Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-23
.PERSH|NG'S SISTER
DECIDES CAREER
Wanted to Teach Until News
Story Suggested Course
at West Point.
WAS DETERMINED YoUNGsTER
Of Quiet Temperament, Future
Leader of u. S. Forces Got
What He Wanted.

was newspaper story that diverted
John J. Pcrshing from his purpose to
become a chooi-tcachcr and started
him upon tho military career which
( led TO his appointment AS general in
y the United States Army and commander
+ OF the American expcditlonary force in
France. The story is told by General
Pcrshing's sisters. Mira Butler and Miss
May Pershing, who arc residents Of
Lincoln. and who have given TO the
Associated Press intimate views OF
Pcrshing's character in his youthful
days.
It was while Pershing and his sister.
now Mrs. Butler. were attending the
Missouri State Normal School at Kirks-
vile, Mo-. that his attention was one
a-day called to n newspaper announce
mcnt that examinations were to be held
for appointment to the West Point
Military Academy Young pcrshing
asked his sisters advice rs to whether
he should try for the appointment. and
she advised him to do SO. Then fol-
lowed a short season OF intensive study
in preparation.
In few days he was called before
tho examining board. and. although
improperly prepared, received the
highest mark among the contestants.
and soon afterward was notified of his
appointment. Up to this ttmc his ac-
ton had been a secret between his Sis
ter and himself. and 1t remained so
until no was ready to start for West
Point On his way TO the Military
Academy he stopped off at the home OF
his parents end. for the first time. told
them they were to have n soldier in the
family.
, HE MANAGED FARM
OWNED BY FATHER
AS a boy. General Pershing. his sis
tiers say. was OF 4 quiet, serious tenn
permanent, assuming. as the Oldest OF
six children. many OF the rcsponsioii'-
ties Of the family. He was won't dur
ing hi. early years. which were spent
In Laclede, NO. his birthplace, to man
are one OF the several farms operated
' by his father. John r. Pershins, a Iner-
chant and farmer OF Laclede.
~ "John," Mrs. Butler said. although
of a quiet disposition. liked n GOOD
4 time and enjoyed fun as much as any
ono. Yet when he started anything
he wanted to get the result and nc
generally attained that object before
he gave it up
.
vile he was always in the center OF
student activities and never was CON
font to be merely one OF the crowd.
but wanted to be head OF the move
m.nt. His personal magnetism and
generally likable character quickly
won him friends and supporters. and
soon he became one of the student
leaders.
After having been graduated from
west Point and having served with
General Miles in a campaign in New
Mexico against the Indian chief Gcro-
ninno, PershinE was stationed as mill
tary instructor al the University OF
Nebraska. His friends there retncm-
her him as fun-lorins young man.
who enjoyed music and dancing, par
ties and other social activities and
who appreciated good joke.
.'Old Jack Best" the veteran trainer
at the university. remembers PcrshinG
intimately. .'Hc was tho finest man
that 1 over worked with" said Fest.
tits true he was mighty strict with
his work. but the results he got were
SO good that everybody he worked
with loved him for it. When he was
here we had a regiment the university
>Luld be proud of. ] just worshiped
that man. and everybody around the
university felt the same about him.
If any of you newspaper men get a
chance to tell it TO him. you just say
that old Jack wishes him the best
luck in the world and that he hopes
he will beat the Germans all alone.
DIGNIFIED IN WORK,
but GOT CLOSE: TO MEN
! Usually he was mighty dignified in
his work. but he had way Of get
ting next to new men," continued Ecs:.
.'Thc frs time ] ever saw him he
walked right up to me. slapped me
on the shoulder and said. Well, Jack,
they tell me you got a!onE mighty
we'll with my predecessor. II you did.
am darned sure We'll get along just
as WE'LL
"The boys at the university got a
surprise the first day Pershing drilled
them" said Best "It had been their
habit before that time to come to
drill with shoes blackened or not, just
as they pleased. When Pershing took
hold. the first thing he looked at was
to see that all shoes were well blacltcd
and that the heels looked as good as
the toes. He was just that thorough
going in everything all the time. He
was AL In every way and you can ask
anyone who knew him if that isn't tho
gospel truth,"
Odd as 1t may seem in a fighting
man. General PcrshinS's one fad ac-
cordinG to his sisters, is gardening.
His father was an expert gardener
and the taste descended to the mill
tary man. Whenever he was on leave,
he Immediately would don work day
clothes, go into his fathers garden,
seemingly enjoying the work over the
vegetables as much as he enjoyed So
cial activities.
The first time that General Perish
ing appeared in Chicago and was seen
by neighbors, ho was clad in ovcralls
and was hard at work in vegetable
garden in the yard behind his fathers
.. house in tho southsidc of the city.