
programme were in their seats. Senators
Alcorn. Spencer, Conover, and several
other Republicans we're to vote with
him against the approval OF the parti
can decision Of the Electoral Commis-
sion. Enough Republican votes had
been secured to make his victory GER
tain. Col. Pelton, Mr.. Hewitt OF New
York, and many other prominent Til.
den managers had seats in the gallery
for the purpose of hearing Conkling's g
speech. To their utmost amazement
however, he did not appear at all, and
it was also observed by some bright
people that Mrs. Sprague was abs ent
for the first time. Senator Alcorn, in
tulfillment of his word. first voted to re-
iect the decision of the commission,
but afterwards he discovered that some
thing had gone wrong. changed his vote
90 ~ - rake IL s1 s5.[. 49,. L;s rarsy.
It was subsequently discovered that
the shrewd Radical managers OF the
Zach. Chandler stripe had overcome
Conkling by winning Mrs. Sprasne ovel
to their side. They had persuaded bel
to take an interest in Hayes success
and. it IS saId.. she kept the New York
Senator. on whom so much depended,
from appearing at the Senate chamber
that day.
j How 10 Boil Rice
j Rice should be carefully picked over,
washed in warm water, rubbed between
the hands, and then rinsed several
i t,mes in cold water till white. Put one
teaoupful in q tin pan or porcelain ket'