the world's great characters
have not only not had it, but have suffered martyrdom because they or
their teachings were unpopular. But the deep regard, the confidence and
pride which the American forces universally manifest for their leader
are based primarily, not upon their impulses or impressions, but upon
their belief in the qualities he has quietly manifested, the record he
has made, and the power of his own personality.

Deeply impressed as the American commander must be by the receptions
given him, the formal honors bestowed upon him by his own and other
countries, there is still a minor chord that sounds in the chorus of
acclaim. What would the mother, who in the little Missouri village first
fired his boyish heart with an earnest desire to make the most of
himself, say now if she was here to treasure in her heart the words that
have been spoken in memory of the deeds he has done? And his wife--if
she had not perished in the fire at the Presidio, and now could follow
his career with the pride which a good woman ever has in the
recognition of her husband, what added strength her sympathy and
fellowship would give to the arm and heart of the man whose name and lot
she shared. Sometimes there are tragedies for our soldiers greater even
than the battlefields provide.

FOOTNOTE:

[D] Beyond the cabled report the writer is unable to verify this
statement.

CHAPTER XVIII

AS A WRITER AND SPEAKER

THE two predominant qualities that have marked General Pershing in other
lines of activity naturally appear in his written and spoken words.
These are simplicity and forcefulness.

He writes but little and then only when he has something to say. What he
has to say he tells and then stops. His style is lucid and interesting;
even his early reports make good reading.

Certain of his sayings have almost the force of proverbs. For example,
when one has once heard, "Germany can be beaten; Germany must be beaten;
Germany will be beaten," he can never forget the terse epigrammatic
phrasing. The same thing is true also of his response to the message of
the French school children who invaded his headquarters, bringing their
Fourth of July greetings:

To-day constitutes a new Declaration of
Independence, a solemn oath that the liberty for
which France has long been fighting will be
attained.

It is not much when measured in words, but it is enough when behind it
is the man.