Daily camera., 1901-12-28
THE BOASTFUL VETERAN.
Talks Too Much and IL Quietly Called
Down By One who Knew
His kind,

oSu. ANGiSoh "a. 1uiiSb 40 ASihdA AocAS
for more than his war record. his
photographs and his diplomatic man
ner. One Of his most winning traits
is his disinclination to listen to boast
full speeches or to hear some one con-
demned while the object Of the adverse
criticism is not present, says the Chi
cago Tribune.
Not so long ago that the other man
in this little story has forgotten it a
man in Washington who had once been
in the army and had served in Cuba
was present at 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 a better name.
shall be called Mr.. Blank. came into the
conversation.
He attracted notice at once by Sc
verely criticising several prominent Of
ficers, none Of whom was at the recep-
ton. Gen. Miles did not feel called
upon to say anything at first, but in
a few minutes Mr.. Blank. profiting by
the generals silence and interpreting
il 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. IL were you. II some
OF the men you have been talking about
should happen 10 come into this room
what would you do?"
Blank was not taken aback. In .
loud voice and with every indication Of
strong-mindedness. be said:
20. I don't know. don't think
would be frightened"
MOP" 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.
II don't think I 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 q soldier 2" asked Gen.
Miles.
"Yes, I was a 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 60 into their ranks under
a 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 place between
the two lines. I offered myself and
was accepted. talked with the enc
my, sir, there, during lull in the fir
ing"
This uncontradicted evidence Of the
bravery Of Mr.. Blank moved the men
in the group to admiration for him. and
Gen. Miles. knowing that so long as
the orator talked about himself the
absent officers were safe, said nothing.
Mr.. Blank could not keep of the sub
ject of the absent ones long, and soon
was at it again.
This time Gen. Niles interrupted
him. ]. was hard work. because the
speaker possessed an unusually loud
voice, upon which he never put the
soft pedal.
"Ah, you talked with the enemy?"
asked the general.
II have said that I did" answered
Mr.. Blank. proudly.
MAY ask" queried Gen. Miles, po-
litely, III you used megaphone
While Mr.. Blank was pondering upon
this Gen. Miles moved away. The 9TH
ers laughed and afterwards Mr.. Blank
said to the general that he had not
intended all he had said.