The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-02-23
sAERIDAN's JOKE ON GRANT.

They had 'done" FlOrida-that
In, as much of the Peninsular State
as people generally managed to see
II years ago-and the party, com
posed of General Grant, General
Sheridan, their wives, two nieces of
Mrs. Grant, the secretary, Mr.. By
ron Andrews and solitary artist,
had just voyaged down the gulf
coast, stopping for an evenings
"send off''-and a very lively timeit
was-at Key West, and now they
were domiciled in Havana. Grants
perpetual cigar was pillar of cloud
early in the morning and q twinkle
of fire late at night. The Cuban col
ony of cigar makers 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 the two famous sol
diers. 1t would have been breach
of etiquette to keep a check upon
ones smoking under such tempting
conditions. So the American visit
ors puffed away at countless incom-
parable cigars while the gayly clad
officers of the palace household roll
ed their cigarettes and wondered
how long the famous smoker could
keep it up.
Presently there came day when
the programme included visit to
the lofty fortress of Cabanas, over
the bay. The heavy state barges
rowed the brilliant little party
across the breezeless harbor, and, ,oh,
it was hotl They climbed the zig
gag path which leads up to the por-
tai cut into the grim front of the
great military prison, which was
even then nearly filled with prison
ers of state. They were shown
through courts, deep, dark passage
ways, 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
fine fanfare from a bugle squad,
and then lunch was served at head
quarters, high up on the battle
ments, commanding a grand view of
the city and village dotted country,
which in those days presented a
prosperous and beautiful appear
ance. General Grant saw everything
and smoked ON faithfully. He noted
that of the hundreds of cannon
planted everywhere, from the water
batteries beneath the palms far be
low, up along the precipitous slopes
to 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 a mile
away, as they were told, there were
rows of big new guns, especially
just to the right or eastward of the
castle. And so, having shown an in
terest in the matter, the party must
go over to MORO, traversing cover
ed ways and long open spaces a the
MONDAY heat All might have gone
well, however, but unhappily Grant
ran out of cigars. He searched de-
spairingly through his sundry pock-
cts, but. alas, all in vain. Then
came Sheridan's opportunity, the
chance he had been waiting for after
long and varied experience oi
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
l. rich and wicked lookingl Sheridan
e had been shown through a tobacco
e factory the previous day. While he
9 waited this cigar was made for him
and he put it away carefully and
smiled contented little smile.
So General Grant, with a deep
e happy sigh of relief, touched s
n match to General Sheridans cigar
is and Sheridan-he Jagged and gy
d rated like bad little boy who has
q put tack on his teachers chair. i
= took little time for the stronges
, cigar ever made in Cuba to get in il.
, deadly work upon a well seasoned
old smoker like Grant, and Sheridan
i began to grow despondent, but JOY
once more suffused his rugged ye
rubicund features as he saw his ole
commander with a pallid face talk
g ing hurriedly with the interpreter
IS funny mixture of English -anC
. West Point Spanish, and a momen
d later he collapsed in the shade of I
IS wall. There was instant alarm
r among all who gathered around, ant
: even the jolly Sheridan got a bi
" ! ratified at his own success, but h,
n only winked solemnly at the secre
re tary and said: Tell 'em to keel
is quiet and give him air. He'll be al