The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-06-24

Of half a century ago that stirred society
and the nation. Woman's frailty, WON.
ans faithlessness, mans treachery and
mans revenge-all are revealed In its two
brief pages. II tells of broken homes
wrecked lives, and still above it all, like a
halo, shines the glory Of distinction at
tained, Of brave deeds done.
Laura b. Sickles at one time could have
claimed the hand of the bravest and best
in America or Europe. Daughter Of a
man OF distinction, wealth and power,
there was nothing the future might not
have brought TO her. While still in her
teens she reigned with queenly sway at
the court Of Madrid. Cavaliers with the
bluest blood of old CASTLE bowed before
her. The horizon Of her life was roseats
tinted, but somewhere afar off was dark
speck, a menacing blot upon her heritage
Laura Sickles was not a girl one would
call beautiful, though her mother was
gifted with radiant charms Of feature and
person. Her father, too, the famous Gen
eral Daniel z. Sickles. was and still is
splendid specimen Of physical manhood
His seventy years are carried with a dig.
nifty, majesty even, from which his
crutches cannot detract.
It was away back in 1853 that Daniel
+. Sickles, then in his thirty-irst year and
corporation attorney for New York city,
was married to Teresa Bagioli. She was
only seventeen and the daughter Of A.
Bagioli, an Italian music teacher Of New
York. Beautiful as dream of an Italian
morning was the bride Of the rising young
lawyer politician. She was accomplished
as well, a brilliant conversational in sew
eral languages and in every way fitted to
Ill l. u
her.
The young lawyer met her when he was
studying Italian under Lorenzo Daponte,
the hbrettist Of Verdi's most celebrated
opera The elder Sickles. one of the rich.
est men Of New York in those days, had
carefully educated his son, but the youth
was self willed and there had been a quar-.
rel. The son could get along without his
father, and the old gentleman was pleased
at his rapid advancement. The beautiful
Teresa was self willed also Her busy
father could not devote much time to her
moral education. and left to herself she
grew to womanhood full Of the choicest OF
feminine physical charms, but deficient in
those beauties Of soul which elevate woman
above the sphere of ordinary humanity.
James Buchanan, already a power in the
politics Of New York, was sent to London
Is minister from the United States. His
political acumen aid knowledge Of men
led him TO accept young Sickles as secre.
tary OF legation. In London Mrs. Sickles
was the rage. She was presented to the
queen, and at many Of the great social
functions in the English capital and at the
country houses Of the aristocracy she was
the observed Of all observers.
1t was while her father was in London
in 1884 that Laura was born at the old
Sickles homestead in Bloomingdale Laura
Ba9ioli Sickles she was christened The
next year the handsome secretary of lega.
tlon returned to this country to help elect
James Buchanan president of the United
States. At the same election he was chosen
as state senator and the next year he
was sent to congress from New York. He
made his home on Lafayette square, then
ono OF the most fashionable sections of the
capital. Husband and wife were petted
members of Washington's best society
Among the chosen friends of both was
handsome Philip Barton Key, son of Fran.
els Scott Key, the author of "The Star
Spangled Banner" Key escorted Mrs.
Sickles to the opera. and was devoted ad.
mirer and attendant of hers at the recep.
tions at the White House and the lega.
tions Mrs. Grundy began to whisper, and
finally things were told Mr.. Sickles.
1t was on Feb. 81, 1859. that Congress-
man Sickles killed Key, then the United
States attorney for the District Of Colum.
bia- He had two Derringers on his person
and FIVE shot revolver Mrs. Sickles had
previously confessed her sin to her hus.
band in writing. Sickles walked up to
Key, told him to prepare to die for dishon.
oring him and put three bullets into the
body Of his erstwhile friend.