The Portland daily press., 1899-08-02

estate when 10 became embarrassed.
Her marriage was the climax of Kate
Chase's career. After that life was n oon
slant struggle against adverse ciroum.
stances. First, her husbands fortune
was swept away. Then came trouble in
the family. and Mrs. Chase secured a
divorce.
She removed to Edgewood, the country
estate of her father, Chief Justice Chase.
near Washington. There Kate Chase.
though re tired from society, stln quietly
entertained the most distinguished people
in public life. But there was a mortgage
ON the homestead. and 1t was about to be
foreclosed when the friends of Mrs.
Sprague and of her father satisfied the
Indebtedness, and left ner the place unin-
numbered.
Many leading men consulted Mrs.
Chase's political Judgment at Edgswood.
The campaign against Blaine is said to
have been mapped out there.
: Later Mrs. Sprague started out "a a
market gardener, raising vegetables for
the Washington market. This proved
successful.
Mrs. Chase was in many respects one
died at Edgewood, her country home
near Washington on Monday.
She was the daughter of the late Chief
Justice 5. P. Chase and married SEN ator
Sprague OF Rhode Island.
Kate Chass was born In Ohio In 1875.
and was only 10 years Of age In 1881 when
she came 70 Washington with her father,
who had teen asked by Mr.. Lincoln to
become member of his cabinet. Gov.
Chase was then In his prime. kats was
the mistress Of his establishment He
lived at the corner of Sixth and &c streets.
then fashionable part of the city.
Hates education had been fairly good for
the time, but she never had anything
like the finish that girls in her social
position receive nowadays. says CORES
pondent of the Boston Al vert User. The
studies essentially feminine In particular.
had boon good deal neglected and often
omitted. Music she cared little for. OF
the modern languages she knew almost
nothing. Her reading had pesn desultory
rather than wide.
No woman that ever lived was quicka r
to perceive her deficiencies than was the
eldest daughter of the great secretary of
the treasury. She selected q competent
| instructor In French and German, and
began her studies. Within yesr after
she commenced her course of the Ian
guages she could speak German with ex-
ceptional duenoy.
In 1883 she was, In olsverness, ambi-
ton, culture and beauty the first young
woman in Washington society, or, for
that matter, In America. She had admir-
ers and would-bs lovers by the scors. At
least TWO foreign ministers were hopeless
~ In love with her. and one, representing
the greatest of European powers, twice
asked her to become his wife. The Mar
quis of harrington. then a young man
not much beyond his majority, was In
America ON q visit. He met Miss Chase
and forthwith became one Of her warmest
admirers. Whether he proposed to her or
NOT, he certainly was very much in love.
Gov. Sprague Of Rhode Island was the
richest and best known man of his years
then the public life. He was elected to
the U. s. senate the youngest man who
ever attained so high an honor. He met
Miss Chase and was OF course attracte d
by hsr, and then his interest grew deeper.
Of the courtship but little can be said,
for Miss Chase took the matter very care
fully under consideration before she per-
mitted Gov. Sprague to pay her any at
tsntion.
The wedding took place In W ashington,
when 5. p. Chase was secrerary of the
treasury.
President Lincoln was among the
guests. He reached the house Just after
the ceremony had been psrforme d, and
he gave the bride hearty kiss VIII en- he
came in.
Then Mrs. Sprague blossomed out as
queen of society. Statesmen, amhassa
doris, princes attended her social func-
tions. She ruled the cabinet as she
pleased. Eyery wish she had was graft
fled. Her gowns were made In Paris, 20
and 80 at a time.
Early In her married life Kate Chase
Sprague huilt the now famous Canonohet
on an estate of AGO acres at Narragansett
Pier. The house was at that time the
grandest mansion ON either coast. IL
staads on the fasorite camping ground
of Canonchst, chief of the Narragansstt
tribe of Indians. 1t cost 81, COO, 900.
Its furnishings were brought from the
stores Of many countries. IL is a palace
within. strangely, yoluptuously featured,
labyrinth of halls, hooks, salons. cham
bers. towers, esrie dens. theatre, library
and Is rooms. 1t has $40, 300 worth of
hand carving In the dining room and
other appointments of similar extrava-
gance.
1t stands today. dark. but proud; the
bier OF its former hospitality to the dis
tinguishsd men and women of two oonti-
nents. Horace Greslsy used to be a vel
come guest there; Conkling's name is
indelibly STAN ped upon the place and
time, and the student OF the early 7os
will recall the Sprague- Chase ConkIi
episode, at which time 1t was aIleve.i