The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-12-30
RHODE IsLAND srRAGuE
How He Csurted and, Married the
Brilliant 81 ATE ChRse..

New York Cor. Cincinnati Enquirer.
Public opinion on the Spraguo case, 81
near as can get at it, is that Mrs. Sprague
has been worldly and extravagant, fond OF
admiration aad of the Intimate society of emi-
nent men, but that she has kept her social
standing well up, and has not differed as a
wife from her behavior rs maid, when shs
was tho hostess of her father, and acquainted
with most OF tho bright peop'@in the country.
There arc two classes Of opnors as to her
relations with Senator Conkling. l have
fJrmed the opinion, from the observations OF
those best qualified to know that she has OK.
erted streng iDhuenso over the ssRator only
by her strength OF mini and will, and
many talents, and also by her halplessness
asd seei of assistance. There is an sloment
of chivalry in Cenkllng which will take him
bsyond The limits Of discretion to do assrVics.
OF courSe the common run of msn cannot
suppose case Of PIatonsm between pub
lie man and'a brilliant woman of this kind
Sprague is tho las. man 10 DO cordial aRd
unsuspcious M to such an intimacy. He is
charged to have boon intompsrats by public
opinion throughout Rhode Island alnest
from boyhoos. His behavior has beeH un-
equal, his tsmper uncertain. He lad no idsa
of the style Of breeding bis wife was accus-
toned TO in her widowed fathers house. and
yet it seems very probable that be has all the
WHILE and is at this moment 10th to sepa-
ration. A moro uncongenial marriage could
hardly have been made. At the time
Spregue waa reported to be enormously
neutrality-suspicious. the richest man in the
couptry-Mrs. Spragas had no great expsc-
tstions from hor father, although she is sup
ported at present chiefly by the property
IN ef! har. Sho wh5 introduced to Spragus
in Cleveland, o., by Richard q. Psr,Sns, at s
ball given at tha Weddcll house on the occa-
sion of the dedication of the Cowmedore
Perry monument, to which Spvsgue the
young governor Of the state, hsd brought IA
ancient volunteer company Of Rhode Island.
They spent tae av2aisg together ct The ball,
and returning, Kate Chss3 said: "Whst a
charming nsu is Gov. Spmgus" He west
into tho war with the First Rhode Island
req rent, and meeting Kate in Washington,
pressed bis suit, ana thay ware married dur
ing tho wEr. de bought houss in WASH
ingtoD City, which is row reduced 70 board
ing htusr, aad there they paaed their win
tiers, while he built large house Of enter
tsinment Al Management Pier, OF which she
became queen
While Sprague wss in the senate the failure
OF his house cana about, involving him, not
only IL vexltious litigation, but in numbar
of euarrels With his colleague, Anthony, with
the rich banking houie Of Brown & Ives and
with tho receiver Of tho estate. These diff
culties made hn mere moo6y-sometims
mere savage. His wife was absent from him
in Europe or Washington great part of the
tins, and, SIS Spragua's fusncsl condition
grew tighter, she applied to Senator Conk-
ling TO help her eItricate her fathers prop
crty, and he vent with her before q Justice
for that purpose. Conking oither became
fascinated with the lsdy or WAS resolved to
see that she DO pulled through hor troubles