The herald., 1897-12-27
1T MADE GRANT SICK
GENERAL SHERIDAN'S JOKE ON
HIS SUPERIOR OFFICER
He Gave Him a Cigar That Was Black,
Rich and Very Strong.

They had done" Florida-that is, as
much Of the peninsular state as people
generally managed to see seventeen
years ago, and the party, composed of
General Grant, General Sheridan, their
wives, two nieces Of Mrs. Grant, the
secretary, Byron Andrews, and soll-
tary artist, had just voyaged down the
gulf coast, stopping for an evenings
"send-off," and very lively time 1t was,
at Key West, and now they were domi-
ciled in Havana. Grants perpetual
cigar was a pillar of cloud early in the
morning and a twinkle Of fire late at
night. The Cuban colony Of cigar
makers at Key West had stored their
staterooms full of their choicest goods,
while the famous manufacturers of Ha-
vana had brought out special brands,
sending sample hundreds to the palace
for the approval of the two famous SOL
diers. 1t would have been breach of
etiquette to keep check upon ones
smoking under such tempting condi-
tions. So the American visitors puffed
away at countless Incompatible cigars
while the gayly-clad officers of the palace
household rolled their cigarettes and
wondered how long the famous smoker
could keep it up.
Presently there came a day when the
program included visit to the lofty
fortress of Cabanas, over the bay. The
heavy state barges rowed the brilliant
little party across the breezeless har-
Dor, and oh! it was hot. They climbed
tla nj icr-z n 6c ~ ho
portal cut into the grim front Of the
great military prison, which was, even
then. nearly filled with prisoners of
state. They were shown through
courts, deep, dark passageways, parades,
barracks and prisons, which fill the
whole vast interior of this great, gloomy.
terrible place. General Pocurul. then
|commandant of Cabanas, paraded the
troops with a fine fanfare from bugle
squad, and then lunch was served at
headquarters, high up on the battle
ments. commanding grand view of the
city and village-dotted country, which
In those days presented a prosperous
and beautiful appearance.
General Grant saw everything, and
smoked on faithfully. He noted that Of
the hundreds of cannon planted every
where, from the water batteries beneath
the palms far below, up along the pre-
cipitous slopes tc the crest Of the walls
Of Cabanas, nearly all were Of antique
model and inferior caliber, practically
useless in modern demonstration, but
over upon Morro's walls, half mile
away. as they were told, there we're rows
of big new guns, especially just to the
right or eastward Of the castle. And
so having shown an interest in the mat
ter, the party must go over to Moro,
traversing covered ways and long open
spaces in the monday heat. All might
have gone well, however, but, unhap-
PLY, Grant run out of cigars. He
searched despairingly through his sun
dry pockets, but, alas! all in vain. Then
| came Sheridan's opportunity, the
chance he had been waiting for, after a
long and varied experience of Grants
marked fondness for telling army yarns
at his expense. He had cigar 1t
was not particularly large or obtrusive,
just regular AL Havana, but, oh! it
was black and rich and wicked looking.
Sheridan had been shown through a to-
bacco factory the previous day. While
he waited this cigar was made for him,
and he carefully put 1t away and smiled
contented little smile.
So General Grant, with deep, happy
sigh Of relief, touched a match to Cen
eral Sheridan's and Sheridan-he Jagged
and gyrated like bad little boy who has
put tack on his teachers chair, It
took little time for the strongest cigar
ever made in Cuba to get In it's deadly
work upon a we'll seasoned old smoker
like Grant, and Sheridan began to grow
Respondent, but joy once more suffused
his rugged but rubicund features as he
saw his old commander, with a pallid
face, talking hurriedly with the inter-
prefer, funny little mixture of Eng
lish and West Point Spanish, and a
moment later he collapsed In the 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 winked
solemnly at the secretary and said:
Tell 'em to keep quiet and give him air
He'll be all right in five minutes. I
thought 1t would fetch him.
Grant was all right, indeed, as soon as
he got up among the tumble of defense
at the top of Moro castle, where the
cool sea winds blew some of that nico-
tine out Of his lungs, and he gazed at
Sheridan with deep indigo look of sus-
picion, but he smoked no more until the
next morning.-New York Sun,
>
Hetty Green Too Ambiruous