Evening journal., 1904-11-26
MAJOR KENT'S
STRATEGY
IorlglnaLl

[Originail
General Black had under his COM
mand a young major who in wartime,
by holding a narrow dodle with a sin
gle battalion. had saved his command.
Garland Kent was consequently the
idol Of the army. He would have been
In favor with the general had it not
been that he was a suitor for Violet,
the generals daughter The general
had no mind to give her to n penniless
soldier, We're he ever 50 brave. Violet
was a gem among women, and her
father saw an opportunity to marry
her to a STRIPPING Of British nobility,
young Vernon Parke, next in line Of
inheritance to the Earl Of Brereton.
Parke was a specimen of the London
effeminate disslpated swell. To save
him from falling any lower his family
had sent him TO America to mingle
with better grade Of associates, and
he had straightway stumbled into
another pit, according to their estimate,
by falling in love with a girl without
family or fortune. Violet, unfortunate
" for her fathers plans, favored Gar
land Kent.
The young Engllshman was on the
eve of a proposition when the ami
versary Of the battle rolled round in
which Major Kent had saved the ar
my. The officers attached TO headquar-
ters and those stationed near by were
invited by the general to a banquet
He knew it would be expected Of him
to place Major Kent at tile post Of
honor on his right. Parke was invited
the only civilian present-and seated
on the generals left. All were gather
ed at a single table so that there was
perfect chain Of men whose elbows
touched from the general around to
himself again.
After coffee and cigars were brought
on the general made an address on the
features Of the battle they were cele-
brating and instead Of mentioning
Kents service took occasion to reflect
on the conduct Of some Of his officers.
Kent interrupted to defend them by
making an explanation, whereupon the
! general showed his temper by giving
him the lie.
Now. such an insult at such a time
between equals would call for a chal-
lenge. But no subordinate can resent
an insult coming from a superior, es-
pecially his general. Kent was in a
very embarrassing position, but he
proved himself equal to the occasion.
| Taking up his wineglass, he threw its
contents in the face Of the man sitting
next to him, saying as he did so:
''The generals insult pass it on"
The man receiving the insult threw
his wine into the face Of the man sit
ting next on his right, repeating Kents
words. And so the insult went down
the table to the further end and was
coming back when what must be the
termination Of the matter was remark.
ed by those present, especially the gen
eral. The last man TO pass the insult
was Vernon Parke. who, II he did so
would give it to the general.
AS the wine throwing came up the
table opposite Kent he arose and in q
voice to be heard by all said:
General, may ask the favor that
you viii change seats with me for G
few momentsY
The general was I'm a quandary. i
he declined, Parke would be placed II
a position to insult him. II he assenteC
Parke would be expected to insul
Kent Parke being a civilian, it wa:
permissible that he should insult the
general, and It was equally premissi
BILE that he should insult Kent But
IL was out OF the question that Park,
should insult his host, with whom b,
had no quarrel. 1t was under the cir
cumstances incumbent upon the gen
eral to change places with Kent anC
give him an opportunity to gain salts
faction for the insult he could not re
ceive from his commander.
AS the words. 1.-The generals insult
pass It on" came nearer the genera
sat a picture Of discontinue If b.
retained his place without a reasol
that would be acceptable to his officers
who were all in sympathy with Kent
he would be their general no longe
except by virtue Of his rank, for the,
would all condemn him. If he gavl
up his seat he would put his guest IL
a position TO take his quarrel or hi
hands, and the effeminate noblemal
was but a poor match for the fighting
major
The insult was within three men o
Vernon Parke. The general turnei
from white to red or from red to whit
as It came d file nearer. There was
way out of the matter, but way no
TO the generals liking. Nevertheless
he had been driven to 1t by the wit O
his subordinate, and there was no es
cape for him. When the man sittinl
next to Parke was receiving the insul
the general rose and, turning to Kent
said:
'Major, please accept my apology"
There was a burst of applause tha
made the room ring, and the genera
knew that he had saved himself iron
being the most unpopular man in tn
army and had made friends of thos
who would otherwise have been hi
enemies.
The occurrence was not long IN reach
ing Violet Blacks ears. The tempta
ton to accept a prospective corone