Evening star., 1919-08-29
Coming Back With Modest
"PersonaIity UnaItered,"
Says Correspondent.
HAS REPORT ON A. EFF.
ACTIVITY DURING WAR
May Be Unable to Avoid 1920
Candidacy, View in
Paris.
BL HENRY j. SMITH.
BY Gable to The Star and Chicago
Daily News. Copyright, 1910.

BL HENRY j. SMITH.
BY Cable to The Star and Chicago
Daily News. Copyright, 1910.
PARIS. August 2s-Gen. Pershing's s
work in Paris is finished In two days
Paris will see him no more, and the
man who for fourteen months has
been one of the most conspicuous
personalities in Europe departs to
meet "a new destiny in America.
Will a great reception revive the
talk about him as a candidate for
President, and what will be his atti-
tude?
These are. questions absorbing
Americans here. The general has al
lowed no word to escape hfs lips on
this subject, but 1 may perhaps be
permitted to offer an opinion reflect
ing that of civilians>here who are
best acquainted with the general,
namely, that if the popular acclaim
attending his Homecoming creates a
real presidential boom he may be un-
able to avoid the candidacy and will
end by liking it.
Shows Great Modesty.
This will not be due to susceptible
ty to f1attery. I have met Gen. Per-
shing during these days Of goodbyes
and 1 never saw a man showing
greater modesty or fewer traces of
altered personality because of having
been on a pedestal for months. Out
wardly he is the same Gen. Pershing
who sat on packing cases on the Mex
lean border and directed the tiny
punitive expedition. If history shall
repeat itself. as some predict. and he
shall be assigned to straighten out
Mexico, he would be ready to ex-
change his Paris palace for a tent
among the cacti. His life has been
one hard job after another and stu
the White House doomed at the end
it would offer just another job and
one impossible to evade.
Pictures Pershing's Personality.
The Gen. Pershing Of today is a SIM
ple-minded, likable man who minus
the uniform would not be distinguish
ed from any American business man.
He is tall and erect, but not stiff.
looked for something of the marti-
shing's glance, at least in informal
surroundings. is mild. ingenious and
somewhat sad. That he is a man of
great physical strength does not con-
ceal the fact that the war has left
it's marks in hair grown gray and face
furrowed. AS he spoke words, which
1 am not at liberty to quote. relating
to his journey home. OF possible work
future residence, the impression of
the loneliness of such world figure
deepened.
His Son His Greatest Joy.
No doubt his greatest joy-greater
than months of ceremonies-has been
his reunion with his son. Warren, who
capers about the generals garden
wearing a little uniform and insisting
on being called sergeant. 1t has been
a deep pleasure to Gen. Pershing to
be accompanied by his remaining child
on his journeys of state in England
and elsewhere. A story is told illus
trating that warren is regular
American boy and not overimpressed
by kings. After the great day in
England when he was presented to
the king and queen and had been
asked him: ''Well. boy, how did you
enjoy meeting royalty?" Warren re-
piled. "Say, papa, did you see that
drum major all lit up%
Due in New York September 8.
Gen. Pershing's nights have been
spent in completing his report on the
evolutionary fof,c. The document,
which he will take hcaae with him, con-
sumes many printed pages and is sup
plemented by the reports Of subordinate
officers. 1t is expected to shed interest
ing light on Gen. Pershing's relations
with the other allied commanders' and
not a few pages are likely to be de-
voted to comments that will please tine
French. The arrival Of the generals
shin at New York is expected to take
place September 9. 1t will not be ac-
companied by a convoy: and the belief
ceremony, leaving New York to furnish
the pomp. James Perishing Of Chicago,
who has been visiting the battlehelds
of France. will return to Paris in time
to accompany his brother home.
An extraordinary interview with
IN rdinal Gibbons in the MAGAZINE nj