Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-01-15
Fir. and Hrs. SprRsGc.

Mrs. SprsRue ia cot as beautiful q woman
as she o!c) Wss. She now shows traces OF
years. Sac oaDno! low bo fer from forty fiv3
years Ct egr, although she locks much younger.
She IS ct medium height, perhaps five feet six,
ADD her features still show beautiful outlIuee.
Her hsir, which is s:ilahuAdsn:. Is dark au
burn 10 ceor, for nature has yet spared hor
gray hairs. Her mouth is Emo feature Of her
face and is full OF white, regular teeth. Her
weight is probably 40. Her hands are sym
metrical and arc always eucsssd in kids of the
latest fashion. Notwithstanding the bank
ruptey Of her husband. she always appears
ueatlv and richly dressed.
Kate Chase first met William Spratu,, The
Young Senator from Rhode Island, who had
been Governor and Uoion soldier, at the
homo OF her father in Washington, while the
latter was Secretary ct tic Treasury. The
wealth Of young Spragu2 was tboo estimated
at near ten millions Of dollars
william Spragus c.mo II tie Senate Chi, d.
By virtue of the almighty dollar. lie was, to
be sure, an active busiaess man. aad had been
proniEeut IS war governor Of Rhode Island,
but he had no peculiar characteristics which
qualified him Tor the Senate. Ills most els.
tInguishcd personal feauture is bis Dose, which
is aqulli1e ADD large. 1t is the sirgl, notable
feature OF his iacs. He wegrs glasses, IS he is
Worry near.slshtcd; is rather OF dark brunette,
With straight, smooth black hair, nov good
deal tiugcd with grey; wears his face entirely
smooth. except rather thin black moustt che,
dress:s plsloy, not al1fyj neatly. ard has c
ls,lss5, shamblpg, siDshod kind Of gait.
The house OF MIR. Spraguc. 10 Washington,
du!log tho eelly portion o! his senatorial career
was the c,ntro OF fashion, Of artistic taste, oil
refined elegaccJ AID of social luxury. The
leading spirit o! tho household Vas his yupgq
aSch beautiful wife iivergthi1g that The rare
tasso OF tho mistress OF the house could sugg,st
or tho wealthy oTuer OF it pay for, was there 10
rich and raro and prodigal abundance.
Mrs. Sprague had been thoroughly educated,
and had Inherited tbs intellectual characters
tics AID political ambitions of Etr lalhtr She
was much 10 his society, asd shared lis polls,
cal and literary labors 1t perhaps Was for
that reason that she was moro in the snoiely Ct
men than women. Her intellt usl tastes aud
political eSrltailols were masculine, bu. while
sho excited the uaivtraal admiration ni the ululo
Eek, sho excited 10 no lats dceroo tho envy oil
her own. Shc possessed D6L Only the literary
qualities and the brilliant conversational powers
OF Madame Racsm!cr. such as made her win
friends oil such brilliant men as R?sc1o Ccnk
ling aud Carl Schulz. ard other cultivated
leaders OF the national capital, but che at tie
samo Time 0u.rarkcd oil her own SIX iu !cs
taste ir dress
AT Que oil htrrtcaptoEs. WHOM her popularity
WIS nt iss height, her dress was, like herself, q
wondcr--a marvellous satin robo OF two shaies-
q pale bins cbd pretty white. tint rather
than shad', 1t vas embroidered ia Yfcaths
Oh the blue sallo potticoat ard borq1sis Ga the
c0u1t train AID square cut waist. The sc. YES
were tight to tho elbows. aud deep white
duchess laco foil over tho round wlio ormq, 90
which spsrkled gold bracelets set with uia.
moud5 On her her head she woro li.rl Ct
turTuOIs and diamonds; htr trtiugs matched
tho tiara.
"ller receptions wer5 attended by all tho
distinguished personages Of the rational capital.
Tho supreme court and sll The prominent laws
ycrs prac.lcing before the court were there.
Tho Senators and Representatives who had ns.
tional regulations wero alwcys there, whlo the
diplomatic corps lowered about her ike The
dtz,d moth miller about the llmo.
"Ihoso who knew tho family we'll understood
that Tho marriage with Sprasu, was not fer
love; yet she wns @ faithful, dutiiul wife,
always treating her husband with resptc.,
although hiB personal pcccldillccs and intel
lcclual lnfcriority Cften caused htr cmbarrass-
mcnt. The frs time 10 which sho is eaid 10
have manifested aversion to her husband was
when 10 made NEST distressing tsiuto 10
an attempt to address tho Senate in spacoh,
which was reported to have been prepared f3r
bin By tho somewhat notorious "PeL" HGstead.
Shc happened 10 be thero On this occasion AID
was no!ic, TO have beco very Indignant a; her
husbands failure"
1T was not long after this that shadow fyl
upon tho bousahold. Tbs Senator. ahCs,
drinking habits b,fcro be came TO Washinston
had not been particularly bad, soon yielded to
tho social attractions OF Washington, AID bs-
canlo sddic:oi to too liberal al idduseuc, in
tho wine cup. The result was tho beginriog
of tho habits which Mrs Sprseuo 10 her bill
charges have been c!mmitted. unil, if the
story is tiuo, tho world must believe tha.
Sprugue is man Of gross iutcnpcranca, snti us
result Of it that he is guilty of the mas,
atrccicusy cruel conduct towards his family.
She bad been allowed TO 70 abroad, snl
made costly purchases OF lace which were ever
deemed too extensive for the Empress of tho
French or the Queen of Great Britaia. She on
one OCCASION psld SIS 900 10 god fer SIX yards
of point LACE.
Mis- Sprague vas iltet SHY ambitious. Yet
tho Msy morning when her father vas found
unconscious in his room with all hope CT his
recovery gone. Was 90 doubs tee dsy Ga which
tho dark curtain fell down Oh her lifo forever,
ss that day witnessed tho mo!tsl wound to her
amti,ioD.
Her goal was Ito White House. She wished
to see tcr father placed there, and hoped TO
rcieu there herself as til, leadisg lady Of tho
nation. 10 this ambition il is reported that
she sacrificed tho love Of her carly youth, 70
jectcd tho man TO whom sho had givoa her
bebrt for the sake Of bis Commonplace but
wealthy suitor, who uld eiVo her the position
which worlt better ensbjc her to further the
purpcs,s OF Ecr tatacr's ami ion. 1t Was the
great mistake G! her lie, for tho young man
whom rumor credits her with having r. c!ed,
holds position rot inferior to that Of suy 10
tho political wcrd to day, while poor Sprssue
is peuoiIesg 10 purse, and held in low esteem 10
other 1cereo!s. 1t probably is 10. kuown low
thoroughly idoaliGed Kate Chsse was With all
the political movements of her father.
"DurIOg tho campaign of 1868. piior 10 tho
nomination Of Seymour, Mr.. Chaso's obict
ononis nru',l. fol # than ,pould tb,t NI.r