City about 1793, and died at London, England, July 29, 1871. After graduating at Columbia College, he studied law, and, removing to New Orleans practiced there and became a leader in Louisiana politics. From 1842 to 1845 he served in Congress as a state-rights Democrat. From 1853 to 1861 he was a member of the United States senate, and in the Civil War, when Louisiana seceded, he withdrew and was appointed Confederate minister to France. In company with James M. Mason, who was named minister to England, both were taken on the high seas by Captain Wilkes of the United States navy and brought as prisoners to the United States, where they were confined in Fort Warren. On the demand of England they were released, however, and proceeded on their respective missions. In France, aided by the sympathy of Napoleon III for the Confederate government, Mr. Slidell, though unable to secure recognition for his government, procured a ship, the Stonewall, for the Confederacy, and negotiated with French capitalists for a loan of $15,000,000. After the war closed, Mr. Slidell settled in England and resided there until his death.
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| JOHN SLIDELL |
Slime-Moulds. See Myxomycetes.
Sloane, William Milligan, American educator and author, was born at Richmond, O., Nov. 12, 1850, and graduated at Columbia College in 1868, continuing his studies at Leipsic and at Berlin. At Berlin he acted at the same time as secretary to George Bancroft, then United States minister to Germany, aiding him in his historical work. From 1876 to 1883 he was assistant and professor of Latin at Princeton University, and from 1883 to 1896 occupied the chair of history, with intervening visits to Europe. Since 1896 he has been Seth Low professor of history at Columbia University, New York City. He has also been editor of the New Princeton Review and one of the conductors of the American Historical Review. Among his writings are the Life of Renwick Sloane (his father), The French War and the Revolution, Life of James McCosh and Napoleon Bonaparte, a History.
Slo′cum, Henry W., American general, was born on September 24, 1827, at Delphi, Onondaga County, N. Y. He graduated from West Point in 1852 and was assigned to the 1st artillery, with the rank of second lieutenant. After promotion to first lieutenant in 1855, he resigned in 1856, practiced law at Syracuse, and was elected to the legislature in 1860. On the outbreak of the Civil War he was commissioned as colonel of the 27th New York volunteers and took part in the first battle of Bull Run. In August he was made a brigadier-general, taking part in McClellan's peninsular campaign in 1862. He distinguished himself at the battles of Gaines' Mill, Glendale and Malvern Hill and was promoted to major-general of volunteers He fought at second Bull Run, South Mountain and Antietam, and as commander of the 12th corps rendered signal service at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Later he was transferred with his corps to the army of the Cumberland, succeeded to the command of the 20th corps, and was the first to enter Atlanta. In Sherman's march to the sea and through the Carolinas he commanded the left wing, taking part in the actions of that campaign. After the war he took up the practice of law at Brooklyn and was elected to Congress in 1870 and 1884. He died at Brooklyn, N. Y. April 14, 1894.
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| SLOE |
Sloe, a wild plum, also called blackthorn. It is a shrub growing from four to ten feet high though sometimes forming a small tree. The branches end in sharp points or spines. The flowers are white, appearing before the leaves. The fruit, about the size of large peas, is sometimes made into preserves, but is bitter and little used. The leaves resemble tea-leaves and have been used to adulterate tea, and the juice is used in making an inferior port-wine. The wood takes a fine polish and is used for tool-handles and canes. The sloe is thought to be the original of all the European varieties of the plum.
Slot-Machine′, a familiar, mechanically adjusted contrivance for vending chocolate, caramels and other sweets, and popularly known as nickel-in-the-slot or penny-in-the-slot machines, at railway stations, hotels, seaside or other places of public resort. They are variedly arranged, but the usual device is that when the would-be purchaser of the commodity or commodities offered for sale drops a coin into the slot and turns
