The Washington herald., 1919-09-19

CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY.
Much more there is TO the letter,
really classic, much more OF remini-
scence that thrills and grips me But
that is another story. The letter is
almost a chapter in itself
Lafayette, We Are Here
For now. back to old Judge Libby S
office.
"A happier boy than John. when he
returned home to Laclede from Tren-
ton after that examination. would
have been impossible to find" the
US Laclede folks were happy with
him. He was a noble boy and we
all loved him Let me tell p-u i
story of him
Il recall one day. standing on the
street here while Johns father and
Pete Felt were nearby. talking. They
were speaking of John. and I overhead
Pete Felt say to Mr. Pershing: lie
hasn't the gift Of expression
Think" exclaimed the old Judge
Not the gift Of expression, John
John. who stood before LAFAYETTE
tomb and said: Lafayette, we arc
here"
Not for many minutes could the
old Judge speak again. so moved was
he. When he did resume it was tC
tell me stories I had heard before
and of which have written. But i,
was pleasant to hear them again from
the old judge. for the recital Of their
gave him much happiness the day
called upon him The next dav. alas
he was to experience one Of life.
tragedies. His Oldest son. about
whom the old judges whole life was
centercd, died in Kansas City.
John PershinS. home once moro
happy I'm his success. did not long -.
main idle. He realized he had b.
taken IN" first step. taken his frs
trench, rs it were. The real battle
still remained TO be fought Their,
would come another examination be,
fore he was really a cadet, then -four
years Of work so hard as to max,
fearful boy even as courageous a.
he He knew that though Yves
Point calls manv-and that many IN,
pick of the whole nation. the best tn,
nation can give. her strongest, he
most virle-not all Of that many vii
West Points coveted prize-a commits
sion IN the United States army. By
John PershinE was going TO wtn. n,
knew It He had never lost yet IT
rever would
So John PershinE studied and stud.
led As he had never studied before
OF course. as yet he had not receivet
his official appointment But. then
that was only technicality. Ye
when it did corne-what a thrill I
gave him, with shaking hands h
took the big, bulky. important-lookine
ar1y-afrna
government seal on 4 corner, as I
was handed TO him one day IN tn,
postoffice. Almost tenderly ne hell
il. Then he hurried home To,
sacred was that envelope to be ope'I
ed in the postoffCe Not until he haC
& reached his own Chamber-a chambe
. today which. strangely and sadly. /
occupied by a cripple. a boy, too. 10
year-OId William Bird. the son Of tn
. present owner OF the house-did h,
I break the seal Another thrill Ant
what a thrill. 4 never-to-b be-forgot
. ten moment.
Farewell BoyhOod Home.
The time PASSED quickly. and ther,
/ came day soon when John Pershing
. bag packed. last kisses given, las
. farcwclIz said. stood on the railroa,
station platform at Laclede- He wa
on his wagon his way TO Wes
Point, to fame, to glory. That da,
he left his bOyhood behind him II
became a mana man with a man
purpose, Mud hc went out into tn
world to take his mans place in it
True he did not go directly to IVES
Point There was one step interven
ing a military prep" school, '"Th
( Rocks" on the Hudson and almos
within the shadow Of West Point
But John PershinE's stay there, 4
that old school conducted by Col
Caleb Huse, a retired army officer
dead now. peace be to htm-was 1
short one
John knew. though. what ives
Point meant He would be ready ii
all ways for West Point. he decided
All through youth he looked ahea,
and prepared for eventualities. Al
ways he was ready to meet them 81
it was that he stopped on his way II
West Point to attend the prep
school
I.aclede never forgot John Pershtng
John PershinE never forgot Laclede