Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-01-03
THE BOASTFUL VETERAN.
Talks Too Much and Quietly Called Down by
One Who Knew His Kind.

Talks Too Much and Quietly Called Down BY
One Who Knew His Kind.
/ Gen. Nelson A. Miles is remarkable
for more than his war record, his pho.
tographs and his diplomatic manner.
One OF his most winning traits is his
disinclination to listen to boastful
speeches or to hear some one con.
demned while the object of the adverse
criticism in not present, says the Chi
csgo 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 a reception at
which Gen. Miles was one of the
guests. The general was surrounded
by friende, and was enjoying himself
immensely until the civilian and for.
mer army officer, who, for want of a
better name, shall be called Mr.. Blank,
came into the conversation.
He attracted notice at once by se-
verely criticising several prominent
officers, none of whom was at the re-
ception. Gen. Miles did not feel
called upon to say anything at first,
but in few minutes Mr.. Blank, prof.
iting by the Generals silence and in.
terpreting it to mean that the Gene.
raj shared his views, became harsher
than even in his structures upon the
men who were absent. After one par.
ticularly severe outbreak Gen. Miles
said, softly:
II wouldn't, il were you. If some
OF the men you have been talking
about should happen to come into
this room what would you dor"
Blank was not taken aback. In
loud voice and with every indication
OF strong-mindedness, he said:
40, don't know. don't think l
-n"ld be frightened"
"Nof" asked Gen. Miles, tentative.
By this time the circle around Ill.
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 l 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.
Yes, l was q soldier. l was in
Cuba with my regiment, and I believe
that search through the official re-
ports will fail to show that the appear
ance OF the enemy ever made me lose
my mind. Why, General, there was
one time that we lay within 800 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
flag of truce, but even that would
have been dangerous. I myself Of
fered to carry the message and to hold
the consultation with the officers TO be
selected by the Spanish commander
and sent out by him 10 place be.
tween the two lines. offered myself
and was accepted. talked with the
enemy, sir, there, during lull in the
firing"
This uncontradicted evidence of the
bravery of Mr.. Blank moved the men
in the group to admiration for him.
and Gen. Miles, knowing that 10 long
as the orator talked about himself the
absent officers were safe, said nothing.
Mr.. Blank could not keep off the SUBJ
ject Of the absent ones long, and soon
was at il again.
This time Gen. Miles interrupted
him. It was hard work, because the
speaker possessed an unusually loud
voice, upon which he never put the
soft pedal
"Ah, you talked with the enemyr
asked the General.
"I have said that l did," answered
Mr.. Blank, proudly.
MAY I ask" queried Gen. Miles,
politely, "if you used . megaphone"
While Mr.. Blank was pondering
upon this Gen. Miles moved away.
The others laughed and afterwards
Mr.. Blank said to the General that he