The Washington times., 1919-09-17
Home Tom Gets Ready
To Extend Glad Hand
To It's Own Boy Johnny:

! will add chapter to the history of
Missouri and the world. as Mayor Al
len expresses it.
Old-fashiOned Welcome.
: POmp, dignity. formaIity and spIen-
did things-that have marked enter
! tainment for the general throughout
the capitals of Europe-will be miss
ing when he is received here. The
welcome will be simple, old-fashioned
Missouri homecoming. with sing
ing, shouting, hand-shaking and mu-
sic. and, for a fitting climax, much
oratory-with fried chicken ION the
ground"
Rank and decorations will be for
gotten and the iron-jawed Missourian
whom England's King sought to
honor by prefiXing Sir to his name
will come back to his humble people
as plain Johnny" johnny he was
when a tow-headed little shaver he
stubbed his toes and kicked up the
dust OF Laclede's streets; Johnny" he
was when he stole apples and water
melons,: he was still Johnny" when
he went away to West Point, and
Johnny he always will be to Laclede
and Linn county.
will you introduce him as Sir
John Pershing, and speel off the al
phabet that properly follows his
name?" Mayor Allen was asked.
Title Makes Him Laugh.
"Sir John?" repeated the mayor,
shaking with laughter. sir John?''
and again he laughed. Say. can't
even say it without laughing. No,
sir! He's going to be plain Johnny
and that is just what he will want to
be. Lord knows he's been "Generaled'
enough by this time, and Johnny is
going to sound powerful good to
him."
Ever since General PershinE went
overseas Laclede has been looking
forward to the homecoming. A year
ago last July 4 the first speaker was
booked" He is Governor Gardner.
At that time the governor addressed
thousands, who gathered here for
'Pershipg Day"
when General Pershing comes
home to Laclede want to be here to
help welcome him." the governor said.
Mayor Allen promised the governor
he would be one of the speakers.
Several weeks ago. when the War
Department announced that the COM
mander would soon return to America.
Laclede,y through Mayor Allen, sent
the following cablegram to the gen.
eraf:
'Laclede, your old home, your boy
hood friends and Linn county are
calling you. When may we expect
you homer
Several days ago this answer was
received:
Has Heard the Can.
or
there soon after my arrival in the
United States. Can't give you a def
mite date now. but will let you know
later"
The message was signed John
Pershing." The folks here feel GER
tain October will be the month and
are planning accordingly.
The coming of this mighty man Of
arms will witness a reunion OF the
Pershing family. Jim Psrshing, OF
Chicago. the generals brother. and
their sisters. Miss May PershIng and
Mrs. Bessie Butler. OF Lincoln, Neb,
are to come TO Laclede for the well
come. = family will be entertained
i'm the old Pershing home, now the
residence Of A. s. Byrd. This will be
the first time since the wedding OF
Miss Bessie Pershing, many years ago,
that the surviving members OF the
Pershing family have been together
under the old home roof.
Just how long General Pershing
will remain is not known, but Laclede
hopes to keep him here two or three
days. Reunions of schoolmates and
chums: trips to the OF swimmin' hole
on Muddy creek; to the old Pershing
farm, and many other points dear to
the heart OF the general are planned.