been an improvement on the original stock, and that Mr. Winston
Churchill may turn out to be a stronger and abler politician than
his father."

It was all a part of Churchill's "luck" that when he entered
Parliament the subject in debate was the conduct of the war.

Even in those first days of his career in the House, in debates
where angels feared to tread, he did not hesitate to rush in, but this
subject was one on which he spoke with knowledge. Over the
older men who were forced to quote from hearsay or from what
they had read, Churchill had the tremendous advantage of being
able to protest: "You only read of that. I was there. I saw it."

In the House he became at once one of the conspicuous and
picturesque figures, one dear to the heart of the caricaturist, and
one from the strangers' gallery most frequently pointed out. He was
called "the spoiled child of the House," and there were several
distinguished gentlemen who regretted they were forced to spare
the rod. Broderick, the Secretary for War, was one of these. Of him
and of his recruits in South Africa, Churchill spoke with the awful
frankness of the _enfant terrible_. And although he addressed them
more with sorrow than with anger, to Balfour and Chamberlain he
daily administered advice and reproof, while mere generals and
field-marshals, like Kitchener and Roberts, blushing under new
titles, were held up for public reproof and briefly but severely
chastened. Nor, when he saw Lord Salisbury going astray, did he
hesitate in his duty to the country, but took the Prime Minister by
the hand and gently instructed him in the way he should go.