h while and
of which Pershing was justly proud.

His love of West Point has always been strong. He is proud of the school
and proud to be counted among its graduates. Loyal in all ways he has
been specially loyal to West Point. Perhaps his true feeling can be best
shown by the following letter written by him when he was in far-away
Mindanao. He was class president at the time and sent the letter for the
twenty-fifth anniversary of the graduation of the class. Like many an
"old grad" the thoughts of the writer turn affectionately to the old
days. The joys and disappointments are alike remembered and General
Pershing shows a slight tendency to recall an occasional slip in the
strict rules of the institution. This infraction is not upheld by him,
and his friends, who are fully aware of his belief in strict discipline,
will perhaps condone the slight infringement when they are aware that he
records also the strict penalty which followed it. He indirectly shows
that the infraction was due not to a desire to avoid a task but came of
a grim determination to accomplish it.

GREETING TO THE CLASS.

Headquarters, Department of Mindanao.
Zamboanga, P. I.
March 15, 1911.

To the Class of 1886,
U. S. Military Academy,
West Point, New York.

DEAR CLASSMATES:

The announcement in the circular sent out by your
committee saying that I would write a letter of
greeting to be read at the class reunion imposes
upon me a very pleasant obligation. It gives me an
opportunity as Class President to write you
collectively and to say many things that I would
like to say if I were writing to each individual.
Above all, however, I am permitted to feel myself
a real part of the reunion. This letter shall be
a heartfelt and sincere word of greeting from the
opposite side of the world. I shall try to imagine
myself among you around the banquet table or
perhaps again in the old tower room, first floor,
first division, or familiarly even in the "usual
place." With this greeting I also send a word of
explanation and regret for my absence, a few lines
of reminiscence and pages of affection and
friendship for all recorded at rand