Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-01-11
THE STORY OF A WOMAN,
The Life of Kate Chase ana Her Infiuen
Mt W8shfnUtOn

Enc Lie OF Aate Chas0 ana Her influence
at Washington.
st. Louis Globe Democrat: The an
nouncement that the fine old estate of
Edgewood, near Washington, the country
home of the late Chief Justice Chase, is
soon to be sold at auction, will serve to
revive public interest in his eldest
daughter, to whom he bequeathed the
property, and who has made strenuous
but unsuccessful efforts to save it for her
children. There was time when Kate
Chase was veritable queen of society
Her sway in Washington was supreme,
and her lightest word had certain
public value. She was beautiful, intel
ligent, and ambitious, with special apti-
tude for shining social career, and she
lived in an atmosphere of constant ad-
miration and tiattery. 1t was kind of
butterfly existence, to be sure, but it
required rare tact, nevertheless. and
other qualities of a superior order in
their way. The general homage that
she received was the result OF close
study of the art of pleasing, and a
sleepless vigilance in the matter of
adapting circumstances to cherished pur-
poses. In her case. as in all similar
ones triumph did not come as a mere
matter of course; it had to be achieved
by patient and judicious endeavors, in
the same manner that men accomplish
desired ends. She did not rule by sheer
force of her beauty, nor yet by virtue of
of any other one strictly natural gift, but
through combination of potent ele-
ments, with the happy faculty of putting
each in turn to the most effective use.
1t is great mistake to suppose that
the woman who becomes society
leader is indebted to any sort of accident
for her position. She is not permitted
to gain that coveted distinction without
a struggle, but is sure to have competi-
tors whom she must surpaes in strategy
and diplomacy. There are always ad-
verse conditions for her to consider
She does not dare to take anything for
granted. The price of success is careful
attention to details and quick action in
emergencies. 1t was so with Kate Chase
when she went to Washington with the
reputation of local belle and under
took the task of making herself foremost
in what might be called national
sphere. She did not at once reach the
Ill, - IL II
ress was gradual and she did not try to
hasten it by doubtful expedients. Step
by step she put aside the distractions in
her path and subordinated reigning
favorites to her dream of pre-
dominance. 1t was done SO graciously,
so adroitly, 80 charmingly that
even her own sex was won to her sup
port at last, and society crowned her
queen as by royal right. There was no
other mystery in it than that the skillful
employment of given means to given
ends, which is the secret of all kinds of
success, and the power by which fortune
is propitiated in favor of one person over
another.
There can be DO doubt as to the fact
that Kate Chase could have married any
man she desired among the throng Of
those who paid court to her, and she
doubtless thought that she was doing
the best possible thing for herself in that
respect when she chose Governor
Spragne, He had wealth, political prom
inence and high social standing. three
advantages that seemed to give full
assurance + happiness. But the match
turned out to be a most unfortunate
one and divorce resulted. The
woman thus cruelty disappointed where
she had hoped for SO much felt her
humiliation To such an extent that it
} changed the whole course of her life
She lost all taste for the attractions of
society. and devoted herself entirely to
the care ana education of her children.
In the course of events, financial re-
verses were added to her cup Of bitter
r ness. and she WAS reduced to such dis
tress that she was obliged to part with
many of the gifts and memorials of her
distinguished father. Her one hope has
been trat a purchaser might be found
t for E,dgewood at ii price sufficient to pay
her debts and leave a surplus for herself
and those dependent upon her; and no"
this last chance is about to vanish. The
t mockery and the pity of it all cannot be
: expressed in words 1t ie story to be
read with general sadness and profouno
sympathy for the once queenly daushteI
: of great statesman, jurist and patriot