The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-10
KATE CHASE SPRAG|JE
Career of That Most Marvel
Gus Combination
OF BEAUTY AND BRAINS
Once a Power in National Pol.
itics--The ConkIing Episode.

New York, Aug. s-The death OF Mrs.
Kate Sprague last week closed the career
of one Of the most remarkable women
ever known In Washington.
1t was a career filed with romance;
a career of political influence unequalled
by any other American woman; a career
of unprecedented splendor followed by
bitter disappointment and closing in neg
lect and poverty. Here Is the tragedy of
a spoiled beauty.
She was the daughter of the late Sal
mon P. Chase, governor of Ohio, secre-
tary of theh treasury in President Lin
coins cabinet and chief justice Of the
United States supreme court.
Kate Sprague was born in 1910. Left
motherless in girlhood, she early became
mistress OF her fathers household, a po-
sition which gave great stimulus to her
social and intellectual growth. Her ia
nous father admitted that he owed much
to the popularity and wisdom of his gift
ed daughter in aiding his rapid political
advancement.
Before she had passed out of her teens
Kate Chase as not only one of the
reigning bellies of Cincinnati, but as gen.
orally spoken of as one Of the most as
tute politicians in Ohio. All her ambi-
tions were conferred in her father. BY 1850
he had twice been governor and United
States Senator once. That year he be-
came a great figure in national politics.
He was the most formidable candidate an
tagonizing Lincoln for the Republican
presidential nomination, and his daugh-
ter was his most influential supporter.
When Chase entered Lincoln's cabinet
Kate Chase's career in Washington be-
gan. and from that time till her death
she was a prominent figure in the life
of the capital, her influence often carry
ing more weight in national affairs than
that of powerful statesmen.
President Lincoln said more than once
that he could often rely upon her judg-
ment more surely than upon that Of 9TH
ers of his advisers. Socially she easily
led the house hold Of the president as the
first tlady in the cabinet" Poor Mrs.
Lincoln was no longer first when this
imperious young beauty appeared.
The intense ambition of Mr.. Chase to
be president was shared by his daughter
and, with arrogance OF youth, she
thought success was certain. So strong
was her desire to make her father presi-
dent that 1t Is said she married Rhode
Islands famous multi-millionaire, war
governor and senator, William Sprague,
to help carry out this design.
At that time Miss Chase was considered
the most beautiful and dashing young
woman in the country. She was twenty
four years Of age. William Sprague was
thirty-four. She might well have con-
sidered him a worthy match in those
days.
He was the youngest war governor of
all the states. He had been elected to
the United. States senate, the youngest
member. H had been in the war and
made a good record. He was one ofsthe
wealthiest men in the country and could
advance her social ambitions by making
her mistress Of Canonchet, then the most
superb country home inthe United States.
He was a very handsome man and as
much sought after by manageable wo-
men as she was by suitors for her hand.
Kate Chase mad the mistake Of marry
ing the man for what he appeared to be,
not for what he was, and dearly she
paid for it. But before she found this
out she enjoyed a time Of triumph.
The wedding was one of theh most no.
table that ever took place in Washington.
Wealth, fashion and official dignity were
FrSI. II
to bride who had no predecessor in
power, bearing, possibly. Dolly Madison.
and has had no successor as a social and
political power.
Mrs. Sprague revealed in millions, in
society, in the most dazzling life. The
gowns she imported from TNris, as many
as thoirtytwo at a time. were the talk
of society. Her jewels became famous.
With vast expenditures she proceeded
to make Canonchet an Aladdins palace.
1t may have been partly the extrava-
gance of the wife that caused Sprague's
fortune to dwindle. that FASTENED domes-
tic troubles. The two were dissimilar in
tastes. in character, in ambition.
Mrs. Sprague took far more interest IN
her fathers political future than in her
husbands. devoting herself to the former
her brllliancy she easily remained the
with more assiduity even than before
her marriage. With her wealth. her tact,
centre of attraction in Washington All
these gifts of fortune and of nature were
utilized in the effort to make her father
president OF the United States.
For atime II scanned that her dream
might be realized in 1865. Her father had
presided at the impeachment Of President
ohnson. and his name was frequently
mentioned in connection with the nomlna-
ton for the presidency by the recon-
structed Democracy. Mrs. Sprague enter
ed heart and soul into the canvess. She
came to New York. where the conven-
tion was held. hired a suit Of rooms at
the Fifth Avenue hotel and used all OF
her powers of fascination on the dele
gates. Here was the most persistent po-
liucal work ever performed by a woman.
but IL was all to no end. The Democrats
demanded more of the chief justice than