The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-03-17
AN IMPRESSIUN
 OF FGEN.PERSHING
Commander of A. E. F. True Soldier Type-Likes
 Children

reception accorded him wherever he l went in Bridgeport yesterday. And l yet he has not the appearance of a | man who is over-susceptible to the | gentle and much practiced art.
 Trim, erect, so1dierly to degree, l he is of the type that one would in l stinctive1y select as a true soldier. | mand and he is most decisive and de- l termined in his opinions. At the | railroad station on his arrival there 1 was waiting for him the enclosed car in which he travelled so many miles | in France. The committee had thoughtfully provided it because of it's association but primarily because of the lowering skies and impending rain.
 The general must have realized that as this was his first visit to this city the people might like to see just what the man looked like who had occupied such a prominent posi- tion in the world war. Taking this fact into consideration he waved the closed car aside at once and demand ed an open car. Luckily the com nittee with foresight had provided an extra car so it was in that that Persh- ing, Mayor Wilson an Col. Qukemeyer, l the generals aide, rode through the city, visiting the various manufactur- ing plants.
 So dense was the crowd at the rail ] road station that it was with difficulty 1 the cars were able to ease their way l through it. All along Water street, l first one and then another stepped up | to Pershing's car to shake his hand l if possible. Smiling in a delighted way he cordially returned the greet | 1 and some women a hearty handclasp. l Arriving at the immense Remington plant the cars circled it and then stopped at the offices. Here the Gen | eral was given vociferous cheers and as he passed through the long room 1 the employees pressed forward to get l a chance to shake hands with him or exchange a word or two. He was shown the Browning gun and his com ments were incisive and to the point. One of the features of his tour was the deep interest he took in every thing shown him and the other the |, partiality he evinced towards the chill dren who were everywhere to be seen along the route his car travelled. On espying a number of them his face would instantly be wreathed in smiles and he was alternately smiling and waving at them. Perhaps the great
 
 plant in Black Rock where there were so many of them it was almost impos- sible to get his car through.
 At the U. M c. shop on Barnum avenue, he went into one of the shell loading departments. It was here that he gave those in his party a taste of his ability as a, hiker. He went through the place at top speed \ and it was mighty hard work to keep up with him. The same thing oc- cured wherever he went and one ot his aides remarked that he was ap- parently tireless and could keep uE such a pace all day.
 There is one thing about the gen. \ ral that is surely commendable, and A perhaps his fondness for children = nas something to do with it. He , knew that the little folk would be waiting anxiously for him at the Ar q mory, and he was constantly inquir- s ing if he was keeping abreast witt a his schedule. If he was told he wat a little late it seemed to annoy hin s greatly and he wanted things speed A ed up immediately. Evidently he i: 7 a firm believer in the old adage tha ''punctuality is a virtue"
 S When you hear his nickname # 'Black Jack," you are unconsciousl! 4 given to picture an individual wht Il looks at things and people througl & anything but rose colored glasses; % person with lowering brows and a re z nelling personality. His nickname i - surely a misnomer as far as thes
 qualities are concerned. Afable ant
 courteous with smile that radiate
 good cheer aided and abetted by
 humorous twinkle in his eye Pershin!
 is everything but what his sobrique
 indicates.
 The submarines at the Lake plan
 interested him but the workers in tn
 yards were the recipients of more at
 tention. They crowded around hin
 and it is more than possible the feI
 minutes he was late were lost in tn
 time he willingly gave up to the mer
 He could hardly make his wa
 through the crowd and they cheere
 his lustily. He and Simon Lake ex
 changed greetings and beamed O.
 each other in a most cordial fashio1
 On the trip to the Locomobil
 which was the next stop, not a fe7
 soldiers were passed. Not one fail
 ed to draw himself up instantly an
 give the general a snappy salute
 Some of them could easily hay
 avoided doing so but they all aI
 peared to be glad of the chance
 Every one brought pleased smile
 Pershing's face.
 At the LocomobiIe the Generals @
 passed through two lines of employe - who presented fine appearanc
 Flags waved and handkerchiefs flu ... tered and his hand was constantly { SS salute Here Andrew Riker shove a Pershing a number of Riker truck = The General, who has a very live u realization of the fine service rendere zS by these trucks, paid the maker ar EE5 the trucks the finest kinds of compl S mentS.
 .s Entering his car markeidl with u S four stars denoting the rank of u T distin nguished passenger started on t : ward Bullards, the plant that W;
 cited recently for it's excellent "; R work The huge sirens screamed
 welcome but it's shrill sound was g % most. drowned out by the cheers of u . children. Pershing was much impres N ed by this plant and compliment
 Stanley H. Rullard on the achiev
 ment of the company.
 %I,; ', oef c+o 41o ir17