Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-09-17
CHAPTER TX.


This announcement in newspaper,
read by chance by John Pershing,
marked the epoch of his life.
This announcement in a newspaper
gave to America her General Pershing
gave him to the world, this man who
our Americans in France and helped
save civilization from the Hun.
John Pershing had been called back
to his home in Laclede from some
place, as the story of Laclede folks
has it, by his mother. Some say it was
while he was student in the Mis-
souri, State Normal school at Kinks
VILE, others that it was after he had
been graduated from the school with
the degree of B. A. Even the MEM
bers Of his family are not certain on
this point. This, however, is of little
consequence.
The essential fact is that he had
returned home-called back because &,
burglar had broken into the Pershing
home or store during the absence OF
Mr. Pershing and because Mrs. PERISH
ing was alarmed She had sent for
John.
THE DAY OF DECISION.
Back but a day, his mothers fears
aliayed, John had seated himself in
the cosey living room of his home.
There was a table close by his chair.
and, looking up, he noticed a news
paper lying where someone had tossed
1t on top of a pile of books. He picked
H. UP and started casually to read it.
His eyes were arrested by Congress
man Burrows announcement. He
read and re-read that announcement
Who shall say, looking back through
all the years, what We're John Perish
ing's thoughts? Did he day-dream
there, sitting in the living room? Did
he, perhaps live again the bushwhack-
err raid and see as If in life the COM
manding figure of the bushwhacker
leader, Captain HoltzclaW? Did con-
versations with that veteran Of the
Mexican and Civil wars, Captain Hen
ley, come back to recollection? Or did
he, maybe. re-live those days when he
knelt by his mothers side and watched
her while she made the first American
flag ever flung to the breeze in La
clede? Watched her while she ex-
planned what each star meant, what
each stripe meant? Did he think again
of that first Memorial Day Laclede
ever knew and how he walked along
q child only 5, beside his father to lay
offerings of flowers on the graves OF
Laclede's soldier dead? Did he? Who
shall say?
But then and there John Pershins
made his decision.
He would be a soldier.
He knew it.
And as he made that decision, the
biggest decision of all his life, so all
his life has he made decisions.
True, he talked the matter over with
his mother and with his sister. Bes-
sic. So today he talks over with his
staff the stragetic plans and stupen-
dous operations of the war. But he
never hesitated His mind made up
his purpose clear, he acts.
That was John Pershing of Laclede
days
That is General Pershing on the
battlefields OF France.
Mrs. Butler his sister Bessie, TOLD
me something of his biggest decision
when I talked with her at her home
In Lincoln. Neb.
Before he read the announcement
DO some Laclede folks say. John hac
been considering that life work fol
him meant either teaching or engaging
in the legal profession. Clay c. Big
gers, Johns schoolmate of boyhood
now a lawyer in Laclede, declares Johr
had even considered becoming hi.
law partner.
JUDGE LIBBY SPINS A YARN.
Now Johns purpose was definite in
deed. Thoughts of teaching and Law
we're dismissed. He would go to Yves