Show JUST HANDED HIM THE Wh Why t an Elaborately Planned Presen Presentation Present tation t tat ion tion Come Off OS New NewYork York ork Tribune Tribunal j jRichard Richard Alexander Ale aIder of or Montreal Moneal in speaking of the part taken tL ken by the Ca Canadian Canadian nadian nadan troops in fn the Boer B er war told an amusing story One of the lieutenants lieuten lieutenants lieutenants ants in horse said Mr Alexander Alexand r was vas a great beat friend of mine named name Jack Lecky horse hors as you know kno made a great agrant rec record lee ord ot or d for or themselves Lecky Leek got a D S SO SO O 0 distinguished service order and he it was who was selected to receive the fife colors presented by ping King Kin Edward VII When horse was about to depart the Canadian Institute of Mining Alining Engineers of which Lecky was as a distinguished member deter determined determIned determined n mined to present him witti wi a sword The idea met with ith ih en rne nexus us and ana enthusiastic e approval al and the sword purchased ed was twos a L very hands handsome ome one i It was determined to make the presen presentation tation ta tion of It an vent Trent But the best laid plans gan gun aft agley and so it was on this occasion On the evening selected for the ceremony the committee formed themselves together properly coated and all ready to hand over the Ute sword nyord a full hour bout before the time set I for fo r that event I Time hung hunS heavily on their hands hand s and in a fatal moment the rash suggestion sug BUg suggestion estion was twos made mode that taking a drink drip k i would be he an n agreeable a way to pass the th time Indeed so successfully did the he idea prove to be as a time killer that Lecky Leck the sword and the reason why wh they were together passed out of the united mind of the committee Nine came and went and Lecky welted waited Finally Finall the Che sword not coming I Ito to him brn he went to the sword that is he started to go to the sword but got sot no m farther than joining the party when straightway s that strange forgetfulness of the why and wherefore of their being together on that particular occasion overcame him also and he gave no fur further further ther to the sword B T A ABell ABail Bell Bail had been chosen to present the weapon to Lecky and during the lohe fes festivities festivIties festivities where he went the weapon went w t too togs The evening waxed and waned I the party broke up into groups A friendly scuffle ensued In which Bells frock coat was w u rs s pUt plit up the back He said afterward that to save the sword he lost his coat oat He use his hands because of guarding the sword and that t at was why w by his bis is raiment was rent After this catastrophe ca strophe Bell con concluded con cond I eluded elu ed that the proper time had at length arrived to pull pill off the presenta presentation tion Uon and he lie proceeded p Proc ed to t do it in lit style I Waving the sword over over yer his head bead he be danced up to a group 7 Is Ta k Lecky here he demanded He is responded respond d the owner of the name r I Then Jack said Bell Ben cheerfully as ashe he handed over oyer the cause of all an the trouble take your confounded old sword for Im tired of or carrying it round t I so formal and ceremonious a I christening Lecky could do naught nau ht but put it to the good use he lie did in South Africa |