The daily progressive-miner., 1918-04-13

Methodist ones. We went to church
three times q Sunday, enough In our
Eboyhood to last us both all the rest
Of our lives. Once year there'd be
q big camp meeting. and then John and
I would earn all our spending money
for the rest Of the year by putting
boxes on lumber wagon and haul.
ling people to camp meeting. Wed
lgo in cahoots and get everything we
made"
I Laclede is the same little Missouri
town today that It was when they
were growing to manhood in it, Mr..
Pershing said, save that when it had
800 people and 1t probably has about
700 now. John was a pretty gooa boy,
clean and truthful all his life, his
brother acknowledges.
"Of course, John was always held
up as model to me, being two years
older" his brother said, making lit
tie wry face at the memory. eff 1
did anything, 1 was sure to be told,
"Oh, John wouldn't do that
Democratic Fighter
"Belligerent as a boy? Not a bit
of it. John is fighter, but he's the
most peaceful, democratic fellow in
the world. He goes out and talks to
the boys under him and tries to see
that they have enough to eat and good
places to sleep. He can't stop the
bullets for them, but he would if he
could
He was brought up as other boys
in that section of the country. He
taught country schools to get money
for his education. We were both sent
70 a little normal school in Missouri
because that was the best our father
could afford. 1t was while we were
there that John received his appoint
ment to West Point. After that our
ives were separated. He came home
vacations while he was at West Point.
Our father was country merchant
and postmaster of the town. Laclede
S right on the Mason Dixon line and
our father raised the first Union flag
that ever fioated there the first year
of the Civil war; That flag has never
fallen
"No, we didn't call John "Black
Jack" He was given that name be-
cause he was so long with the 10th
United States cavalry, colored regi-
ment, the one that took San Juan Hill. |
He has that regiment with him in
France now.
Loves His Boys
John isn't seeking notoriety. He |
only wants to serve. He marks his
success by his progress. He doesn't |
think he's great; he only believes that
he must win this war. He loves his |
boys and always gives all the credit |
for success and progress to those boys
under him."
Mr.. Pershing had a letter from his |
brother Monday. That letter had no
more information in it than one from
the lowliest private. Gen. Pershing
did say that he deplored any profiteer-
ing in this country, however, his bro
Their said, and that any politics at this
time delayed ships most vital to the |
success of the war.
Tragedy in Pershing's Life
Of the tragedy in Gen. Pershings |
life three years ago when his wife
and three children were burned to |
death in a fire at the Preside. James
Pershing spoke with deep feeling.
ut was the most terrible thing that |
could happen in mans life' he said |
'His only little son is 9 years old |
now and lives with our sister at Lin
coin Neb If conditions are such |
that it is possible I hope to take the
boy to France this summer His faith
er misses him terribly"
Asked if there was any truth in
the rumor of his brothers engagement |
he said:
well, you know what John says:
Ask the lady, she denies it."
James Pershing has two sons in the
service. Both Of them enlisted as pri-
Yates. One has since been made !
lieutenant and the other has taken ex-