New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-06
GOSSIP OF THE CAPITAL.
THE CAREER OF MRS. KATE CHASE
SPRAGUE.
YORK AS A MOTHER OF sENAToRs-THB
BANKER AND THE DOG

washington Aug 1.-THE death OF Mrs. Kate
Chase Sprague recalls an interesting period in
society at the Capital a period of which the
brilliant daughter OF Salmon p. Chase was the
most notable figure. You have no royalty in
thls country" said a foreign Minister at a White
House reception, noting Miss Chase on the arm
OF her father who at that time held the Treas
ury portfolio, land l have seen many queens
but none with regal a bearing as Miss
Chase" and, although not descended from a
race OF queens Kate Chase was still a queen. an
mperious and exacting one, who reigned. an
absolute monarch. a circle of loyal and de-
voted subjects
Only sixteen when she became the head Of her
fathers household radantly beautiful. witty.
graceful, determined. inordinately ambitious and
surrounded by a of obsequious courtiers.
Kate Chase was for a time, at least the most
influential woman at the Capital her home the
centre Of fashion; and she undertook projects at
which hoary headed statesmen would hesitate,
the most ambitious and the one nearest her
heart being the election Of her father to the
Presidency.
1t was said by her intimate friends and con-
fdants that her marriage to William Sprague.
then Governor Of Rhode Island, the chief social
incident Of that period. which resulted most
happily, to further this end. Her disap-
competition for the first Office in the land, for
which he realized as it was impossible for his
daughter to do, he had real prospects, is not
to be measured. II saddened and embit-
tered her whole life, which was. indeed
made up Of brightest lights and deepest
shadows. In her girhood and young wife
hood. beautiful. wealthy. loved and courted
all the world envied her. in middle age, bowed
by sorrow, poor, alone neglected, almost for
gotten until the fact that she was about to lose
EdgewOod, the family homestead, inherited
from her father brought the friends of that
great man to her relief. the world hardly re-
membered to pity her. 1t the intention of
those public spirited who venerated the
memory of the former Chief Justice that his
daughter should pass her last days In comfort.
but reared in afiuence and never having
learned the value of money. the aid given her
soon slipped away, and at the time she was
stricken with her mortal illness this time
queen. who counted the greatest of the day
In her train. held position in one Of the depart
ments
Mrs Sprague DID not resemble her father and
yet she had many characteristics that suggested
him. Like the Chief Justice her presence. al
though slender, graceful, willowy in figure. was
imposing. and she inherited in a marked degree
his rare qualities Of mind. To the end she re-
tanned much Of her old charm Her face would
now and then light up with the radiant smile
that brought so many admirers to her feet, and
she never lost her grace and dignity Of bearing
or the tact that made her mistress OF all situa-
tons She knew, too, how to endure adversely
and was truly a worthy daughter OF that great
man Of whom Theodore Parker once said: On
the greatest question Of the age. the question of
Human Rights, as champions of mankind there
Will appear Adams. Giddngs, Chase, Palfrey.
Mann, Hale Seward. Rantoul and Sumner"
Ali Ferrouh Bey who for some eighteen
months has represented the Sultan in the Unit ed
States has shaken the dust Of this Capital from
his feet and turned his face toward the land Of
the Crescent it is said, never to return. Just
why this accomplished diplomat has been re-
called is not known. for he has served his Gov
eminent acceptably and has been a persona
grata in official circles here. 1t may be that he
Is summoned home to receive a promotion and
Il may be, as has been constantly rumored in
the last year. that the Turkish legation at Wash
ingtOn is soon to be raised to embassy and
Ali Ferrouh Bey is not high enough in the diplo-
matte service to warrant his being named to the
responsible post Of ambassador.
Whatever the cause Of his retirement. the
Padishah's envoy left town smiling and
his appearance here. Nothing has runied his
good nature or disturbed his composure. he has
been petted and coddled. he has been made fun
of and laughed at, he has been threatened and
abused but his countenance has remained I'M
clouded and he has ever been serenely placid
and urbane-