New-York tribune., 1919-12-24
Guest Refuses to Take Au-
tomobile at Station and
Heads Street Parade I'm.
der Barrage of Cameras
BOyhOOd Memories
Revived at Dinner
Old Friends Recognized
and All Little Girls and
Some Big Ones Kissed
Special Correspondence

Special Correspondence
LACLEDE, Mo-, Dec. 23.-Lacledt
gave a tremendous welcome to-day te
it's most distinguished native son, Gen.
eral John ]. Pershing, who came home
at noon for his first visit to his native
town in fifteen years. AS his car was
detached from westbound train and
placed on a siding the general came out
on the platform and tossed all arrange
ments made for his reception into the
discard by ignoring the automobiles
provided for his party and himself and
striking out up the middle of the
old home
He didn't even take the sidewalk, but
with Mayor Z. B. Allen as his escort
and his sister, Miss May Pcrshing,
walking beside him, he faced barrage
of cameras and began his triumphal en-
try to the business section.
Negro First To Be Recognized
The first man the general recognized
as he stepped on the platform Of his
car was an old negro, Allen Warheld
Come here. Allen!" he shouted, and as
the negro approached the steps of the
car the general reached down and
shook his hand.
The first woman to reach the gen
erals side was his cousin, Mrs Matte
Packer, Of Farquar, Mo
"You are sure looking fine, Mattie,' -
General Porshirg said as he graspod
her hand and walked with her up the
street.
After a block or two the crush
proved too much for Miss May
Pershlng, and under the escort of Clay
c. Bigger she made detour for the
old home and escaped the crowd that
paid homage to her distinguished
brother.
Judge O. F. Lbbey, an old-time
friend of the general, was one of the
first to greet the visitor.
You don't look bit older than you
dld fifteen years ago. judge,' was the
Generals greeting, But Pm not going
to tell how many more years | have
known you.'
Shows Memory is Good
"Ycu don't know me, general" said
one man, as he reached a hand over
another mans shoulder.
ooh, yes, | de-" replied General
Pershing, "You are Will Frakes. I
remember you we'll"
There are only 1000 persons living in
Lacledc, old and young, but they were
who used to bake pies for the general
when he was a boy. She was too infirm
to go out, but after the ceremonies
were over General Pershing found time
to go to her home and pay a short call
Governor Gardner, in the name of
Missouri, presented General Pershing
with a medal. The speech making
was on the steps of the Pcrshng home.
General Pershing, in accepting the
medal from his native state, was
several times on the verge Of an un-
conditional surrender TO emotion.
General Pershing said
Your excellency, your honor, ladies
and gentlemen, friends of my boyhood
and my youth:
ut was in the years among you that
| learned of loyalty, of duty to coun-
try as known by the forefathers. 1t
was IN the quiet of this village that
learned Of duty to country and duty
10 God. Service was taught me by nv
parents, whose character was early i'm
pressed upon me, and who led me early
10 follow the path of duty.
Early Training Given Credit
Whatever service | was able to
perform in cooperation with the youth
or the country before or during the
great war | owe to the early training
OF my mother. Many of you knew her,
and she was loved by all. In later
years l have learned how much | owe
20 her. | feel that we often, often fail
TO appreciate our debt to the mothers
of the country
In the late war we learned how
much the support Of women was neces-
sary to sustain us and hold US to the
hlgher ideals. | am too much over
come with emotion to say all that is
IN my heart. | can think of nothing
so calculated to cause me emotion as
to accept in this old yard where
played as boy this token from nv
state"
Old Pershing Home Vacated
A. S. Byrd, the present owner of the
old Pershing home, rendered the use of
the house to the committee, and early
this morning the Byrd family moved
out and committee of Laclede women,
with Mrs. c. c. Bigger as chairman, be-
gan preparing dinner
Two tables were set with twelve
chairs each and at the head of one sat
Mayor f. B. Allen. At the right of
Mayor Allen sat the guest OF honor, and
Governor Gardner was at the MAYORS
left. Next to General Pershing sat II.
c. LomaX, a banker, of Laclede, and
boyhood friend. Then came Dr. Burris
Jenkins. editor of "The Kansas City
POST; Warren Pershing, the generals
ten-year-old son; Miss May Pershing,
the generals sister, and others.
The women of Laclede felt that their
reputation as cooks was at stake in
preparing the dinner, which was made
up of strictly home products, except that
the women obtained oysters from the
Atlantic Coast and grape fruit from
the Pacific.
Final Ceremony in Opera House
The closing ceremony of the day was
at the opera house, where General Per-
shing held a public reception, shook
hands with everybody, kissed the little
girls and some that were not so little
and asked about absent relatives of
some of his old friends.
At o'clock tonight his private car
was attached to westbound train and
taken to Lincoln, Neb., where the Cen
eral will pass Christmas with his
sisters, Mrs. D. M. Butler and Miss
May Pershing.