The sun., 1897-12-05
sHER1DAN,s JOKE ON GRANT
Tho Only Timo the Great General Found .
CiEnr Too Strong for HIN.

eIkhr TOO btronk tor
They had "done" Florida, that is. as much Of
the Peninsulnr State as people generally man
aged to see seventeen years ago. and the party,
composed OF Gen. Grant, Gen. Sheridan. their
wives. two nicces of Mrs. Grant. the secretary.
Mr. Byron Andrews and a solitary artist, had
just voyagcd down the Gulf coast, stopping for
an evenings "send off" and very lively time
1t WAS. at Key West. and now they were DOM
icilcd In Havana. Grants perpetual cigar was
pillar Of cloud early in the morning and
twinkle OF fire late at night. Tho Cuban
colony Of cigarmakcrs at Key West had slowed
their staterooms full of their choicest goods.
while the famous manufacturers Of Havana had
all brought out special brands, sending sample
hundreds to the palace for the approval OF tho
two famous soldiers. 1t would have been a
breach of etiquette to keep check upon ones
smoking under such tempting conditions. SO
the American visitors puffed away at countless
Incompatible cigars while the gayly clad officers
Of tho palace household rolled their cigarettes
and wondered how long the famous smoker
could keep 1t up.
Presently there came a day when the pro-
grammc included visit to tho lofty fortress Of
Cabanas, over the bay. The heavy state bargcs
rowed the brilliant little party across tho breeze
less harbor. and, oh! it was hot They climbed
tho zigzag path which leads up to the portal cut
which was. even then. nearly filled with prison.
Crs of state. They were shown through courts.
and prisons, which iii the Whole vast interior
Of 1as this great. gloomy. terrible place: Gen;
thoeuru th them H9ihm@haant @ OF Smo%nos; mas pnraded
squad, and then lunch was served ut headquar-
ters. siEh UP on the battlcments commanding
| grand view OF the city and village-dotted coun-
| try. which, In those days, presented n prosper
o,ls and beautiful appearance, Gen. Grant paw
where. from the water batteries beneath the
sopos m to crest the walls Of
mas. nearly, all were Of antique model and
aemonstraton. bat over upon pSne Morros "ff %as
half mile away. as they were told. there were
OF OF es OF hs t to he
ing shown an interest in the matter the
S o o to bo
day heat. All might have gone well, however.
but unhappily Grant ran out of cigars He
cts, but. alas! all in vain, Then came Sheri-
dams opportunity. tho chance he had been
Grah MARKED @ ys"es eas "r%S
yarns at At, his expense. He had cigar. 1t was
Svana but si oh ?F it batk and rich
and wicked looking. Sheridan had been shown
While ho waited this cigar was made for him
and he put 1t away carefully and smiled con.
So Gen. Grant with deep. happy sigh of
relief touched match to Gcn. Sheridan cigar,
and shordsn,ho her Jagged and EyrstGd ike bad
chair. It took little time for the strongest
work upon a wc-scasoned old smoker like
Grant. and Sheridan began to grow despondent.
but Joy once more suffuscd his rugged yet
rubicund features as he saw his old commander
with II pallid face, talking hurredly with the
interpreter, funny mixture OF English
and West Point Spanish. and a moment
later he collapsed in tho shade Of wall.
There was instant alarm among all who
gathered around, and even the jolly Sheridan
got bit ratified at his own success. but he only
winket soloninly at the secretary and said
Tell en- 10 keep quiet and give him AIR. Hell
be all right in Ave minutes. / thought it would
Grant was. indeed, all right MS soon as he got
up among the tumble of defenccs Mt the top OF
Moro Castle, where the cool sea winds blew
some of that nicotine out OF his lungs. and nc
gaZed at Sheridan with deep indigo look OF
suspicion, but he smoked no more until the next
morning.