Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-16
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
A Room in Cleveland With Quite a
History.
Colonel Dick Parsons, the Man Who Intro
duced Governor Sprague to Kate
Chase, Tells What He
Knows.

CLEVELAND, May lj.-"Did you know that
it was in this town that Kate Chase and
Governor Sprague first met said Col. Dick
Parsons to a reporter, toying idly with an
after.dlnner cigar, as they sat in the cozy
library OF his home on Prospect street.
"Yes, sir, introduced them myself, and
they felt in love with each other right of.
II was at the time OF the unveiling Of the
Perry monument down in the park, early
in the war. Gov. Chase and his family
always stopped at my house when in Cleve.
land and Kate was visiting us then. Over
there pointing to leather covered easy
chair in the corner, "is where
GOV. Chase Used 10 sit.
in the same chair on the same spot, and
the room overhead he used to occupy.
We have always called il the Governors
room. II was in that chair that he decided
10 accept the chief JustlCeship. lie came
here one night and We talked il all over,
tho raasons for and against his aCCeUtanCe.
] thought ne ought 10 take IL. we SAT up
late, but before he went 10 bed his decision
was reached, and the next day in this room
he wrote out his acceptance. Garfield came
here the second day after his nomination.
lie sat in the Governors chair for an hour
or two talking about the nomination, and
feeling pretty blue that day. Then he
opened his mail, and answered lot oi dis
patches from that table.
about Kate Chase oh, yes. We'll, the
Perry ceremonies lasted over several days,
ending with Il
Hall at the kennard House.
Ny wife ard Kate and drove down in
my Carrisge. We had barely entered the
4. H., | -
him 10 the ladies. He and Kate went oil
together. and for the rest OF the evening
whenever We saw one OF them We were
rretty sure TO see the other. IL vas case
of Instant and mutual infatuation. Rhode
Island had sent depuiation 10 share IN
the celebration. because Parsons, Of my
family. by the way, aud who was Perry's
right. .Aand man in the fight on Ihe lake,
was 4 Rhode Islander. SpraSGe was at
tended by his full star md governors \
guard Of about hundred, with hne
band of music. They made gorgeous
display and stunning impression. lie was
the only man in black clothes IN the whole
pur;y aHd being
Young and Handsome
and splendidly surrounded he seemed ex'
aCtly suited To- iNalr h!i!lIIncy and beau
~. Tor she was not only the most brilliant
girl. but the most brilliant woman ! ever
net. Iier viyaciOus manner and graceful
figure. clear complexion, chestnut
hair and expressive eyes com
manded everyone admiration. 80
was il a, wonder. they took TO each
other | remember very we'll how, when
il was getting late that night and we want
ed 10 90 home, Kate came over TO us with
Srrague and persuaded US to stay longer.
I believe the celebration enhed with the
ball. can't remember whether sprnSue
called here before he left for home. but in
any event he went 10 Washington The next
Kate wns Living There.
They met again, and within year OF their
iutrcduetion were married. believe that
meanwhile Sprague became interested IL u
widow who afterward married here sRd
lived in the big house on Euclid avenue
now owned by the Union club. But when
Spray.e met Kate again the old flame was
famed. he forgot the willow, and wed
ding soon followed. They came here on
then wedding trip, and Of course had the
governor ; room.
Il don't know much Of the early period
Of their married life, because soon alter the
welding Z went as consul ~ Rio JAneiro
and Gldn't hear about them. Bot some
wears before publicity was given To their
relations Rates friends knew tb.t 1t had
/ been
Ha,fy and Misiaken Marriage.
! Sprs sue's d!ssipsied hsbitJ. however
! varied were not all that made them IN
! hsppy. Ths truth Was they were not o
. oonEe1ial temperament or disposition, Al
! fer sack as lSs ) o. 1870 Kate informed nj
( that their relations for two years bad beei
, Of the most distant ch sracts-, and long to
! foYe that they had ceased 70 be attractive ID
! Zach other. Il Was tad, Indeed, that tsn'
- we'll attsd 10 make home . psrasss
should have found il .. purgatory. ant
while slkfssr friends deplhIed the msfor
tune twas but natursl, that We s.soult
have been yratifed when at last the Ger
tsinty appeared OF hek release frou-a mis-
mated alliance. Tse, mistake was dii
covered and the end fpreshadowed jOng be
fore CoDkling appe'sed upon the scene
any capacity"