The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23

Lincoln, Neb., December 22.-It was a
newspaper story that diverted John j..
Pershing from his purpose to become a
school teacher and started him upon the
military career which led to his appoint
ment as general in the United states
army and commander of the American
expeditionary force in France. The story
is told by General Pershings sisters
Mrs. Butler and Miss May Pershing, who
are residents of Lincoln and who have
given to the Associated Press intimate
views Of Pershing's character in his
youthful days.
1t wah while Pershing and his sister,
now Mrs. Butler, were attending the
Missouri State Normal school at KRIS
vile, Mo-, that his attention was one
day called to a newspaper announcement
that examinations were to be held lot
appointment to the West Point Military
academy. Young Pershing asked his Sis
ter's advice as to whether he should try
for the appointment and she advised
him to do SO. Then followed snort
season of intensive study in preparation
AS a boy, General Pershing, his sisters
say, was of quiet, serious temperament,
assuming, as the Oldest of six children,
many of the responsibilities of the fam
ily He was wont, during his early years
which were spent in Laclede, Mo-, his
birthplace, to manage one OF the seVeral
farms operated by his father, John F.
Pershing, merchant and farmer of La
clede.
John" Mrs. Butler said, although of
a quiet disposition, liked a good time
and enjoyed fun as much as anyone.
Yet when he started anything he wanted
to get the result and he generally at
tanned that object before he gave it up
While at the normal school at Kinks
vile, he was always in the center of stu
dent activities and never was content
to be merely one of the crowd, but
wanted to be head of the movement. His
personal magnetism and generally like
able 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 campaign in New Mexico
against the Indian chief Geronimo, PERISH
ing was stationed as military instructor
at the University of Nebraska. His
friends there remember him as a fun low
ing young man who enjoyed music and
dancing, parties and other social activi-
ties and who appreciated a good joke
"Old Jack Best" the veteran trainer
at the university, remembers Pershing in
tinately "He was the finest man that
ever worked WITH said Best. Its
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 could be proud Of. I just
worshipped 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.
Usually he was mighty dignified in
his work, but he had way Of getting
next to new men, continued Best ''The
first time I ever saw him he walked
right up to me, slapped me on the Shout
der and said, We'll, Jack, they tell me
| you got along mighty we'll with my
predecessor. If you did. am darned sure
we'll get along just as we'll
1.-THE boys at the university got sur
prise the first day Pershing drilled
\ them" said Best. "1t 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 we'll BACKED and that
l the heels looked as good as the toes.
He was just that thorough going in ev-
erythng all the time. He was Al in