SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 14, 3 July 1900, Page 1

SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE.

"Reports from the seat of the war frequently contain references to inei canaries in the ranks o: IL.O Boer army. These raeu are now held in contempt, hut they are tha representatives of a great class which at one time played an im-p-oilant pavt in history. Many years ago, they wero not called mercenaries, bra soldiers o* fortune, and they mrmbeied FauoLg them men of r.bi3ir,y and honour, who folighted to fight for v/hai, tuey thought was the rigiit and not for gain , It is said that the first real soldier of fortune was an Englishman named Sir John Hawkwoocl, who has often been classed with captains of marauding brigands, but whom HaJ]am declared to b& the first strategist seen in Europe since the conquering days of Rome. Hawkwood was knighted on the field by Edward UI. He disappeared from view for many years* but afterwards appeared in Itnly as tha coalman de? of \vha*; u s called t-he great White Company. He was honoured as well as feared. When he died Florentines gave him a splendid funeial, and portioned his daughter as a child of the Republic In a book entitled "Histoire de Flandre," recently issued, it is claimed that the heroes of the Netherlands were often appealed to by English kings and English rebels for assistance in civil wars in England. Later on, the Switzerland mountaineers took up soldiering as i, -jade, and other nations seem to have followed their example. In tho great wars of tho sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Spanish, German, Scotch, Swiss, Italian and English soldiers fought under foreign banners. It is a curious fact, however, that while the Swiss were most numerous few of them rose to high distinction. The Irish and Scotch soldiers of fortune who won titles and estates in foreign la.nds are almost countless, and to this day they arB represented in Prussia, France, Sweden, Benmai> ( Russia, and other countries, by powerful families. As for the English, of course, there are practically no wars on the European Continent in which tuey were not represented. Qua SwL?g is conspicuous in this respect is Ileinhart, and his reputation is not an tnviable one. He wens to India to fight for the French, dfseiteci to She English, deserted again to the French, and finally wenc over to an Indian prince, to whom he acted as oxecutioneer, after tho horrible office had been refused by aimosfc every native eoraroandsr in the prince's army. »

The most en^iab'e ieatura of a good jeputation is in Buslaurng it. The mantle which shonld be divided between Loid Bobeits end Loid Kitchener —Thft Cape of Good Hope. Magistrate : "Do you prefer charges against this man ?" M'Swat ; " Suie, yer honour, I prefer damages." '. Cecile : " What would you to have such hair as mine ?" Jeannie : " I dont know — What did you give ?" A critical observer of- feminine pecoli* aritiea ss.ys that it is not necessary for a woman to ride a bicycle in order 'to run another woman dowu. -