Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-10
BROTHER ELKS'
GREET PERSA|Nc
General Also Is Cheered by
10000 Children at In
spring Spectacle.


spring Spectacle. .
By the Associated Press.
| NEW YORK, September 10.-Gen.
/ appearing in public vanished last
| night when he carried his famous
smile to the greatest reception in the
! history of the local Elkdom-a recep-
ton given in his honor by officials of
| the Grand Lodge, headed by Grand
| Exalted Ruler Frank L. Rain of Fair
| bury, Neb., and attended by a delega-
ton from FL Paso Lodge, where Gen.
| Pershing is a member; by officials of
| the Elks' war relief commission and
| several hundred others.
He was escorted from his hotel by
| Mr.. Rain. and entered the clubhouse
! to be greeted by cheers which were
| heard several blocks away. After
hats had been thrown in the air and
| rising demonstration accorded the dis
| tinguished guest, Mr.. Rain paid a
glowing tribute to the commander-in-
chief. saying the Elks considered it a
| cherished privilege to welcome Gen.
Pershing as a bgpther member and
tine world foremost man.
Praises Work of Elks.
Gen. Pershing, addressing his hear
ers as brother Elks," replied as fol-
lows:
mo one knows better than an Elk
what the order stands for, nor ap-
preciates as I do what the bonds of
| an Elk inspire him to do, and 1 ap-
preciate the great war work accom-
piished by this order.
I'VE who were fortunate enough to
be sent to the battlefields of France
to represent our people, felt we had
behind us the unity and loyalty of the
nation.
IT know of no greater order in
patriotism, loyalty and benevoience
contributing to make that possible
ity than the Elks. We felt the ma
terial results Of your efforts. i wish
to thank you in the name Of those
two million men who accompanied
me abroad and made possible the
victory which we brought home TO
present to you"
Sees "Movie" About Himself.
Gen. Pershing was taken to
movie" as the concluding event on
the afternoons program. and much
to his surprise the drama" was
history Of HRS own life.
He was seen to chuckle with giee
several times as different pictures
aroused memories. and was particu-
larly pleased with a picture of Aunt
Susan, who was busily engaged in
rocking herself to sleep on the back
porch of the old home in Laclede, Mo.
The swimming hole where the gen.
eral learned to swim caused him to
laugh heartily, as did a part of the
picture showing an old school chum,
y1r@ lA6 tn hypC
man when Peshing STas a school
teacher, and is still selling clothing
back in the old home town.
$4,000 Children Greet Him.
Standing before a veritable forest
of American flags held in the hands
of more than $4,000 school children
packed into the sheep meadow IN
Central Park yesterday afternoon.
Gen. Pershing personally thanked
them for their patriotism during the
war.
The children, representing the public
schools of the city. had waited in the
park for nearly three hours to get
a glimpse of the commander-in- chier.
When his car came into view the
chorus of cheers arose SO high that
it seemed to sweep through the park
and be echoed back by the tall apart
ment buildings and residences on
either side.
The ceremony itself was very brief,
occupying less than fifteen minutes.
1t opened with salute to the flag"
led by Boy Scouts and recited by the
children present. This was followed
by the singing of the national an
them. after which Gen. Pershing was
introduced. The commander was WISH
bly, affected by the greeting, as were
his two sisters, who occupied seats on
the platform and whose eyes were
wet with tears.
Address to Children.
After gazing in silence over the
crowd for nearly, two minutes, the
general said:
School children of the city of New
York: 1t gives me extreme pleasure
to be here this afternoon for a few
moments and to Witness this patri-
otto ceremony.
1T is upon you we must depend in
the future to defend the principles of
ciples we all love SO well. feel sure
you understand the principles for
which the war was fought and that
you join with me in congratulatine
America on its victorious conclusion.
I'm sure the patriotism Of the
ch1ldren OF America has been an in
spiration- not only to the grown-ups,
but to the boys who carried the rife
at the front. I thank you for this
great lesson in patriotism and wish
| that every one who served in Europe
| could see it as 1 have seen it,"
After the exercises in the sheep
| meadow. the general was presented
with an American flag by a school
girl. AS he received the gift he bowed
gracefully and pressed the national
coiors to his lips.
Gets Thanks Of French,
A delegation of twenty-five Alsace-
iLorrainers. led by Maurice Casenave
minister plenipotentiary for France
Marcel Knecht, a member of the
French high commission, and Consul
General Liebert, called at the Waldorf
to pay their respects to Gen. Pershine
land to express the gratitude of tht
French people for his services in
helping to liberate A1sace-Lorraine.
Two little girls, Charlotte and Geor.
lgette Rueff, daughters Of New YorE
banker. attired as "Alsace" and "Lor.
raine," presented two bouquets Of
lilies and roses tied with the silk trl.
color of France to the American com.
mander. Gen. Pershing, after kissing
the maidens on both cheeks. as is the