The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-08-13


put had never met her husband. He sug-
gested to Mrs. 6prague that he would like to
leave g card for the ex senator, personally,
as he desired to have the pleasure of meeting
him- Mrs. Sprague, in reply said that she
was quite unable TO answer for anything
that Mr.. Sprague might think or do. She
had taken no
arr RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS CONDUCT 4,,rs
for long time, and it was not likely that
enc could long remain in the same house
with him. 1t has been known here for some
time that Ex-Governor Sprague has contem-
plated selling the house in which the un-
pleasantness took place. baa ab $3.50 sdt
i7ef SCENES IN THE SENATE.
s IN THE Tolls. ~ q
So dramatic and public defying were the
actions OF Senator Conkling and Mrs.
Sprague that 1T became one of the additional
incentives for scene lovers to visit the Senate
chamber, for, however dull the debate, there
was never-hagging interest in witnessing
great leader in debate so IN the tolls of , q
brilliant woman that he openly paid his
court to her from his desk in the Senate
chamber as she fondly watched him from
the private gallery set aside for the use of
senator's families. This s~-.,d =. 4
DAILY PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION 95it.
was at times Of such an exaggerated charac-
ter as to almost surpass belief, unless actu-
ally witnessed. At times it seemed az If
every speech Conkling made was for Mrs
| Sprague's benefit. The moment she entered
| the gallery was almost invariably the signal
| for Conkling to pose for her benefit by at
once entering by some pretext into what
ever might happen to be pending before the
| Senate. It was over year ago that Mrs.
| Sprague's attendance upon the proceedings
of tbs Senate became SO marked. From
| that time there has hardly been q day when
oh hoov nth r1u
WATCHING Combines EVERY MOVEMENT,
| while they exchanged notes or ardent chances
with the carelessness of lovers 30 beside
themselves with their passion for each
other as to scorn to employ any means to
| conceal their extraordinary intimacy. The
| average visitor who visits the galleries of
Congress goes there to gossip and study the
personal peculiarities of prominent people,
| so that it is safe to say that several hundred
people each day lazily and maliciously fol-
lowed every movement of the foolish
creatures who found lite too short for the
| affectionate intercourse OF private hours
| alone to satisfy them. During the last extra
session Mrs. Sprague's attendance on the
| Senate became -et.
MORE NOTORIOUS
than it had ever before. Early and late,
through interesting or stupidity and excruci-
atiDgly dull days, she was always found ID
(! as unfiagging attendance as the official re-
I porters. When she was ready to retire, Mr..
| ConkliDg always accompanied her to her car
riage. During one of the first all-night SEES
sions of the prolonged debate of this last
extra session, Mrs. Sprague sat in the front
row of the private gallery seats watching
until o'clock in the morning. This made
! such an uproar of
scANDALous GOSSIP
among the senators and attendants of the
/ Senate that Mrs. Sprague the next nigh
1 fianked herself with two ladies, the perfec
! pinks of respectability-Mrs. Senator Blaine
| and Mrs. Don Cameron.
When Mr.. Conkling made
HIS FIRST LONG SPEECH
in debate his private secretary retained
seat in the special gallery for Mrs. Sprague
and sat by her side to protect her from the
enormous crowd that packed the galleries
on that occasion. When he had concluded
and was surrounded by a crowd of eager as
/ sociates warm in their congratulations, II
was noted that Mrs. Sprague seized card
from the secretary and scratched a lint
thereon In all the hot haste of eager en-
thusiasm. The secretary caught
saagiia3tag THE NOTE .s - si.fl lfi
and disappeared. A moment after he wa
4 seen approaching Senator Conkling, VIII,
turned away from half dozen senators VIII,
stood with outstretched hands and eagerl,
read this little note. As he glanced over 1
deep flush of pleasure passed over his face
while he put the note in his pocket an(
looked a warm glance of thanks to Mr.
Sprague, who was eagerly watching hin
from the gallery. This open acknowledge
ment of q union OF hearts was one of tn
sensations or very interesting afternoon
The favorite amusement of spectators, VIII,
were fond of watching the Sprague- Conklin
comedy, was to study the ostrich-like \ aal
a $1,000 = ART OF tCoNcEALMENT
employed by the two in writing each othe
notes. Ridiculous as 1t may seem, 1t
nevertheless O fact that there was hardl
ever q time when Mrs. Sprague visited tn,
gallery that the two did no
at once begin a corresponding
open chances which they were constantl
exchanging Mr.. Conkling would writ
Mrs. Sprague note, fold it up deliberately
and place it with blank piece of paper an,
a small envelope inside of large officis
envelope, when 59' Acil 1'.N s
coLoRED MESSENGER 4
would appear without even being sum
, moned, and the package would be handle
, him. Then he would disappear. iAfte
while he would be seen to enter the ga
lery and to hand the large envelope to Mr.
Sprague. Instantly all the ladies about be
!, would be on the qui vive. Mrs. Spragu
: was never in hurry. 1t was her custom
. place the envelope upon her lap and let
: remain there for some moments, as IL
were some trivial matter. Then, after
proper time, she would open the envel p,
. read the Enclosure, and then the blank piec
|, OF paper would be used for seisids b
r H1 WRITING THE ANSWER. ai's+
D Then the colored messenger would sgai
s appear and receive the reply. As the mel
senger left the gallery 1t was CoDkling
habit to rise and go 70 the doors leading on
from the center of the Senate chambe
where he would stand with his hand benin
him, apparently absorbed in the proceeding
9 of the Senate. Any close observer woul'
however. notice the doors behind him
9 open slightly, while q dusky hand woul
4 drop the note into the hands that wei
waiting to receive it. Even then there ",
$ but little attempt at concenlment. Com
) ling would run to his desk, tear open ii
|, ! envelope, and eagerly read the note il
Z closed. rl se fiin7.sls1 t4tcf =
| 49, Tursr TNcrpRNTs 80. -