The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-09-30

Cold. steci-gray. sharp and oalcu-
iatinx. every. Inch "a soldier. but al.
together n big hearted American
daddy. That's General John J. Per.
shlng. says Private John whittig.
who has just returned 20 Seattle 20
sell papers at First ave. and Yealcr
Way after nearly two years over,
seas service. Private Whlttig was
n member OF Gen. PerahlnR'a body
guard during his last months In
France. accompanied his command.
or TO London for the grand military
reception and parade. stood guard
outside Pcrshing's statcroom door
on tho way back 10 Gods country
on tho Levlathan. and marched
with Pcrshinx thru the madiy
cheering canyons of humanity in
New York and Washington.
Always = Gentleman
Tho generals n big man all
right said Private whi,tiE today.
lie In unbcnding. strong. keen and
cold-just like cold steel. III. never
forgets no IL a soldier. It's In the
blood. lie makes you think he'd
never get excited over anything. nj
ways as cool Rs n clam.
But. with his soldieriy bearing
there IA nothing of the nutocraiic
manner Of some European officers.
and some Americans. as well. He
is always a real gentleman. I be.
iieve he IL absolutely Just. and his
heart II as big AS he IN. And. he IL
mighty proud of his men.
plain American"
I'm London after tho big recep-
ton. he made little talk to the
regiment that served as his body
guard. Boys he said. they are
killing us with Kindness. don't
know whether I can stand IL. I
hope you can His smile goes
straight home every time. too. just
a plain, cold. honest. just American.
I'd call him. Big ne he II. straight
as an arrow. too. never got the
impression that he was anything
but n plain American. without even
n trace OF autocracy.
Warren PerBhing. his 12-year-old
EDus JUST WV
house. I've seen enough to make
mo think the generals whole heart
In with his boy. He is a real
daddy. the right kind. too. He loves
his boy. all right. and the kid thinks
his daddy's all right. too.
Tho general Is not n good public
speaker. He hesltates over his
words. and. especially when he talks
to his men. he always seems TO feel
every word he says. II comes from
the heart. He doesn't lay on soft
stuff. just talks plain and fine. but
you know he means II all.
Boy Gets Decorations
Its funny, too, he never
wears any Of the medals nli
those European governments
and kings gave him. lie just
takes them and gives them to
Warren. I guess Warren has
got more medals than any other
boy In the world. All Gen. Per
shing ever wears ON his breast
are the little campaign ribbons
showing service in the Spanish
american Mif ttit
ippines. II he wore all the
medals he's got, he would look
like the band master Of keokuk.
Some OF the big chiefs OF our
army sported all the medals
/ they could get, but not Per-
/ shing. He's too democratic, too
much Of plain, every day
American.
when we were in London. the
regiment paraded in Hyde Park and
the general, with the prince Of
Wales, reviewed and inspected us.
The general walked along the ranks
pointing out TO the prince all the
service and wound stripes, and the
medals and citations. He treated
the prince just like he would any
other officer-courteously and sim
ply. but without bowling an inch.
Tho prince himself looks like a good