Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-01-04
PfRSHING LEADS A
 BUSY BUI SIMPLE
 LIFE AT QUARTERS
Little Ceremony of Ostentation Either Al His Chateau or Around Head. quarter Offices.

Chaumont, Haute Marnc. France, Jan. Corresponds ce of The Associated Press, s,)-When he is here at General Headouarters Ganar,, fershihs leads very busy but very Slihple ilfe There is little ceremony of ah ostentatious kind either at his ehateau or around his offices. There IS nothing to distinguish his err,ce rooms in "A" building of the head. quarters group from those of any oth- CT offlcer. One orderly sits at his door. there IS no sentry and the visitor walks unannounced into the adjoining reception room to be received by one 1 of his staff
 general Pershing's trips to and from ms chateau in the country are made III his motor car, distinguished only i py It's red four starred insignia on the i windshield and where would De 1ns number plate, which slips unnoticed along the road and through the city. Ordinarily he is accompanied only by ms personal aide his staff follow,n~ at a distance great enough not to ] marx the big cars as one squadron.
 Tn line weather he sometimes walk l eo the two or three miles from the outsklrts ot Chaumont 70 his country nome, and that, with quiet horseback rides through the beautiful country hereabouts, gave him his needed exer- cise
 Much of his time since last Spring when the American forces began real participation in strength in the fight. ing, has been spent at advanced Army Headquarters. These have been at various places, sometimes at a distance to entail long, hard automo- bile rides from them to Chaumont when circumstances demanded his presence here. Often after hard day lat Advanced Headquarters the Gen. eral has made the three or four hour drive late at night, only to depart early the next day. His powerful closed car with double rear wheels usually travels at high speed and in it's comfortable cushions be obtains the rest denied him in bec.
 Life at General Pershing's chateau is plain to the point of simplicity. Ex- cept for the beautiful old castle and it's picturesque setting in the Valley of the Marne, it might be the home life of any fairly well to do American business man. Only uniforms of his military household set it apart. His personal staff lives with him and his servants are negro soldiers detailed And they are good cooks as his few guests can testify, placing on his table simple, well cooked American dishes, usually three or at most four courses, including coffee and cheese and sery- 1 ed American style.
 No sentries are in evidence, nothing 1 to mark the Chateau as the resi- dence of the Commander in Chief. The visitors car drives through a plain unguarded gateway in a closely SC, grove, along a curving roadway for |. few hundred yards and then only I had the first glimpse of the old castle, lying in it's parks and lawns bordered on one side by long, sweeping curve of the River Marne and it's canal, ln- ed on either bank with tall poplars set equidistant and lending an added touch of formality to the always for nal French landscape.
 ,, Often General Pershing, himself, rises from a seat on the terrace to greet a guest, and, if not, one of his staff. The meal is very informal, con- versation being general ana the Com mander- -In-Chief apparently does not like to finger at table. Afterward cof fee and cigars in the big lounge room or a stroll under the trees until the General indicates that his leisure is ended
 General Pershing has kept himself in splendid physical condition during these trying months. He is as lean and clear-eyed as he was whe he came from the Mexican campaign, as straight and soldierly in bearing as he was in the days of his Philippine campaigns when he first won notice. His eyes still twinkle when occasion calls and the corners of his mouth still turn in the familiar, quickly passing smile.
 For those he has known in past days he always has some mutual reminis- cence to recall, some incident of the Philippines or of Mexico or the days when he was on duty in Washington, and his hearty laugh often sounds through the doors of his office as he chats with some old acquaintances. .-. ~ ~ NsA AR~ NHT