At the
polls many votes that would not respond to the arguments of the
husband, and later of the son, were gained over to the cause by the
charm and wit of the American woman.
In his earlier days, if one can have days any earlier than those he
now enjoys, Churchill was entirely influenced by two things: the
tremendous admiration he felt for his father, which filled him with
ambition to follow in his orbit, and the camaraderie of his mother,
who treated him less like a mother than a sister and companion.
Indeed, Churchill was always so precocious that I cannot recall the
time when he was young enough to be Lady Randolph's son;
certainly, I cannot recall the time when she was old enough to be
his mother.
When first I knew him he had passed through Harrow and
Sandhurst and was a second lieutenant in the Queen's Own
Hussars. He was just of age, but appeared much younger.
He was below medium height, a slight, delicate-looking boy;
although, as a matter of fact, extremely strong, with blue eyes,
many freckles, and hair which threatened to be a decided red, but
which now has lost its fierceness. When he spoke it was with a
lisp, which also has changed, and which now appears to be merely
an intentional hesitation.
His manner of speaking was nervous, eager, explosive. He used
many gestures, some of which were strongly reminiscent of his
father, of whom he, unlike most English lads, who shy at
mentioning a distinguished parent, constantly spoke.
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