The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1905-08-11
MAJOR KENT'S
STRATEGY


idol Of Tire army. lie would have been
IN favor with The general had it not
been that Ire wis Il Suitor for Violet,
the generals daughter Tie general
+ had ~ mind la give her 10 a penniless
. soldier. were he ever So brave. Violet
was Il gem among women. and her
father saw an opportunity To marry
her II stripping of British nobility.
young Vernon Purkc. next in line Of
Inheritance to the Earl Of Brereton.
Parke was a specimen of the London
effeminate disSipated swell. To save
him from falling any lower his family
had sent him 10 America TO mingle
with better grade Of associates. aud
he had straightway stumbled into
another pit, according To their estimate,
10y falling in love with a girl without
family or fortune. Violet, unfortunate
ly for her fathers plans. favored Gar
land Kent
The young Englishman WAS on the
eve of proposition when the ami
versary of the battle rolled round In
which Major Kent had saved the ar
lily 1 Iif bliANtiH dtAdAu'b ~ AifhhAnti
ters and those stationed near 10y were
invited by the general 10 n banquet.
He knew IT would be expected OF him
to place Major Kent at tie post of
honor on his right Parke was invited
the only civilian present-and seated
on the generals left All were gather
ed at single table, so that there was
Oh # al,
touched from the general around ia
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
Kent's service took occasion 10 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 Mt such time
between equals would call for Il chal-
lenge But no subordinate can resent
an insult coming from n superior, es
pecially his general. Kent WAS in
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 Kent's
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. If he did so.
would give IT to the general
AS the wine throwing came up the
table opposite Kent ne arose and In
voice 10 be heard by all said.
General, may ! ask the favor that
you will change seats with me for n
few momentST'
The general was IN quandary. II
he declined, Parke would be placed in
a position to insult him. II he assented
Parke would be expected 10 insult
Kent Parke being n civilian. it was
permissible that he should insult the
general, and It WAS equally premissi-
BILE that he should insult Kent But
It was out of the question that Parke
should insult his host, with whom he
had no quarrel II was under the cir
cumstonces incumbent upon the gen
eral 10 change places with Kent and
give him an opportunity 10 gain salts
faction for the insult he could not re-
celve from his commander.
As the words. THE generals insult;
pass 1t on" came nearer the general
sat n picture Of discontinue. II he
retained his place without reason
that would be acceptable to his officers.
who were all in sympathy with Kent.
he would be their general no longer
except by virtue of his rank, for they
would all condemn him. II lie gave
up his seat he would put his guest In
a position to take his quarrel off his
hands, and the effeminate nobleman
was but a poor match for the fighting
major.
The insult was within three men Of
vernon Parke. The general turned
from white TO red or from red to white
as 1t came a file nearer There was II
way out Of the matter, but way not
to the generals liking. Nevertheless
he had been driven TO 1t by the wit of
his subordinate and there was no es
cape for him. When the man sitting
next to Parke was receiving the insult
the general rose and, turning to Kent
said:
Major, please accept my apology"
There was a burst of applause that
made the room ring and the general
knew that he had sayed himself from
being the most unpopular man in the
army and had made friends of those
who would otherwise have been his
enemies.
The occurrence was not long in reach
ing Violet Racks pnrs Tho faupta