Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-16

ened to assume the last method of decision,
which, among people cultured or savage,
Is an appeal to arms.
The pulse Of the republic was throbbing
at fever heat. North and south the people
were sensitive and on tho alert, SO sensi
tive, indeed, that they were ready to re-
spond to any new sensation that promised
to keep the national fever temperature up
to the dangerous point.
At this time Daniel E. Sickles was a
member of congress from New York city.
Daniel j.. Sickles was born in 1929. His
father was o man of considerable wealth
at that time, but being uneducated and
having made his money by hard work and
o great deal of good luck he could not ap-
preciate the value of education, and SO de-
termined that his son should win by his
own efforts, as he himself had done. When
about 16 years of age, young Sickles was
apprenticed to the printer 's-or compost
tor's-trade. He was youth with great
deal of inherited force of character, fine
physique and a determination to succeed
on his own account.
Before he was go years of age he had
mastered the secrets of typesetting, and, al
tary, with comnendable ambition and ell
ergy he determined to study the profession
of law. In due time he was admitted to
the bar
Then, as now, young lawyers imagined
that success in the profession depended
largely upon their prominence in politics,
and young Sickles, more than any man of
his time, believed in this as a means of
success. Endowed with fine presence,
and great fiuency without any oratorical
ability, and the courage that usually char
acterizes physical strength, rather than
strong convictions, this man soon became
leader, particularly among that element
represented by the volunteer firemen and
state militia, which were then all impor-
tant factors in politics.
Up to 1852 Daniel K. Sickles was an i'm
portant factor in the local politics of New
York. He was regarded as man about
town, and with capacity to adapt him
self to his environment he was as much at
home in the swell clubs of the city as
among the Bowery FOUNDERS, but it was
noticed then and is remembered now that
he had not access to the best society. I'm
doubtedly this was due to his own inclina-
tions rather than to the wish of more cul-
tured people to ignore him.
In 1859 he became enamored of an Ital-
ian girl, aged 16, the daughter of an itin-
Grant musician. This girl was petite, dark
eyed, black haired, vivaciOus and inherit
ed the musical talents of her father.
Sickles ut this time had q fair practice,
was very ambitious and the prospective
heir to u large fortune, SO that when he
proposed marriage to the Italian girl she
was more than willing.
When, from 1852 to 1856, James BCch-
anan, afterward president of the United
States, represented this country at the
court of St. James, Daniel Z. Sickles was
secretary Of legation. He took his young
wife with him to England, where a
daughter was born, and where her beauty
and tendency to coquetry made her an OBJ
jcct of admiration on the part of one sex
and OF prudish gossip on the part of the
other.
When, in 1856, Buchanan was elected
President of the United States, Daniel +.
Sicklcs returned to New York and ran for
congress. He was elected in 1856 and
again in 1858. In 1859 he lived with his
wife and daughter in a house on President
square, directly across from the White
House.
At this time Daniel E. Sickles was 81
years of age and his wife 90, and although
rot great favorites both were well known
in the society of tho capital at that day.
During his residence in England Mr..
Sickles met il London a prominent Amer
lean jurist, a member of distinguished
Maryland family, Philip Barton Key.
Mr.. Keys uncle was the author of the ia
nous national song, The Star Spangled
Banner" He was related to the Floyds,
Lees, Calhouns, Pendletons and other ia
nous southern families. Philip Barton
Key had been married and was now 42
years Of age, but childless and for many
years had been a widower. Although by
no means handsome, he was over feet in
height, erect. powerful and graceful. Well
educated and possessed of ample means,
he was a great fayorite with men, and, in
the language of one who knew him we'll,
''he was the idol of the women of WASH
ington."
When Daniel E. Sickles established a
home in Washington, Mr.. Key became at
once welcome and frequent visitor At
this time Key was United States district
attorney for the District of Columbia, a
position that had very much more impor-
tance at that time than now.
1t is said-with what truth we cannot