The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-12-20
THE BoASTFUL VETERAN.
Talks Too Much and Is Quietly Called
Down by One who Knew
Ills Kind.

!
Gen. Nelson A. Miles is<remarkable
for more than his war record, his
\ photographs and his diplomatic man
ner One Of his most winning traits
IS his disincination to listen to boast
ful speeches or to hear some one con
demned while the object OF he adverse
criticism IS not present, says the Chi
I cago Tribune.
Not SO long ago that the other man
IN ths little story has forgotten it
| man in Washington who had once been
III the army and had served in Cuba
was present at a reception at which
| Gen. Miles was one of the guests. The
general was surrounded by friends,
and was enjoying himself immensely
until the civilian and former army
| officer, who, for want Of better name.
shall be called Mr.. Blank, came into the
I conversation.
He attracted notice at once by Sc
verely critcising several prominent Of
| fcers, none of whom was it the recep-
| ton. Gen. Miles did not feel called
upon to say anything at first, but in
i few minutes MIR. Blank profiting by
the generals silence and interpreting
it to mean that the general shared his
views, became harsher than ever in his
structures upon the men who were alb
sent. After one particularly severe
| outbreak Gen. Miles said, softly:
II wouldn't, If l were you. If some
of the men you have been talking about
should happen to come into this room
what would you do?"
Blank was not taken aback. In
loud voice and with every Indication Of
strong he said:
80, ! don't know. ] don't think
would be frightened"
"No"' asked Gen. Miles. tentatively.
BY this time the circle around the
men had increased, and the interest in
the dialogue was deep, especially as
many were present who were friends
Of Gen. Miles, the other man, and the
men who had been unfortunate enough
to incur Mr.. Blanks resentment.
81 don't think ! would be fright
ened," Mr.. Blank went on in his loud
voice. "You know, general, that we
soldiers are not easily scared by the
approach of the enemy"
"Ah, you were soldier?" asked Gen.
Miles.
Eyes, was soldier. was in Cuba
with my regiment, and ] believe that
a search through the official reports
will fail to show that the appearance
of the enemy ever made me lose my
mind. Why, general, there was one
time that we lay within 300 yards OF
the Spanish army before Santiago, and
it became necessary for us to com
municate with them. OF course, there
were many men who would have been
willing to go into their ranks under
flag Of truce, but even that would
have been dangerous. | myself offered
to carry the message and to hold the
consultation with the officers to be
selected by the Spanish commander
and sent out by him TO q place between
the two lines. I offered myself and
was accepted I talked with the enc,
my, Sir, there, during a lull III the fir
ing"
This unrGrtradictcd evidence of this
bravery Of NJ. Blank moved the mer
in the groapto admiration for him, and
Gen. Miles, knowing that 50 long as
the orator talked about himself the
, absent officers were safe, said nothing
Mr.. Blank could not keep Off the sub
iect Of the a&saHt onea !a"G, ard sooi
was III II agaiH.
This time Gem Miles interrupted
him. 1T w8s hard Ma,k, because III,
: speaker possessed au unusually lout
voice. unnu which he never put the