Evening star., 1896-10-30
MARRIAGE OF MISS SPRAGUE
seustly United in July to Dr.. Frank Donald
The Romance Culminated in San
FnQnciseo by n Public Marriage
Both Well-Known.

A telegram In the New York Herald this
morning from San Francisco says:
The romance of DR.. Frank Donaldson
and Ethel Chase Sprague. an actress, who
II the daughter Of Mrs. Kate Chase
Sprague. eliminated today in a hasty mar
riage. They have been living here in Sc
clusion for three months. and hoped to
avoid notoriety. but their secret became
known. and the report was circulated that
they had been married. A little after noon
I found Dr.. Donaldson, and asked him
about the rur1or. He was greatly agitated
1T Is true" he said. IT was married to
Miss Sprague on July 20. in this city"
When told that no record existed of a IL
cense or marriage certificate, he remained
oDstfnately silent. He would give no de-
talls' except to say that the July marriage
was private one. and he and his wife
wanted 1t kept secret. Then he inquired
the way to the marriage license office and
the address of clergyman.
since the newspapers have found US
out. he said. I'VE will be married at once
IN the orthodox way"
SO, about dusk Dr. Donaldson and the
pretty actress went to the Howard Street
Methodist Church. with a license on which
the Ink was hardly dry. The Rev. w, w.
Ease the pastor. had been summoned from
ms mousse and Edward NJ. Boyd. a personal
friend OF the BRIDES brother "WtiI." now
deceased. consented to act as a witness to
the ceremony. DR.. Case called them to the
snado" OF the pulpit, said few kindly
WORDS OF advice and encouragement. and
Made item man and wife. The young
paysician was nervous, and the actress was
q. once fearful and smiling. After the GER
e.a1hy ..i sne talked to me Of her affairs.
came mere IN July on business" she
sald. In fact. 1 was to Join the Frawley
COMPANY, but the engagement fell through.
Wy Hlother was strongly opposed to nv
h.afIase ma 20 Frank. Besides. 1 realized that
dVn OF
3ure me professionally, and so we selected
70 arrange 1t very quietly and to keep 1t
secret as long as possible. l intended to
remain on the stage, and my husband is
wiling that shall do So"
3, Mrs. Donaldson refused to discuss th.
marriage or July 20. saying only that ii
had taken place and was legal DR.. Don
aidson Is professor of physiology in a
new new Institution called the College Of Ply
Siclans and Surgeons. He and his wife
nave heen living in the strictest privacy.
receiving little or no company save !nti-
mate friends. They decline even now to
give their address.
Known In baltimore,
DR.. Donaldson is well known in Balu
more. and comes of an old Maryland fam
lily. In early life he married Miss Mamie
&. Mcdonald. a member Of an old Virginia
family. and sister Of Mrs ]. Wilcox
Brown of this city. Their married life was
apparently happy one for several years,
but DR.. Donaldson gave up his practice in
Baltimore and accepted a position with an
insurance company to travel in Europe
He remained abroad several years with his
wife. but during that time complications
arose In their domestic life. and. upon their
return to America. Mrs. Donaldson procur-
ed a divorce. She is living in Baltimore
now with her three sons. tho eldest Of
whom Is boy OF twelve or fourteen years.
A member Of his family said yesterday
that the doctor wrote to his sisters about
three weeks ago that he was in San Fran
cisco. and that he had accepted profess
sorship In one Of the medical colleges of
that city.
Nothing is known Of the marriage by the
friends Of Mrs. Sprague in this city be-
yond the information contained in the
above dispatch. Mrs. Sprague Is at her
home. "Edgewood." but as Star reporter
was told today. had heard nothing Of the
marriage. Ethel Sprague has been on
the stage for a number of years. and for
time was with Richard Mansfield. She
has appeared at local theaters on several
occasions.