Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-05-06
THE sPRaGUE DIVORCE.

Twenty years ago William Spragne
was one of the most conspicuous aud
respected men of the nation. He Was
rich, immensely rich, bad won the gov
ernorship OF his Republican State, as
the Democratic candidate, against the
sweeping Republican tide of 1860, had
pronounced for the Government against
armed treason with emphasis and lei
the troops OF bis State TO the field; was
reelected Governor without serious
contest in 1867; was transferred to tie
United States Senate amids; the ap-
plaudits OF the loyal North, and tho
future seemed to possess boundluss polit-
ical possibilities for the fragile looking
little millionaire soldier and statesman
of Rhode Island.
The FIRST Republican national admin
is,ra;ion bad ior enc its chief Cabinet
Ministers Salmon Il. Chase, Of Ohio.
He was a man of established national
fame; had served term in the Senate
rs one Of the pioneer anti-slavery
statesmen; had been twice elected Gov
or of his State; he had been reelected
10 the Senate, and resigned bis inll
Senatorial term 20 become Secretary OF
the Treasury when that department de
manded The highest and broadesr states
manship. In addition 10 his distinction
as statesman, his individual purity OF
character shed the richest lustre upon
the Government of which he was one o.
the central figures.
With Mr.. Chase came his daughter
to preside at the home of the eminent
Finance Minister. She was just bloom
ing into womanhood, and 10 mind and
form completed the circle OF the graces'
She was beautiful, elegant. Intellectual
skiliul and ambitious. She had not es-
capped The maligniIy OF scandal that
magnifes indscretion into crime, but
she was accepted as the reigning quoen
OF Wnshng,on's beautiful aud atlrac-
tive women. The young New England
Senator and the Young beauty ot The
west met when both were in the zenith
of their supremacy. What affection
lacked 10 mate them ambition aud the
general fitness OF their union supplied,
and their wedding is recalled as one oi
the memorable events in the social his
tory of the National Capital.
Less than half score OF years after
William Sprague and Kate Chase had
commanded the homage OF all, and the
envy OF many, they had divided house.
hold; scandal with its thousand tongues
was busy with the lives Of both; disSlpa-
ton had stamped its balefnl impress up
on the husband until reason tottcrcd on
its throne, and socisl dissipation had
paled the cheek and dinmed the lnstre
of the eye OF the queen Of Washington
society. Riches took wings aud He'd
amidst the shadows which darkened the
once brilliant home, aud the end was
multiplied scandals and elimination and
re ordinations in legal proceedings for
divorce. The tinal consummation was
reached in the Providence conrt few
weeks ago, when Judge Durfee called
the case OF "Kate Chase Sprague vs.
William Sprague," and proposed topro-
ceed to trial. Then it was that both
sides recoiled from their own lives, and
it was amIcably agreed that the divorce
should be declared for deseition; that
the daughters remain with the mother
ana the son with the father and that
the question Of alimony should be q
subject for future consideration.
Wealth, ambition, culture ard prom.
ise never gave better assurance OF hap.
piness and honor than in that union Of
William Sprague ard Kate Chase; and
in oil the social wrecks which have
startled tho present generation none
have been more hopeless.