Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-13
THE CHAFFLNG DISH

something to himself. On his lips it looked
like what the deuce" or something of
similar purport. He sat down on q chair
beside Governor Sproul. Not more than four
rect away, peering over the floor of the
stand, was the alert representative of THE
CHAFFING DISH.
LIE WAS paler than we expected. He
IA looked a bit tired. Speaking as a father,
we were pleased to note the absence of
Warren, who was 1--WE hope) getting a good
sleep somewhere. We had a good look at
the renowned chin, which is well worth
study. 1t must be a hard chin to shave.
1t Juts upward, reaching a line exactly below
the brim of his cap. Below his crescent
moustache there is no lower lip visible: it
is tucked and folded in by the rising thrust
of the jaw. 1t is this which gives him the
grim" aspect which every reader of the
papers hears about. He is grim, there's no
doubt about it, with the grimness of a man
going through a tough ordeal. Il can see
him all right" squeaked little John Fisher,
"but he doesn't see me-" The first two
rows Of seats at the right of the aisle were
crammed with generals, two star and three
star. From our lowly station we could see
a grand panorama of mahogany leather
boots and the ~t1aring curves of riding
breeches. 1t was a great day for Sam
DrOWne. Inc tnOugnC came TO us That has
reached us before. The higher YOU 20
in the A. f. F.. the more the officers are
tailored after the English manner. 1t is
the finest proof of international cousinship.
When England and America wear the same
kind of clothes, alliance is knit solid.
DERSHING sat with his palms on mis-
l. knees. He looked worried. There was
a wavering crease down his lean checks.
The plumply genial countenance of Governor
Sproul next to him was an odd contrast to
that dry, hard face. The bell in the tower
tolled eleven times. He stood up for the
photographers. Walter Grail, appearing
from somewhere, sprang up on the parapet
facing the general. Look this way 20 he
shouted as the general turned toward some
movie men. That will be Walters first cry
when he gets to heaven, or wherever. Tom
Smiths face was pallid with excitement.
His nicely draped trOuserings, which were
only six inches from the Dish's notebook,
quivered slightly as he said fifteen words of
introduction.
As Pershing stood up to speak the crowd
surged forward. The general was worried.
Don't, don't! Somebody will get hurt!'
he called sharply. Then Tom Smith surged
forward also and said something to the po-
lice about watching the crowd.
The general took off his cap. Holding it
in his left hand with the Gloves he patted
his close cropped hair nervously. He
frowned. He began to speak.
TINE speech has already been covered by
l. our hated rivals. We will not repeat
it, save to>say that it was as crisp, clean
cut and pointed as his chin. He was merry
Gus, as we could see by the clenching and
unclenching of his hands. His voice is
rather high. We liked him for not being a
suave and polished speaker. He gestured
briskly with a pointing forefinger, and pro-
nounced the word patriotic with a short A
patriotic" Later he stumbled over it
again and got 1t out as patterotism. We
liked him again for that. He doesn't have
to pronounce it, anyway. We liked him
best of all for the unconscious slip he made.
''This reception" he said ~ understand
Is for the splendid soldiery of America that
played such an important part in the war
with our Anies." A respectful ripple of
laughter passed over the stand at this, but
he did not notice it. He was fighting too
hard to think what to say next. We liked
him, too, for saying "such an important
part" A man who had been further away
from the fighting would have said that it was
America, alone and unaided, that won the
war. He is just as we have hoped he would
be: a plain, blunt man. We have heard
that he Is going to enter the banking bust
ness. We'd like to have an account at that
bank SOCRATES