Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-09-09
HISTORIC BOY HEROES.
YOUTH Who Fave Led Armies and
Changed Nations.

T, Changed Nations.
| Many IF the heroes Of the war just ended
were boy soldiers in the rebellion. There
is nothing strange about that, however.
for history is full of the deeds of youthful
warriors It was fair faced English boy
of 10, THE Black Prince, so called be-
Cause of the color of his arInor, who led
the English soldiers to victory at Crecy-
! His father, King Edward III, watched
the battle from distance The French
army far outnunEsred the English, and
many times during the conflict the prince
was hard pressed and in danger of cap
tzIrc. Once be was so surrounded by his
. foes that the Earl of Warwick sent mes
: sarger in haste to the king asking that
; assistance &c given the prince.
''Is my son killed. asked the king as
g., the messenger rode up.
I "No, sir The king keaved sigh of
relief.
lis he woundedS'
/ ''No. sir.
! ''Is he thrown to the ground?"
! mo, but he is hard pressed and needs
. your aid. -
! ''Then If it is only that 1 shall give him
no help. / have set MY heart on his prov
ing himself = brave knight, and / am re-
solved that the victory shall be due to his
own valCr.'
Ten years later in subsequent cam
Prince achieved another splendid triumph
at the battle Of Poitiers, where he defeated
and captured the French monarch, John,
and his son Philip, - lad of II. King John
had with him his four sons, Charles,
Louis, John and Philip. The three elder
boys wCFc posted at different parts of the
field, while Philip, the youngest, followed
his father. who plunged into the thickest
of the fight, where he was soon in great
danger of being slain. The little prince
fought at his side, cndcavoring to ward off
the blows that were aimed 80 his father,
while above the din of battle he could be
heard calling on him 10 guard right or left
rs his quick eye saw from what quarter he
was threatened. John was finally forced
70 yield, though not until he aban-
doned by every one but Philip.
Gustavus AdClphus, 1.-The Lion of the
North, - WIS Is when Denmark declared
war against Sweden in 1909, and notwith-
standing his youth his father sent him in
to West Gothland to gather troops for the
relief of Kalnlar, then an important post.
This was followed by year of terrible
border warfare, in which the young prince
greatly distinguished himself ard proved
the truth of the saying, lin Sweden they
do not defend their men with walls, but
their walls with men," When he was II,
Gustavus' father died, and the boy was
left to fight his battles alone He assum-
ed his fathers title of elected king and
hereditary prince of tho Swc6es, Cloths
and Vandals' and set to work in earnest
TO play the great game of war.
In tho year 1900, in the city OF Palermo,
there lived Is sad enough little prince of
the name of Frederick Hofenstaufen, heir
to the two Kingdoms of Sicily and Ger
many. He WIS an orphan, and in Ger
many his urcles, Philip and Otho of
Brunswick, disputed the crown, while
Sicily where lie was recognized as king,
was torn By strife and discord. Saracen,
French and German strovc for tie first
place. IL the turmoil of these warning
factions Frederick vas well nigh forgot
ten. He was saved from absolute want
by the citizens of Palermo, who had n
kindly feeling for the lonely child in his
great empty palace. When II, Frederick
was declared of age. Two years later, at
the head of band OF, his mobiles, he set out
for Germany to claim the crown. Ohio was
warned of his purpose and endeavorcd to
intercept him after he crossed the Alps,
but 10y dint of hard riding the prince and
his rctinue reached and throw themselves