Nicaragua poet's sword mightier than pen

[July 28, 2008]  MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) -- The pen may be mightier than the sword, but it isn't quite as attractive for thieves.

Unidentified robbers have swiped a sword that belonged to Nicaraguan poet Ruben Dario from a museum while leaving some of his valuable original manuscripts untouched.

Museum secretary Maria Elena Quintero said Sunday that police are investigating the disappearance of the ceremonial sword Dario used when he served as Nicaragua's ambassador to Spain. She did not give an estimate of the sword's value.

It was taken from a glass case at the museum in Dario's old home in the colonial city of Leon. It appears to be the only artifact missing.

Dario lived from 1867 to 1916 and is considered the father of the Modernismo movement.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.