The Sentinel=record., 1917-12-23
HOME LIGHTS ON
 JOHN ]. PERSHING
IT WAS A NEWSPh, FER ARTICLE THAT CAUSED HIM TO CHANCE
 COURSE OF EARLY LIFE.
Had About Decided to Become School Teacher When He Read Of oppor- tunities at West Point and Then Entered Army Service.

Lincoln Ncb., Dee. 2o.-It was a | newspaper story that diverted John J. Pershing from his purpose to become a school teacher and started him upon he military career which led to his appointment as general in the United States and commander of the Ameri- can eNpeditionary force in France. The story is told by General Persh- ing's sisters, Mrs Butler and Miss
 May Pershing, who are residents of Lincoln, and who nave given 10 the Associated Press intimate views 1f Pershing's character in his youthful days.
 It was while Pershing and his sis ter now Mrs Butler. were attending the Missouri State Normal School at krksyiile Mo, that his attention was one dal called Co a newspaper an nouncement that examinations were to be held for appointment to the West Point Military Academy. Young Pershing asked his sisters advice as to whether he should try for the ap- Fointment and she advised him to do SO. Then followed a short season of intensive study in preparation.
 In few days he was called before the examining hoard and, although improperly prepared, received the highest mark among the contestants and soon afterward was notified of his appointment Up to his time his ac- ton had been secret between his sister and himself and it remained so until he was ready to start for West Point. On his way To the military academy he stopped off at the home of his parents and for the first time told them they were to have a soldier in the family
 As boy, General Pershine, his sis ter says, was of quiet. serious tenn perament assuming, as the oldest of six children, many of he responsi- bilities CT the family He was wont, during lis early years which were spent in laclede Mo- luis birthplace. to manage one of the several farms operated hy his father. Joan F. PersA- ing, a merchan and famer of Ia- clcde
 John" Mrs Butler said. although o. a quiet disposition liked good time and enjoyed inn as mhch as an5- one. Yet when he started anything he wanted 10 ge. the result and he generall q t3ned that obJe.t before he gave it up'
 While at the normal school at KrksHllee he was always in the cen ter Of student activities and never was content 70 he merely one of the crowd but wanted to be head of inc movement His personal maenetism and generally lihelble character quickly won him friends and support CTS and som he became one of the student leaders
 After having been graduated from West Point and having served with General Mile, in a campa gn in New Mexico against rue Indian Chief Ge- ronim0 Pcrshng was stationed as military Instructor at the University of Nebraska His friends there re member him as a fHn-loying young man who enjoyed music and dancing, parties and other social activities and who appreciated a good ioke
 "Old Iaak Best" the ye.erau train CT at the university, remembers Per shins intimately "He was the finest man that ever worked with" said Best "u's true he was mighty strict with his work but the results he g0t were SO good that everybody he worked with loved him for it When he was here we had regiment the university could he proud or just worshiped that man and everybody around the University felt the same .bout him If any'of you newspaper men get q chance Co tell it 60 him, yol just say hat old Jack wishes him the
 best luc', in the world and that he hopes hc will beat tbe Germans all alone
 ''l sually he was mighty digni jed in his work b't ne had way of getting next to new men continued Bes The first time | ever saw him he walked right mp 70 me slapped me on