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Show MADE EXCHANGE OF SWORDS American Officer in Havana Was Not to Be Outdone in Courtesy by Any Cuban. Mnj. E. Ormamle Tower, United States army, says the most embarrassing embarrass-ing moment of his army life was in Havana when he was a lieutenant, in 1?rS. The United States had just taken control of Cuba and Lieutenant Power was sent to Havana to see about taking over some property. While In a restaurant he saw four Cuban Cu-ban officers, immaculately garbed. Iu true Latin manner they rose, bowed ceremoniously, and Invited him to sit at their table. "Sir," said one of the officers, rising, ris-ing, "it gives us the honor very distinguished dis-tinguished to have an American officer offi-cer join us to have the valiant Americans Ameri-cans in conol of our country. My feeling Is so great that I beg of you to give me tl.J honor of accepting my sword." With that he whipped out his beautiful beau-tiful Toledo blade, made of a steel the like of which no American ever possessed. As the young American awkwardly waited the Cuban stuck the point of his Toledo blade in the center of the table, bent It double, and as It whipped back Into shape graciously gra-ciously handed it to Tower. Feeling it up to him to do something some-thing gracious, Lieutenant Power begged the Cuban accept his sword to establish relations further. With that he whipped out his $10 blade, bought from a department store on the East side of Now York, imitating the Cuban, Cu-ban, he stuck the point in the middle of the table, bent it double and it stayed bent ! Without a tremor. Lieutenant Power calmly handed the blade, now bent like a pretzel, to the Cuban, and made him a sweeping bow. From the Am-aroc, Am-aroc, New Official Nc-wspaper of the American Army of Occupation. |
