Weekly journal-miner., 1919-01-15
fixing the pay for the head of the city government
GEN. PERSHING LEADING
 SIMPLE LIFE IN FRANCE.

l W -'A O-NAJ IidIlSS, Jan. S.-
 When he IS here at general
 headquarters, General Pershine leads a very busy but very sim
 pie life. There is little ceremony of an ostentatious kind either at his chateau or around his offices. There IS nothing to distinguish his office rooms in "A" building of the head quarters group from those of any other officer. One orderly sits at his door, there is no sentry and the visitor walks unannounced into the adjoining reception room to be re- ceived by one of his staff
 General Persning's trips to and from his chateau in the country are made in his motor car, distinguished only by its red four-starred insignia on the windshield and where would be the number plate, which slips un- noticed along the road and through the city. Ordinarily he is accom- panied only by his personal aide, his staff following at distance great enough not to mark the big cars as one squadron.
 In fine weather he sometimes walked the two or three miles from the outskirts of Chaumont to his country home, and that, with quiet horseback rides drought the beauti-. ful country hereabouts, gave him his needed exercise.
 Much of his time since last spring when the American forces began real participation in strength in the fighting, has been at Advanced Army Headquarter. These have been at various places, sometimes at a distance to entail long, hard auto mobile rides from them to Chau- mont when circumstances demand. ed his presence here. Often after a hard day at advanced headquarters the general has made the three or four-hour drive late at night, only to depart early the next day. His pow erful closed car with double rear wheels usually travels at high speed | and in its comfortable cushions he the rest denied him in bed
 Life at General Pershing's chateau is plain to the point of simplicity. Except for the beautiful old castle ! and its picturesque setting in the 1 Valley of the Marne, it might be the home life of any fairly well to do American business man. Only uni .orms of his military household set 1t apart. His personal staff lives with him and his servants arc negro soldiers detailed. And they are good cooks as his few guests can estify, placing on his table simple, veil cooked American disnes, usual y three or at the most four courses, including coffee and cheese and serv- d American style.
 No sentries are in evidence, noth- lg to mark the chateau as the resi- ence of the commander in chief. , The visitors car drives through lain unguarded gateway in a close y set grove, along curving road ray for few hundred yards, and hen only is had the first glimpse of he old castle, lying its in parks and awns bordered on one side by q ong, sweeping curve of the river 1arnc and its canal, lined on either ank with tall poplars set equidis- ant and lending an added touch of 10 the always formal 'rench landscape.
 Often General Pershing, himself, ses from seat on the terrace to rect guest and, if not, one of his :, taff The meal is very informal, being general and the in chief apparently does T ot like to finger at table. Afterward} office and cigars in the big lounge oom or a stroll under the trees un- I the general indicates that his .isure is ended. $ General Pershing has kept himself [ l splendid physical condition during ! lese trying months. He is as lean C nd clear-eyed as he was when he | anne from the Mexican campaign, as b traight and soldierly ill bearing as I e was in the days of his Philippine J when he first won notice f lis eyes still twinkle when occasion il alls and the corners of his mouth c till turn in the familiar, quickly Il assing smile t For those he has known in past Ii avs he always has some mutual to recall, some incident Il the Philippines or of Mexico or u le days when he was on duty in e Washington, and his hearty laugh Ii