Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-08-15
MRS. KATE CHASE SPRAGUE.
Some RecolIectiOns Of That Famous
Beauty.

The despicable efforts of certain jour-
nails to continue the unjust persecution
Of the lady whose name heads this article
are constantly meeting with rebuke. An
old Washington detective who was in a
position to know the inside in matters,
both political and social, furnishes the
NOnpareil with some facts in the cele-
brated divorce case which at one time
attracted SO much attention.
When Chief Justice Chase succeeded
in marry ing his accomplished daughter,
Kate, TO Governor Sprague, then a
United States Senator, Sprague was sup
posed to be immensely wealthy and soon
thereafter commenced housekeeping in
graIJ style upon farm owned by the
Chief Justice. few miles out from the
city of Washington.
An attempt was made to initiate the
landed lristOcracy of England in the
management of this rural retreat. there
was head farmer or steward, with a
large force oc undeistrappers and the
farm was polished up like lawn at a
summer resort. There was q lodge
keeper, butler, a hOuSekeeper, head
chambermaid, a gOverness, a musical in
struc,or, a hostler, stable boy, a head
gardener, etc, force of more than forty
persons.
The farm soon became the ftvOrite
resort Of society and literary people. as
well as o. politicians. Mrs. Sprague was
a charming hostess and Der house was
sort of q refuge from the noise of the
city and the veXat ons of political life.
! Senator'S, judges, men of science and
| letters we've daily visitors, but no pcrsO IS
were the there as fri quently as Carl
Schurz, Conkling, Bayard, Herman,
Thurman and Potter, a member of the
llous5 from New Jersey, one Of the
purest men in Congress at that time
When tbs divorce case was commenced
skilled detectives were e,plovel by
Governor Sprague's attorneys To inter
view this army of domestics for the
purpose of breaking down the character
of Mrs. Sprague.
Nearly all of the entire force were al
different times approached aud impor
tuned both with money and with prom
iseS Of political prefcrment by SpraCue':
agent, who represented 10 them tina
Sprague wa. man Of great wealth anC
that by helping him as witnesses in hi
suit they would get good pay and that m
, ould give them continuous employ
ment at double the wages they were thel
getting.
{ One man, who had married a Germal
girl that had been Mrs. Sprague's mai
and had travelled with her when abroa,
was offered three thousand dolla S I
swear that Conkling and Mrs. Spragu
. had in Boston and other places bee
guilty of indiscretiOns. The miscrabl
husband tried TO persuade his wife
swear to all they wanted, but her sturd
German character revo.ted and she r,
, fused to be party to the perjury tha
: was asked of her. And TO the credit {
, the honesty Oft entire army ofservant
| working for the family, not one Wa
, found who would o. could testify to
single indiscreet act, with a siugle el
, ception, and this one testified that o
one occasion she had seen Mrs. Spragu
for a moment only-sit on Carl Schurz
lar, which act was too ridiculous fC
belief and was only calculated to pr
|, woke an incredulous smile.
' One and all said Sprague was drunl
ard. Isaac an educated and intelliger
o colored man, who was Sprague's bod
servant, said that he had known Sprdgu
to have DRINKS of three days duration
o and that when able to walk he woul
, follow Mrs. Sprague about the premise
using toward Der vulgar and indecer
> eDitbets. and that her universal custol
, was 10 simply get out of his way. Wh'
+ fearful penalty has this poor woma
: paid for her fathers towering ambitiO:
! Council Bluffs Nonpareil.