 Remember a hallmark card when you will carry enough to send the very best. The makers of hallmark cards bring you a true story from the life of Sir Winston Churchill on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Here's our distinguished host, Mr. Edward Arnold. Ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Tonight is a very special occasion indeed, but with the Prime Minister's kind permission, it is our pleasure and privilege to present a true story from the life of surely the world's greatest living statesman, the Winston Churchill. It's an amazing and exciting adventure, and we've transcribed it from the Winston's own cable reports sent when he was a newspaper correspondent during the Boer War. And now, here's Frank Goss. Here's a timely reminder for the days ahead. If someone you know going to be married soon, or perhaps a couple you know have just announced their engagement, in either case, a gracious way to make their happy days even happier is to send the hallmark card. You'll find special hallmark cards for both engagements and weddings. Cards that are so lovely, the bride will want to keep them in her wedding book. And each card will carry an added compliment on the back, the hallmark and crown, the symbol you look for when you carry enough to send the very best. And now, Edward Arnold brings you our true story from the life of Sir Winston Churchill on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. At the end of the 19th century, there was a war. It had broken out between the Dutch and the British over territories in South Africa, then known as the Trungswald and the Orange Freestate. They called it the Boer War. As wars go, it was minor, but the ferocity of the fighting made up for what it might have lacked in scope. It was here then, in November of 1899, that two men were talking in an army tent. One was a British Army officer, Captain Hall Dane. The other, a special correspondent for the London Morning Post, sent to Africa to cover the war. His name was Winston Churchill. How'd you like to take a train trip, Churchill? Oh, love it. Where? Boer Country. You pulling my leg? No, not at all. Here, have a look at this. Here. I've got orders to do some reconnaissance. Take the armored train. Sounds like fun. A bit risky, isn't it? How old are you, Churchill? 25. Oh, then you're silly mortal. Well, it's old men like me that have to worry about risks. Want to come along? You might run into something good to send back to your readers. Might be interesting. But I thought the Boers would have cut the line by this time. Oh, if we'd give them the chance, they would. That's why we buzz out there every night again. Well, six in the morning, ready to board, and right. You were a force of 120 men. Our armored train was made up of five wagons, an engine in the middle, and an old 7-pound muzzle-loading gun. That morning, November the 15th, we left the camp and rode noisily over the African plain. Haldane and I were in the cab of the engine. I don't like it, Churchill. Too quiet. Oh, I shouldn't worry, sir. The Boers were about somewhere. They'd have to be stoned deaf and not referred as by now. Well, I'd hate to run into any forces of them at this point. They make a better target than a scouting party. Why, the double-cutten headquarters give us something better than that ruddy little pop gun. England expects every man to do his duty, with or without pop guns. Oh, that's all very well for you. Not your job. But I can tell you, I... Sir, the enemy's headed ahead. Oh, where, Barnes? On the hill, sir. They're going about 600 to the right of the railway lines. Oh. Hey, hand me the glasses, will you? Thank you. What do you think, sir? Oh, well, look for yourself. Might be a scouting party. Might be more. Hmm. Hard to say. There's enough cover up there to hide a fair number. Field guns, too, for that matter. Go on, stand through the men and the gun crew. Yes, sir. Engineer. Yes, sir? Slow it down a bit. Yes, sir? There are horsemen further along. Yes, I can see them. I don't like the looks of it. Engineer, reverse. We're going back. Right, sir? Bloody likely, this is what I came out to report. You're an obituary, if you don't look out. Now, what the devil's that? A wagon derail from the looks of it, sir. Get your head back in here. Yep, threw out to clear the lines. Let me give them a hand. You stay here. It won't be long. It worked for more than an hour under heavy fire. And then the couplings broke and the order was given to abandon the train. Our losses were heavy. The engine loaded with wounded got away, but the rest of us were taken prisoner. We were sent to Pretoria, where the officers and I were confined in the state's model school in the center of the town. And that, for the moment, seemed to put an end to my budding career as a war correspondent. A month passed. Hello, Barnes. Sit down. Have you read the latest? The Bergstern has a beauty today. Our troops have been slaughtered and put to flight. According to this, we're done for. You wouldn't be surprised if the Ruddy Boers invaded England, Becks. Head up. No wonder some of the chaps are giving up. Read enough of that literary garbage in your bound to imagine all sorts of things happening outside. Not much we can do. Look here. Pull the chair close. I've been thinking. Escape. Again. Keep your voice down. We might be able to do it. How? You know we can't bribe the Centres. That's been tried. Besides, nobody's got enough money to really make it worth their while. That's no good, I know, but I've done a rough sketch. Here. It's a plan of the prison. Now, you see here? Mm-hmm. This is where we are. Mm-hmm. On two sides around us is an iron grill. Mm-hmm. On the other two sides, a corrugated fence about 10 feet high, right? Yes, yes. But the Centres are inside the walls, 40 or 50 yards apart. How do we get by them? There. Exactly here. The eastern wall. I've watched. There's a point where they can't see the top of a few yards of the wall. The electric lights in the middle of the quadrangle glare in their eyes. That section of the wall would be completely dark to them. You think it would. But suppose it isn't. We'd have to wait until they turn their backs then. Double safety measure, if you like. What about getting from here to the wall? Oh, we can do that, I'm sure. So we get over the wall. Then what? We'd be in the garden of the villa next door. And after that, get out of the garden, through the town, stay away from the patrols. The place is crawling with them from what I've heard. Exactly. And after that, 280 odd miles to the Portuguese-Africa frontier. My dear Churchill, you're barmy. Want to try it with me? When? Oh, I don't know. What's the date today? December 10th. Nice to get back to our side in time for Christmas. How about tomorrow night? It's idiotic. Staying here's more so. Yeah. Yeah, I suppose it is, isn't it? All right, what's the odds? Good. Seven o'clock. When they ring the dinner bell, we'll try it then. The next day passed slowly, and then it grew dark. The bell for dinner rang, and the officers went to the mess hall, except for Lieutenant Barnes and I. We stayed where we were, watching, waiting for the chance. I thought you said they walked up and down. They do. What's that sentry doing? He's been there for over an hour, hasn't moved. That's our spot on the wall to get over. He will. They always have him. I wish he'd get a move on my legs of God to sleep. Well, here comes his pal. Perhaps now they call that sentry duty. If they were in my troop, I'd give them what for. Look at them jabbering away like a couple of old cows. We'll get a chance in a minute. Yeah, we'd better or somebody's going to wonder where we are. We'll give them a few more minutes. We gave them another hour, and then the chance was gone. We had to give up for the night. Then it was Tuesday, the 12th. Another day of fear, waiting. But fear crystallizing more and more into desperation. Anything was better now than further suspense. Once again, it was night. Again, the dinner bell sounded. This time, Barnes and I had hidden in the office closer to the eastern wall and closer to the path of the sentries. For half an hour, we watched. The guards marched back and forth, passing, repassing. When it's time, I'll go first. It's safer when it's the time. As soon as I'm over the wall, make a run for yourself. Right. I'll wait on the other side. Give us our whistle. Yeah. I wouldn't mind a pipe full. No, I... They turned their backs. They tried. Good luck. Good luck. I'll see you on the other side. Not until Thursday. Push your girl. She's taken up a shrine of a thousand. What chance do I have? Quite luck. It's always the way. Did you... did you hear something? It's just cold. We'd better start walking. The shrine of a thousand will probably cancel our leave if he sees us talking again. Yeah, for the shrine. I had one farting glimpse of the sentries as they walked away. Then I dropped into the adjoining garden encroached among the shrubs. It now remained to wait for Barnes. The first step had been taken. I was beyond the wall. Bring you the second act of the hallmark hall of fame. Many of us, even those of us who feel we have very modern tastes, like a touch of the old-fashioned. Or maybe we prefer antique furniture, or like to eat by candlelight, or enjoy listening to songs of the good old days. And many of us, too, love the old-fashioned valentines covered with lace and hearts and pretty flowers. Well, you'll be happy to know that among the many, many new hallmark valentines, now on display at the fine stores that feature hallmark cards, there's a new collection of beautiful old-fashioned valentines. Each of these fascinating valentines reflects the charm and courtliness of the yesterdays when grandmother was a girl. You'll find that some of these lovely lacy cards have special messages just for that one special valentine in your life. A wife, husband, mother, or sweetheart, or special friend. These messages put into just the right words the feelings you have in your heart for that number one valentine. Yes, the hallmark artists and writers have recaptured the charm and beauty of the valentines of yesteryear and created valentines that are even lovelier than the ones grandmother still has in a trunk up in the attic. And each of these hallmark valentines has an added distinction and added compliment for the receiver, the hallmark and crown on the back, the symbol you look for when you carry enough to send the very best. And now Edward Arnold brings you the second act of our true story from the life of Sir Winston Churchill. Winston Churchill had taken his first step to freedom. He was beyond the prison wall. He stayed where he was, waiting for Barnes to join him. Ten minutes, twenty, thirty, an hour. And then he heard steps on the prison side of the wall and voices, English voices. One belonged to Barnes. They were loud and appeared to be purposely so. Here I must leave you, so it breaks my heart control. Somebody tells me I am... Churchill, Churchill. It's all up. The sentries suspect something. I couldn't get out. I've got some of the chaps with me to try and make them think everything's all right. You know, late evening stroll and all that. Can you get back in again? I'll go on alone. Don't chance it. Sorry, too late now. Oh, be careful. I'm afraid the alarm will be out soon. We'll try to divert them. All right. Thanks. Good luck. Good luck. Churchill got up, put on his hat and moved through the garden gate into the road. He passed a sentry no more than five yards away and the man didn't give him a second glance. Winston Churchill was at large in Pretoria. He walked leisurely through the night toward the suburbs and as he later rode in his dispatch to London... Well, how did I stand? In the heart of enemy country. I didn't know a soul to whom I could go for help. Nearly 300 miles to Delagoe Bay and they'd be out looking for me before dawn if they were not already at it. I had 75 shillings in my pocket and four slabs of chocolate. I couldn't speak a word of Dutch or Caffer and had no map or compass, Westluck. Burns had those. But it got to be the railway. Which one? Which was the right one? I remembered a line about half a mile from there. Was it the Delagoe Bay or the Petersburg branch? I suppose one way to find out was to catch a train running east. That was the idea. Eastbound. And he found that they ran north but since it was winding in and about through the hills he decided to follow it anyway. After walking for an hour, two hours he heard the whistle and rumbled of an approaching train. It was slowing down for a way station. He crouched low by the side of the track. Going on to the train? It was a goods train and the wagons were loaded with sacks. Soft sacks covered with coal dust. I managed to burrow down into the room and slept. Just before dawn I left the moving train to look for a suitable hiding place until dark. My plan was to board another train when night came again. I found myself in the middle of a wide valley surrounded by low hills. My immediate need was water. My thirst was almost unbearable. I moved along the railway line. Then found what appeared to be the entrance to a mine. A perfect place to remain until dark. I hoped there would be an underground stream somewhere in its depth. What? Don't move, I'll shoot. I was searching for water. Who are you? I'm with a commando unit. That is, I fell off the train just now. Needed water. Never mind that. You're British, aren't you? Yes. You realize I could kill you? That this is Bohr country and this is a Bohr mine? Yes. Wait a minute. I've seen a picture of you. You, you are the man, the newspaper correspondent who escaped from Pretoria. Churchill. For it's own. There's a reward for you, my friend. Look here. I'd be obliged if you'd let me have some fruit and water first. Then you can do what you want. Did you really expect to be able to travel through Bohr country and get out? I'm going to try. All right, follow me quickly. I'll give you water and food. Oh, by the way, my name is Stevens, British, my toe. What are you doing here? Running the mine for the Bohr's and incidentally getting out as much military information to our side as I can. It's incredible. They've given me a servant woman to take care of my dig. She's a devil of a good housekeeper, but old Bohr. If she gets wind of you here, we're... Well, we'll both be for it. Where is she now? In the town, by supplies. I'll have to keep you hidden until you can go on to the border. Go on. Have some water. I couldn't. I say you better. It's not going to be easy smuggling food to you. The girls are tired when it comes to food. No. Countries at war, waste not, want not, you know. She cooks just so much and no more. And she thinks I eat too much anyway. Go on, tuck in. How long have you been out here? No, ages. Sometimes I think I'll never see home again. How's the war going? According to the Bohr's, they've won already. Nonsense. They're losing and they know it. But they're not ready to give in yet. Look here, this isn't fair to you putting me up. It's not your job. Oh, what the devil. I'd like to see you get away. We can both thumb our noses at them. I say but one thing. Mm-hmm. Keep it quiet. Don't mention my name or anything about this. I may have to be working here for some time. Right, Your Honour. Well, if you're finished, we'd better get you tucked away. Meanwhile, I'll find out what I can about trains going to the border. For five days, he kept me concealed from the owners of the mine. The operators and all the Bohr's around us. Meanwhile, at the prison, the news of my escape had been released. Lieutenant Barnes kept his fellow officers informed of as much as he knew of my progress. I don't know how he's done it. They've sent telegrams all up and down the railway with his description. Printed 3,000 photographs. The paper today said he escaped disguised as a woman. Oh, that's nothing. I heard one of the sentries saying he'd been captured at Camartyport dressed as a trans-val policeman. Somebody told me he'd been caught in Brugsburg. Well, what do you think, Barnes? Has Churchill got away? Well, as long as the rumors keep going and he's being captured in half a dozen different places at once, I'd say the chances are he's still free. Well, I don't think he's got a chance. But what a great thing if he did succeed. Well, from the way the papers are playing it up, you'd think it was a prime minister or something. They're giving it more space than the bloody war. On the sixth day, Winston Churchill's patient weight was rewarded. He found a convenient train standing in the siding. It was labeled to Lorenko, Marquess. And as she pulled out, he climbed aboard once again, hiding amidst the holes and crevices of some large sacks. The heat was stifling. There he stayed for two and a half days, more dead than alive. At the border, the train stopped. Then with the lurch it pulled out again and at last it reached its destination, Delagoa Bay. Oh, I'd like to see the British consul, please. What do you want with him? Will you tell him Winston Churchill would like to speak to him? Winston Churchill? You are Churchill? I thought you would. I don't imagine I look very pre-possessing. I've had rather a long and tiresome journey. Do you mind if I come in? I have an idea some more agents might have spotted me. I'd rather not be caught by them again. The rest of the story can best be told in the words Winston Churchill, foreign correspondent, cabled to his newspaper dated December the 22nd, 1899. As soon as the news of my arrival spread about the town, I received many offers of assistance from the English residents. Unless any of the bore agents with whom Lorenko Marquess is infested should attempt to recapture me in neutral territory, nearly a dozen gentlemen escorted me to the steamer armed with revolvers. It is from the cabin of this little vessel, as she coasts along the sandy shores of Africa, that I write the concluding lines of this letter. And the reader who may persevere through this hurried account will perhaps understand why I write them with a feeling of triumph and better than triumph. A feeling of pure joy. What actually happened? Is it any wonder then that a young man of this remarkable courage and resourcefulness should go on to become not only his nation's greatest leader but a world-renowned statesman? Any wonder, too, that he led Great Britain through its gravest crises during World War II? The Prime Minister made many inspiring speeches during those grim days, but we especially treasure, Sir Winston's words, you are about to hear, for it seems to us that the truth they contain might well have been learned by a younger Winston Churchill as a 25-year-old correspondent during the Boer War. Put your confidence in us. Give us your faith and your blessing. And under Providence all will be well. We shall not fail or falter. We shall not weaken or tire. Neither a sudden shock of battle nor the long-drawn trials of vigilance and exertion will wear us down. Give us the tools, and we will finish the job. And now, here is Frank Goss. Earlier, we were talking about the charming old-fashioned Hallmark Valentine's. Well, believe me, there's also a host of other Hallmark Valentine's that are newer than tomorrow. Delightful, humorous Valentine's that will bring a smile of pleasure on Valentine's Day. There's one, for instance, that has little colored ribbons on it, and it asks, will you be my Valentine? If you need some time to think, send me back this bowl of pink. If you kind of think you might, send me back this bowl of white. And each of the other bowls conveys a different answer. This is just one example of the added originality that's something extra you'll find in Hallmark Valentine's. Some of these Valentine's have a storybook effect with little cut-out scenes that come into place as you turn the pages. Others seem to come to life amusingly. There's a big white rabbit who actually rolls his eyes and answer to the questions of, do I want you for my Valentine? And you'll find warmly humorous Hallmark Valentine's for everyone on your Valentine list. Gay Valentine's that'll bring a grin to a four-year-old. Others to tickle the funny bone of a grandfather. And like all Hallmark cards, you can be sure these humorous Valentine's will be in the best of taste for each has the sign of good taste on the back. The Hallmark and Crown, the symbol you look for when you carry enough to send the very best. And now here's Mr. Arnold. I'm sure those humorous Hallmark Valentine's are going to be spreading a lot of smiles and cheer on February the 14th, Frank. And one thing all of us can always use is another smile. You know, Mark Twain once said, wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. Incidentally, I think you'll be interested to know that the part of Sir Winston Churchill tonight was played by Gary Montgomery, the young actor-nephew of famed field-martial by Count Montgomery. Thank you so much, Gary, for a splendid performance. Well, today we pay tribute to Winston Churchill. And next week on the Hallmark Hall of Fame, we'll salute another remarkable man who made a deep imprint on this world of ours. We're going to reveal a fascinating chapter in the life of Dr. Sigmund Freud, starring Mr. Lou Ayers. And on February the 13th, you will hear another exciting detective story about the master French criminologist, Alphonse Bertillon, starring Mr. Charles Boyer. Won't you join us for these exciting programs? So until next week, this is Edward Arnold saying good night. Stores that have been carefully selected to give expert and friendly service. Remember a Hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best. The Hallmark Hall of Fame is produced and directed by William Prune. Tonight's transcript by Anthony Ellis. Featured in tonight's cast were Gary Montgomery, Ben Wright, Richard Peele, Jack Moyles, Polly Bear, and Jane Avello. The Hallmark Hall of Fame on television next week will present an incident from the life of one of America's great paper riffs, Patrick Henry. This is Frank Goss saying good night to you until next week at the same time. When you hear a true story from the life of Dr. Sigmund Freud, starring Mr. Lou Ayers on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. I wish to talk to just one or two individuals who live behind the Iron Curtain, talk to them on an individual basis, tell them the truth about our country, its freedom and its ideals. Well that's exactly what the two radio systems supported by the Crusade for Freedom do. Over radio free Europe and radio free Asia, the people behind the Iron Curtain hear the voices of their own countrymen, the voices of individual citizens who have escaped to the free world and who tell them the truth. Help on an individual basis by contributing money to build more stations, more transmitters. Send your contribution to Crusade for Freedom, care of your local postmaster. Send it today. This is the CBS Radio Network.