Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-15

lived there then, and they had held
up and robbed people from other
counties. So the guerrillas got after
u.s."
can remember that some of them
caled out, Save US, John PershilSg =
Wnen they were taken away" said
LomaX. He was standing there look
ing at them, and they knew him to be
good Union man, who might have
influence"
Grew Up Studious Boy.
But those troubles of the debatable
ground gro, came when the future gen.
eral was too young to be impressed
by them. He grew up a quiet. stu
dious, well behaved boy. When he
was old enough he joined the Meth
odlst Church. Judge Clay Biggers,
who knew him well as schoolmate
and playmate, is quite unable to recall
any hectic incident They went to
nshed and hunted and did about what
country boys always do. Like all
the others who knew him. Biggers is
emphatic in declaring that John D.
Pershing was a well behaved boy.
IF he ever did one mean or low or
to preserve it," is the declaration of
Banker Lomax.
After his father lost his money THE
boy looked about for some work to
do. He tried farming for a little,
but that seemed not to have appealed
to him. He is said to have taught a
negro school for, little. but Judge
Oscar Libby. who is custodian of the
school boards books, says he can
find no record of this.
Il told the story myself" said he,
but there is nothing on the books.
1t may be that the general taught
school for a little while, when a
negro teacher was sick. but no pay
warrants were ever made out in his
name. Maybe he and the negro fixed
it up between them
1t is to Representative Burroughs
that Gen. Pershing really owes his
career. 1t had been the custom to
bestow an appointment to Yves Point
upon the son of a. political asset. but
lished statement in the newspapers
that he would appoint the winneri OF
an examination for admission.
II remember" says Judge Clay Big
gers, that his statement read that
the sons of the poor have as good
a chance as the sons of the rich.
Young Pershing had not shown the
slightest leaning toward a military
life, but this offered him career.
He was then casting about for some
thing to do His father was prbs-
pering as a clothing salesman in lSt
Louis The tales that John and Jim
Pershing ever were called upon to
support their mother and sisters dur
ing the temporary eclipse of their
father seem to rest on a very doubt
full foundation. The elder had crash
ed financially, but he was regarded as
a lively and enterprising man, who
would not be long in getting on his
~ 70 ,fD in itvaa At
all his possessions.
Pershing won the appointment to
West Point by one point in tourney
which began with twenty-one en-
trants and finally narrowed down to
eleven. with his departure for West
Point the first hand knowledge of La
clede ceased. He returned to his ma
tive town but once or twice during
his academy days. A little later the
Pershing family left Laclede. but a
more or less tenuouS tie has always
connected the Pershingsfto the town.
Miss May Pershing has for thirty
years kept the local paper posted on
the doings of her famous brother.
Laclede Only Home.
1t remains true, however, that La
clede is perhaps the only home that
John J. Pershing has ever had. AS an
Army officer he could not attach HIM
self even in modified permanence TO
any place. He was continually on the
move. That he had always considered
Laclede his home is the contention OF
his former intimates. Fourteen years
ago he visited the town, and once
since then had arranged to go back
home" on a visit, but the Mexican af-
fair interfered.
HE met the son of an old friend in
q little New Mexico town during the
Mexican trouble" said Banker Lo-
max, "and stopped his automobile
while he talked for half an hour:
".And who are you to talk this way
with Gen. Pershing" asked one of the
Regular Army officers with the gen.
eral-
Just the son of a friend in his
home town was the reply"
During. the war. too. he met Mis-
souri, outfit by the roadside one day.
and found that twelve of the men OF
one company were from Laclede. He
had them presented to him and chat
ted for time about the town. recall
ing the once familiar names. He is
the permanent honorary president OF
the Alumni Association of the La
clede High School. and every now and
then finds time to drop line to some
one of his old friends.
Still the town keeps it's poise. 1t is
not inventing stories about his won
drous youth. and not remembering
any new ones. 1t stubbornly insists
that he was Just an ordinary boy
like any other boy. SO far as we could
see" 1t is immensely proud of him.
but it is proud of what he is. rather
than of who he is.
Just remember this" says Laclede.
"He began as the son of a section
foreman. He did it all himself"