The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-01-02


sned 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 the 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 T.. Sickles was a
member of congress from New York city.
Daniel E. Sickles was born in 1929. His
father was a man of considerable wealth
at that time, but being uneducated and
having made his money by hard work and
q great deal of good luck he could not ap-
preoiate the value Of education, and so de-
termined that his son should win by his
own efforts, as he himself had done. When
about 10 years of age, young Sickles was
apprenticed to the printer's-or compost
tors-trade He was a youth with great
deal of inherited force of character fine
physique and determination TO succeed
on his own account
Before he was 90 years of age he had
mastered the secrets Of typesetting, and, al
though his education was hardly rudimen-
tary, with commendable ambition and en-
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 means of
success. Endowed with fine presence,
and great auency without any oratorioal
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 flremen and
state militia which were then all impor-
tant factors in politics
Up to 1859 Daniel e. 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 at this time had fair practice,
was very ambitious and the prospective
heir to a large fortune, so that when he
proposed marriage to the Italian girl she
was more than willing.
When, from 1859 to 1856, James Buch-
anan, afterward president of the United
States, represented this country at the
court of st. James, Daniel Il. Siokles was
secretary of legation. He took his young
wife with him to England, where
daughter was born, and where her beauty
and tendency to coquetry made her an OBJ
ject of admiration on the part of one sex
and Of prudish gossip on tho part of the
other.
When, in 1866, Buchanan was elected
president of the United States, Daniel X.
Siokles 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 23, and although
not great favorites both were well known
in the society of the capital at that day.
During his residence In England Mr..
6ickles met In London prominent Amer
lean jurist, a member of distinguished
Maryland family, Philip Barton Key.
Mr.. Keys uncle was the author Of the fa-
nous national song, 1.-THE Star Spangled
Banner" He was related to tho Floyds,
Lees, Calhouns, PendletoDs and other ia
nous southern families, Philip Barton
Key had been married and was now ~
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 faVorite with men, and, In
the language of one who knew him we'll,
she 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 a frequent visitor. At
Nthis time Key was United States district
attorney for the District of Columbia, a
Position that had very much more impor-
tanpe at that time than now.
It's said-with what truth we cannot
pretend to state--that at this time Mr..
Sickles was often absent from home, and
that his,wife was left very much alone.
The absenoe of the husband, however, does
not seem 10 have weakened the attractions
of the Siokles mansion to ons of the Wis
itors, sna that visitor was Philip Barton
Key. The jealousy OF Mr. Siokles was
aroused, but his faith In his own attrao-
tions, being even stronger than his faith in
his wife, oomforted him with the belief
that she could not be false to him.
At this time Mr.. Key was one Of the
most conspicuous figures in the streets OF
the capital. In the mornings he dressed
IN "a dark gray suit. He had dark iron gray
hair and rode superb iron gray horse
with oonsummate mastery and ability. His
route always lay past the Siokles mansion,
and observers noticed that In going by the
houae no ALWAYS Falssd his hat or waved