El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-12-25
WILL EAT
CHRISTMAS Dinner AT
HOME Of D0YHOOD IN
SMALL MISSOURI TOWN
Grocer on Whose Wagon
He Used to Hook
Rides to Be Guest
HISTORIC DAY
FOR LACLEDE
Village Is Going
to Put Visitors no
One Knows

10Y Ltdbcu WlTu TO NEW MeXiCHU.l
7 Laclede, Mo-, Dec. 23.+Warren
to dinner today in the old dining room
where daddy used to eat his Christ
mas and Thanksgiving turkey way
back yonder in the days when dad
was Wlarren's age, and ordinary folks
could afford turkey. Along with
Warren at the dinner will be dad
General John J. Pershing, you know
and Aunt Mary Pershing, and the
governor Of Missouri, and Mayor
Allen Of Laclede on whose grocery
wagon dad used to hook rides, and
a few more folks. Most Of them viii
be folks who knew the general when
he was Warren's age, and when full
justice has been done to the turkey
and "fixin's" and pie, General Perish
ing will step out on the porch OF the
OH mouse where he used 10 live ana
address a few emarxs to the Linn
county neighbors who are to gather
in the yard.
Everybody at the dinner except
General Pershing can eat as much
as he pleases, but the general must
have room for the fried dried apple
pie that Aunt Susan rs years old,
has baked for him. Visit to Aunt
Susan, who used to bake pies for
John J. P~ershing, long before my
body ever dreamed he would be a
general is an important part Of the
home coming celebration Of the com
mander In chief OF the American
Expedition force. LacIede has plan
ned a different soiV or day than any
other the general has spent for many
years. 1t will be a day of shaking
hands with neighbors, and "Howdy
IJohn,' and John, | had a boy over
yonder; you didn't happen to run
across him, did you?"
Where Laclede will put the visitors
nobody knows, probably IN Brookfield
and LUMINOUS and other nearby towns
but that is a matter that doesn't
trouble Iaclede much. For Johnny
Pershing Is coming home; he gets in
on ahe noon train from st. Louis and
the railroad (even railroads have
hearts, it seems) has promised to
leave Oft the express today SO that
General Pershing will be sure to get
home in time for dinner.
And for eight hours BLACK Jack
will belong to the modest town that
gave him birth.
This is Laclede's historic day; for
years they will tell storses Of John
n.y. Pershing's homecoming, and
what he said at dinneN and point
out the place fright there's" where
he stood when the governor pinned
the gold medal on him that the state
him"
That ceremony is to occur after
dinner, where the crowd on the lawn
can see 1t.
At dinner a silver loving cup,
bought by old friends Of the gener-
al will be given him.
lat Q: 80 there will be a reception
at the city hall where everybody who
can get in will have q chance to
shake the generals hand and then
there Is that scheduled visit to Aunt
Susan Hewitt for Aunt Susan Is
bedridden now and cannot come to
the celebration. She has announced
that she wants a few minutes real
visit with Johnny, and a chance to
watch his face when ne sees that
Eried, dried apple pie. He used 70
poster her to death for just such
Pies when Aunt Susans' husband u.s.
ID to run the tavern. Tt was hard to
ell which John Persnllng liked best
Aunt Susan says, those dried apple
jies or Captain Jacob Hewitt's stor-
es Of the civil war. Laclede is sure
yarns had something to do
With Pershing's deciding to become
soldier.
Lincoln, Neb., Dec. 2S.-Generai
ohm .. Pershing will spend more
han a week visiting members Of
lis family and friends here following
is arrival tomorrow from Laclede.
discount He will be met at Omaha
v Governor Samuel R. McKelvie and
lhyor J. H. Miller, and d state re-
option committee headed by states
General Fl J. Paul, all OF
HON will accompany him to this
ity. IA public reception next Friday
vening at the state capitol Is among
uite a number OF events planned
,r the generals holiday visit 10
General Pershing made Lincoln his
ONE more than 25 years ago when
3 was commandment OF the Unfver.