The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-11
EX-CONGREsSMAN SPRAGUE FOL
LOWS BOUTELLE TO THE
M'LEAN HOSPITAL
HAD WEALTH AND POSITION
MILLIONAIRE AND SOCIAL LEADER
IN BOSTON AND THE Ma
TIONAL CAPITAL
SPECIALISTS OF NO AVAIL
Mental Disorder Has Been Growing
for Three Years-BOuteIIe Says
He VIII BE Glad to
Welcome Him.

BOSTON, Mass, March 10.-Charlcs r
Sprague, the Massachusetts millionaire
and former Washington society leader.
Is the second eX-congressman now in
confinement in the Mclean insane
asylum. Former Representative Bou-
telle has been an inmate for some time.
When Mr.. Boutelle was told of his
at the asylum, he did not express any
great surprise, and simply said:
Charlie Sprague? Yes, I know him.
Well where is he stopring?'
When told that Mr.. Sprague was at
Hope cottage, he said:
We'll, We'll l must see him soon. We
will have some fine talks together-good
talks of the good times in congress.
Sprague is fine man. I shall enioy his
company if we are only allowed to be
together @,,...'-4 81 f4-.a
Mr.. Sprague's term in congress expired
last Monday. Eminent specialists. both
here and abroad. have fur some time
treated Mr. Sprague, and lis confine-
ment in the asylum was not decided
Upon until every means of relief that
medical skill could afford had been tried
AFFIICTION. DATES FROM 1897.
Mr.. Sprague first manifested symptoms
of nervous disorder in the fall of 1897.
1t was tEen- believed that with proper
medical aid his recovery would be
speedy, but as the days heightened into
months those who came into daily con-
tact with Mr.. Sprague noticed q change
There were periods however. when Nir.
Sp1ague's mind was so clear as to de-
celVe his family. With his family the
representative went abroad last summer
ostensibly for pleasure trip, but in
reality to consult noted European ply.
sicians as to his condition. He seemed
to improve in Carlsbad and after a stav
of scme time there the family went to
Paris. where Dr. Charcot. a specialist
on mental and nervous diseases. treated
Mr.. Sprague. Mr. Sprague returned to
America and the family took a house in
Washington, D. C.
The family physician, well known
Boston doctor, has been constantly at
tending Mr.. Spragde since his return
from abroad. At the close of last week
his physician received dispatch to 90
Immediately to Washington and assume
complete charge OF his patient.
1t was deemed best to place Mr.
Sprague in a sanitarium, and a day or
two later, in the company of the ply
S1':lan and valet, he arrived here He
remained i'll hotel for few DAYS. and
On Wednesday the family physician ac-
companfed Mr.. Sprague to the hospital
in Waverly
Mrs. Spfague Is IN Nassau, looking
after the health of her little daughter.
1t is not thought she is aware Of the
complete breakdown Of her husband
WAS A CAPITAL SOCIETY LEADER
Mr.. Sprague was born in this city
forty-three years ago He graduated
from Harvard in 1879, and began his DO
litical career in the common council In
1888. He was elected in 1890 to the state
house of representatives, in which he
served two terms. He was elected 10 the
state senate in 1895, and the next year
was sent TO congress from the Eleventh
district.
Mr. Sprague was man of quiet tenn
perate, studious habits, unosten tatious
and democratic in manner Socially he
and his family ranked as leaders His
wife was Mary B. Pratt, granddaughter
of Commodore Weld and. with Mrs
Lars Anderson, hclress to tie com.
modore's fortune of about SIS. 600 O0O.
Their only child is six-year-old daugh-
ter.
In Washington Mr.. Sprague rented the
mansion that has been occupied and
owned by former Vice President Levi Z.
Morton. Here Mr.. Spra que gave several
lavish entertainments
Mr.. Sprague recently came into promI-
nence on account of an invitation which
he sent to members of the committee Of
the District of Columbia of which he
was a member Another member of the
committee was a Mr. White. a negro.
The refusal of certain other members
of the committee to accept an invitation
to dinner at which this colored man was
to be present caused a great deal OF talk.
The affair was finally disposed of by
having the invitations withdrawn.