Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-09-14

Thsrs is scascely : plc4ure e painting
in the house. In the daintily finished blue
and gray room designed for Chief Justice
Chase il an unframed oil portrait of q pretty
blonde girl with her hand on pet dogs head.
1t was that of his daughter by his first mar
riage who died in childhood. The house was
unevenly furnished. A carved mantle Of
black oak that would be treasured by Sypher
was in an obscure room. A massive Vene-
tisn armoire and other Venetian furniture
was mixed in with Ysnkee household goods.
A feature of the construction of the house is
q false hearth in each room, beneath which
is a chute for ashes and dust leading to the
cellar. Electric bells were scattered through
the house. There are splendid chandeliers
but no gas. Amid these scenes of decay.
Ex-Governor Sprague and his boy Willie have
lived for several years, in solitude broken by
great excitement as the officers of the Law
have come about the place. Fifty guests,
with 30 servants. At one time spent merry
days here at the expense of the host, who
keeps loaded shotgun now resting on the
carved mantle upheld by the mermaids. An
occasional lady friend has in visiting the
place, put q check to the ruin and the loss BY
having the rich carpets moved from beneath
the leaks, and securing the siiverware found
behind books in closets. and even in the
grass on the lawn. Much of the furniture
has been boxed up and sent away from Ca
nonchet and much remains.
One room was not opened until recently by
ex-Gov. Sprague. 1t was the one occupied
by his wife, and when she quilted Canonchet
the door was locked and her husband carried
the key. When she obtained a divorce, he
packed up her goods and sent them to her.
The room was know among visitors as the
mysterious chamber When the ex-
Governor showed the mansion to visitors he
passed this closed door in silence.
Mrs. Sprague's plans were never completed.
She hoped to make it the grandest villa in
America, and it is said that her early ambition
was to establish political salon far from all
rivals, where her entertainments would
attract the men of power and influence in the
land. who could help her in her design to
make her father President of the United
States. When this ambition was blighted
she is said to have desired to reign as social
queen, and she prepared her environment
accordingly.
When the first batch of work was finished
on CanoLchet. ex-Gov. Sprague, then a man
of large affairs, was under the impression
that it had cost about $40, 900. One day his
brother Amasa, who had charge of the f.
.nances, asked him about insuring the place.
"Well, put S25, 900 on it," said the ex-
Governor.
Twenty five thousand" exclaimed
Amasa.
Not over $50. 600"
WELL" said Amasa, ''here are bills for
$500, 600"
The property which was sold on Tuesday
for $62 $50 cost nearly of not all of a million
dollars. In the whirligig of time it passes
into the hands of the husband of descendant
of old Gov. Atwood Robinson. Mr.. Francis
ID. Moulton it is believed, has purchased it
for speculation. 1t has often been talked
of as grand club house, and again as
gambling house and cafe for millionaires.
The landscape about it is in its primitive
state. Two hundred acres of it are made up
of a salt marsh with an inlet from the sea.
Mrs. Sprague expected that her husband
would build ornamental stables and adorn
the grounds, but he never did. There is not
vet setting for the costly and old jewel.
The future of the place is apt to be part of
the summer life at Narragansett.-N. L.
NuV