Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-08-16
CHURCHILL. A REAL SOLDIER OF FORTUNE
hR RICHARD HARDING PAWS in COLLIER

When | first knew him he had passe
through Harrow and Saldhurst and
Was a second lieutenant i'll the Queens
OWn iiusss1rs. He was just of age, but
appeared much younger.
He WAS below medium height. a
sl!Sht delicate looking boy: although
rs Il matter of fact extremely strong,
with blue eyes and many lrecllles and
hair which threatened to be Il decided
red. but which now has lost its fierce
ness. When he spoke ii was with 4
lisi. which also has changed, and
which now appears To be merely an
Intentional hesitation.
His manner of speaking was nervous
eager, oratorical. He used many ges-
lures. some of which We're strongly
reminiscent of his father, OF whom he,
unlike most English lads. who shy Ut
mentioning Il distinguished parent. con-
stanlly spoke.
He even copied his ath in his little
tricks of manner. Standing with hands
showed under the frock coat and one
resting on each hip as though squeeZ-
ing in the waist line: when seated rest
ms the elbows on the arms OF the chair
ma n~"rvously locking and unclasping
lnSerS are tricks common to both.
He then had and still has q; most en-
bairassinS habit OF asking many ques-
lions; embarrassing. sometimes. be
cause the questions are so frank, and
sometimes because they lay bare the
wide eNpanse of ones own ignorance.
AT that time. although in his twenty
first year. this lad twice had been made
4 question in the house of commons.
hat in itself had rendered him con-
Spicuous. When you consider out of
Great Britain's four hundred million
subjects how many live, die and are
buried without at any age having
irawn down upon themselves the anger
If tho hnt1Sn. of ..nv,v,nnc ia tu-j.A hnrA
lone so. before one has passed his
twenty-first year. seems to promise a
turid future.
The first time Churchill disturbed the
august assemblage in which later he
was to become so prominent IA leader
altern named Bruce and cut up his
saddle and Announcements. The second
eine was g he ran away to Cuba to
light with the Spaniards.
After this campaign. on the first
night of his arrival in London. he made
4 place of less dignity than the house
If commons. but one, throughout Great
Britain and her colonies. as widely
hnown and as we'll supported. This
was the Empire Music Hall.
Al the time Mrs. Ormiston Chant had
~aiSed objections to the presence in
he music hall of certain Young women.
md had threatened. unless they cease
% frequent its promenade. to have the
license of the music hall revoked. AS
4 compromise. the management ceased
'elling liquor. and on the ...rht Church
II visited the place the par i'm the
promenade was barricaded with scant-
ing and linen sheets. With the thirst
u tronical Cuba still upon him.
'hurchill asked for Il drink. which was
enied him.. and tho crusade which iii
lis abscnce had been progressing
sA,4l. D-1;.4 49, A1-A
would have taken no for his answer.
and have sought elsewhere for his
lrink. Not SO Churchill. What lle dill
s interesting. because it was So ex-
remedy characteristic. Now hc wou! |
lot do it: then he Was tw~eaty-ono.
He scrambled to In" v~rlvet-coNt.c1
.op of the railing which divides 'he aN-
aitorium from The promenade and
made Il speech. 1t was a plea il = :
1alf of his Sisters. the Ladies OF tac
empire Promenade"
Where" he asked OF the lalic.
themselves and of their escorts ciGWi-
Al below him in the promenade. Zoos
be F.nglishman in London always III J
L welcome? Where does h fast 90
when. ba~ttle-scalred md trav.l-worn.
10 reaches home? VINO is always
here to greet him with a smile, and
ioin him in a drink, Who Is ever
faithful. ever true--the LaGics Of the
Empire Promenade"
The laughter and cheers that greeted
this. and the tears of the ladies ;nem-
selves. naturally brought the performs
ances on the stage to Il stop. and To"
cast audience turned in the seats and
boxes.
They saw a little r~ed-ha;red boy. in
evening clothes. balancing himself on
he rail of the balcony. and around him
A great crowd, cheering, shouting and
bidding him CT on"
Churchill turned with delight to the
'arger audience. and repeated his APP
peal The house shook with laughter
and applause.
The COMMISSIONERS and police tried
TO reach him. and Il good-tempered out
;ery determined mob OF we'll dressed
gentlemen and cheering girls fought
hem back. In triumph Churchill ended
ais speech by begging his hearers to
give fair play" to the and to
follow him in a charge upon the bar
.icades.
The charge was instantly made. the
oarricades We're tore down. and the
certified management ordered tha
lrink be served to its victorious pa
IRONS.
Shortly after striking this blow for
she liberty of others, Churchill organ
zed a dinner which Illustrated the di-
lection in which at that age his mind
VAS working. and that his ambition
WIS hlleddS VI HILL. i It uIIlIltT NiS
given to those of his friends and ac-
luaiEtances who were under II years
If age. and who in twenty years would
control the destinies OF the British en-
pire."
AS one ovcr the age limit. or be-
cause he did not consider me am em-
pire-controlling force. on this great oc-
casion. l was permitted to be present.
But except that the number of incip-
'ent empire-builders was very many.
that they We're very happy. and that
save the host himself none of them
look his idea seriously. l would not
all it an evening of historical inter-
EST. But the fact is interesting that
II all the boys present. as yet. the host
seems to be the only one who to any
conspicuous extent is disturbing the
lestinies of Great Britain. However,
he others can reply that ten of the
twenty years have not yet passed.
When he was 23 Churchill obtained
leave OF absence from his regiment.
and as there was no other way open to
him to see fighting. as a correspondent
he joined the Mainland field force in
India.
1t may be %truthfully said that by his
presence in thai frontier war he made
1t and himself famous. His book on
that campaign is lis best piece of war
reporting. To the civilian reader it
has all the delight of one of KILLINGS
indian stories. and to writer's on mill