Newport daily independent., 1918-01-09
GENERAL PERSHING'S
 SISTER TELLS STORY
 OF MILITARY AMBITION
Associated Press Dispatch.


 newspaper story that diverted John J. Pershing from his purpose to be- come school teacher and started him upon the military career which lead to his appointment as general in the United States army and Com mander of the Army Expeditionary Forces in France. The story is told by General Pershing's sister, Mrs. Butler and Miss Mary Pershing, who are residents of Lincoln and have given The Associated Press intimate views of 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 Kirksville, Mo-, that his attention was one day called to a newspaper an- nouncement that examinations were to be held for appointment to the West Point Military Academy. Young Pershing asked his sisters advise as to whether he should try for the ap- pointment and she advised him to do so Then followed short season of intensive study in preparation.
 In few days he was called before the examining board and, although improperly prepared, received the highest mark among the contestants and soon afterward was notified of his appointment. Up to this\ 2 his action had been a secret betW ys. 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 soldier in the family.
 As a boy, General Pershing, his sisters say, was of quite serious temper ament, assuming, as the oldest of six children, many of the respon- abilities of the family. He was wont, during his early years which were Espent in Laclede, Mo, his birthplace, to manage one of the several farms operated by his father, John F. Per- shing, a merchant and farmer of Laclede.
 "John," Mrs. Butler said, although of quite disposition, liked a good time and enjoyed fun as much as any one. Yet when he started anything he wanted to get the result and hg1 generally attained hat object befo he gave it up." M
 While at normal school at Kirks- vile, he was always in the center of student activities and never was content to be merely one of the crowd but wanted to be head of the move ment. His personal magnetism and generally lickable 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 Ger onimo, Pershing was stationed as military instructor at the University of Nebraska. His friends there re- membercd him as fun loving young man who enjoyed music and dancing parties and other social activities anS. who appreciated good joke.
 ~Old Jack Best," the veteran train CT at the University, remembers Per shing intimately. "He was the finest man that I ever worked with sad Best. 'Tt's true he was mighty strict with his work but the results he got were so good that everybody he work ed with loved him for it. When he was here we had regiment the Uiii- versity could be proud of. l just wor- shipped that man and everypody around the University felt the same about him. If any one of you news paper men get chance to tell 1t 70 him, you just say that old Jack wish- es him the best luck in the world and that he hopes that he will bcat the Germans all alone.
 "Usually he was mighty dignified in his work but he had way of get ting next to new men," continued Best. "The first I ever saw him he walked right up to me, slapped me on the shoulder and said, well Jack, they tell me you got along with my predeces- sor. If you did, I am darned sure we'll get along just as wcll.'"
 A good citizen starts his loyalty