Evening star., 1923-01-28

forty eight flags, one for every state
in the Union, and he in turn suggest
ed that the flags be kept in the city
as a lesson to those who have but
lately come to our shores. The sug-
gestion was gratefully accepted.
THERE is a conference table around
J. which are placed none too COM
Portable chairs. There is a stand OF
colors, with other things that are
military in character. Diagonally
across from the generals desk is a
large map, which shows the locations
of all the troops in. this country. and
the arrows or other markers disclose,
at a glance, just the kind and char
acter of soldiers at each point.
You have been asked to take seat
while the head of the Army runs
through his mail. The term runs
through" is the only one that will fit
the manner in which he handles the
different communications that come
before him every hour in the day.
Apparently he does nothing but skim
over each one, but if you have writ
ten him a letter and are there when
he reads it he Is liable to ask you
a dozen questions concerning it, and
you have no further doubt as to his
ability quickly to grasp the entire
contents of the communication.
You are hardly seated when the
door opens and Mai. Quekemeyer
comes in. He, like his chief, is a
nan of few words when engaged in
official duties. He quickly, but COM
prehensively, tells the general what
he has to say and waits for the an
swer, which comes like a shot out
of gun. The major wheels and in
a moment you see member of the
general staff enter. They confer
about a certain matter. the question
Is decided and away goes the one or
lesser rank.
The next time the matter was one
that concerned a question of policy
at Schof1eld barracks, the beautiful
spot near Honolulu. This was de-
cided upon quickly enough, but you
felt that Pershing had given more
that a minutes time to the matter;
had been mulling it over in his mind
for some time, and right you are.
Then there came a delegation of
citizens, some of whom had served
with John j. overseas. They had
come down to see If they could not
get him to make a speech at the
dedication of their clubhouse. He
consulted his engagement book and
found that on that particular night
he was booked to dine with friend,
but these men in front of him were
with him in France. 50 he called up
his friend, begged off from the din
ner date and accepted their invita-
tion, although 1t meant a nights g
travel and the loss of a quiet evening.
He seemed really glad to be able to
help the chaps that had once taken
orders from him on the other side
of the pond.
The reader may have in his mind
the question whether or not. those
who asked him to speak were gem
erals. There was not a man among
them that had ever worn more than
two bars on his shoulders and the
majority Of them were. or rather had
been, just plain buck privates"
X X *1x
\ GAIN the aide came. in,' this time
[ bearing in his hand a letter that
had gotten under his skin, for the
major, like the general, is not really
as stern as he looks to be. The mis-
sive concerned the case of a dough-
boy who had broken one of the
smaller regulations - nothing that
was serious, but it called for official
action and he had written to the
general about 1T. What was done ?
That is secret, but the lads mother
will never know that the boy had
ever done q thing that was not ex-
actly according to orders. Lincoln
and Grant used to do the same sort
of things that the ypresent-day gem
eral does.