The Irish standard., 1895-07-20
"A Woman Of Taste 4 Culture 'll'l' and 81
Refinement Gone to NJ.
the Wall.
A riodern Mime. De Stael Vino
Had congressmen: and States
men at Her Fee.
Laughs at Her Misfortunes, but.
Cannot Help Listening 70 the
Auctioneer's, Hammer.


that the furniture Of Mrs, Katharine Il az II
Chase. daughter Of the late chief Justice
and wife Of the late senator Ssprague, Of
Rhode Island. had been seized for debt
and was about to be disposed Of at sa:nc-
tion. IS Sss Il I'D 3ss5a N .8 4
Her name Is really Katharine Chase
sprague. but she Is better known as Mrs. +
Kate Chase. The furniture and bric-a-
brac Is all valuable, and even in Wash shl
ington, where antique furniture is hawk
ed about like the paraphe hernalia of lodg-
ing-houses. II y expected TO- bring s. 900
or $4,000. There are about 100 pieces,
from sparlor, library and chamber sets.
There are some valuable pieces OF deco
rative china and many valuable French b
plate mirrors Of immense size. There
Ii also library Of several thousand vol: l
umes. All but the mirrors is stored ct T 9
furniture auction house on p street.
awaiting the final order Of the trustees.
the mirrors are at Edgswood, the coun-
try seat, q place Of % acres just beyond
lexington, lett her by her father This
place was mortgaged and mortgaged
again. II, Z.
Kate Chase was poor manager. She
had blind faith in the future Of her prop
erty, and that Edgewqod would some day
, make her rich again. It would have
1cuEht a comfortable sum three years
's,s during the boom, but Kate Chase
w,uA,e,. tor the boom to get bigger, and it
did, i This woman, who was SO long
thu y sledged queen of society, has
two liying daughters. One, Ethel, was
carefully educated for the stage, but has
not yet made her. mark before the foot
lights. The children are Spragues,
dark-eyed, shy and morbid. All In all,
the mistortunessof Kate Chase make
SAD story. 8.
Mrs. Chase was in many respects one
Of the most remarkable women ever
known to Warrington society. In !. the
days, Of her prime there was NO diisputtns
her leadership. She was actually the
queen of society. She could make or
,lnmake social aspirants with an iDyita--
tion Of snub. b Many stories are told
Of the peculiar power which she at one
time welded here. Her drawing rooms
came nearer realizing the dream Of 9 sa-
Ion after tile Nine. de Stael model than
anything that has been seen here since
Public men and aspiring politicians Wed
with one another for her favor. It was
often predicted before the downfall OF
Gov. sprague that the arts and fascina-.
lions Of his wife would make him presi-
dent Il he lived. Gov, Sprague is now
q recluse, Of morose temperament and
strange methods Of life In Rhode Island.
Through all her troubles. Mrs. Chase has
managed to keep UP appearances. She
nhuet be good deal Of q philosopher, for
she has laughed at her own misfortunes
aud worn bright and winsome smile
through all the dark days. She Is with
out bitterness, twithstanding her great
disappointments. Some time ago the
writer had somewhat extended conver-5
sation with her and found her ready to
talk OF her affairs with engaging frank
ness and something OF her old vivacity;
and fascination. # there was any bit
terness In her talk Of the events OF the
past 1t was because Gov Sprague had
made no provision for the support and
education of their children. Her only
son, who resembled the Spragues and not
the Chases, committed suicide some
years ago at Seattle. It Is remarkable
that the union Of two such distinguished
families as the Sprasnes and Chases
should have led to much misery. Moth
Ing but Ill luck has followed either Of
The families since the separation OF Gov.
sprague from his wife. Though Kate
Chase married the richest young man Ia
public life, the man who was thought to
be the greatest catch + and have the
brightest future, she he's been living for
! afquarter Of q century pom the property
left her by her. father, receiving not a
single cent from the estates okk her hlls-i
band, once reckoned ct mill Hons
Roscoe Conkling, whose attentions
brought her 80 much unhappiness, 11frs.
Chase speaks of to this day with respect
and admiration. She talks frankl sot tlae
4 opisode 1T Canonchet which, attracts so
81 much attention years ago, ana ascrt rtbss
4 all 3thesunp npleasantness0f 0f that affair 10 liSf
4 hnsband's ungovernable temper and Stfuef
d ptctons, which were sneFer tlst Enable
& Inr reasonable. NotWi Withsstandin hera 1re-
meet for Mr. C0nklink 81 IS well Known
Atst0 her intimate Mrs. Cha6e. m GhAg
snetall cal though her leSal name
prague, expresses esl ID aopin Mon hat M.
i ling was mo &IlS sto SsxTe \ aiis
s0n tspu<Ati0n than III pr q y VI hers lss
Till