The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-30
BIG BOOM IN KITE FLYING.
4 PASTIArE ENJOYED ALIKE NOW
By HOUNG AND OLD.

The Modern Kite. BuIit on Scientific Lines. in
Such Vogue That Its Manufacture Has NO.
como an I'm portnnt Brnnch OF industry 1t
IL n Vast Improvement on tho ola Kind.
Nowadays every up.to.dnto sporting goods store
has u department devoted to the sale of kites.
This branch of business has developed within
the last two years, and whereas the kite once
played an uuimportant part in the trade, 1t has
como to occupy u place that demands the attcn-
ton Of experts and the services of special sales
men. Two years ago TIE Sun printed an article
telling of tho experiments made by Mr.. Woglom
and Mr.. Eddy, the pioneer scientific kite flyers
in this vicinity. They had sent kites to high
attitudes. and had succeeded IN interesting tho
scientific world In their experiments. In Boston
attention had been called to the possibilities Of
kite flying by tho observers at tho Blue Hill
weather station. and tho publicity given TO the
subject by the newspapers throughout the coun-
try served us an excellent advertisement for
kites.
For many years every toy shop has kept kites
in stock, but the modern kite flyer would laugh
at such nimsy affairs of paper, intended for tho
amusement Of children. The most ambitious Of
them were gaudy affairs of colorcd paper, repre-
senting NEUROLOGICAL figures and built with u
desire to please the eye. None OF them was In
tended TO sail high or to support In the air any
thing but itsolf. and on the books of the dealer
they formed an inconsequential detail of tho
years business. They ranked as toys, and
nothing else.
Early this year a wcll.known dealer in sport
Ing goods, who had read OF the experiments
nado with Kites at Blue Hill. decided to find
out whether a full.grown man could become in
tercstcd in such play. He took his vacation
early, and sent 10 Blue Hi for u kite. He went
to the seashore, intending to spend a week. He
felt little interest In the matter at first, but be-
foro the week was over he had become cnthusi-
astic, and had bought half a dozen kites. flo
was away from his business for nearly u month,
and whom he returned IL was only to make ar
ranBcinents TO go away again. lie had become
n kite ilend.
As soon Us the dealer in sporting goods found
out how fascinating kite tiying was no sent
orders to the superintendent OF his lnctory TO
clear a space in the shurs for the manufacture
OF Kites. and wrote TO the inventor OF the inn
proved aeroplanc, Offering to pay hun n good
royalty Tor the right TO make ana soil kites after
his, pattern. The man who had made tho kites
hadn't thought Of the possibility Of turning
As soon as he received tho letter from The dealer
IN sporting goods. however, he sent a pattern to
the Patent 0tlce %nd took out a patent on his
invention. Then he wrote to tho manufacturer
OF sporting goods, accepting his, offer.
The traaesInan was n hustler, and he an
greatest thing. OF the decade il it was worked
properly. lie bought copies OF all the ncwspI.
thcnI in a circular, which he spread broadcast.
Tie instructed a number of men in the art of
49, hNIiik anu cut iutIH hIONllu lilC country
TO INTRODUCE the new article. lie went himself
to n number OF nmlnrr resorts early in the
matter. He arranged exhibitions in different
parts OF inc country anI made the Kite the
most prominent article In his stock. His work
soon began to bear fruit.
Orders came from dealers for stocks of kites and
letters q inquiry from men who had read or
heard OF the aeroplanc. as it is called now. The
manufacturer and dealer answered with the as
surni'ee that the inquirer was fortunate TO be
that had his letter been a day later he must
havc gone without a favorable answer. Ii be-
par ment in the factory, and TO work day and
night to keep pace with the demand. The in
ventnr ana the manufacturer began to rub their
hands and congratulate themselves; and other
Inventors and manufacturers entered the field.
there was hardly a hotel that had not given An
exhibition OF kite flying to its guests: Men who
ci.ing around the country using their AGILITY III
f"ii ' Tie n nna%TspG or eo mr8 {.I 'o and cat q.
tie SLOWS, always. anxious TO find some new
a,,raGt!one for ,sish,scsrs, began TO arrange
and tho demand soon "pi cHseeIed the n"i sup me,.
Now there are several dealers importing goods
who employ many men making kitcs, and nave
on their books the names OF u number Of eH-
hihiiors. The business has assumed such pro-
portions that the kite is no lonIe r RELOCATED TO
an obscure corner OF the shop. 1t occupies a
rromincnt place near the entrance and forms
one OF tho inportnnt items in the books.
ING sites are mao. in a nuInner Of sizes. the
yet nut on the market is eight :cet high. They
consist OF n wooden frame. light but stiT, COW
cred with linen bands so arranged that they will
take wind with little effort on the part OF tho
flyer. To sail the old 4, shioucd Kite il was noe
css Try for ono person 10 hold IL some feet above
the ground while another rnn violently against
the wind with the string. To sail the modern
kite all that is necessary is lay 1t on
the ground and pull gently at the string.
The oli-fashi"n"d ones had tails which were in
~vsr!ably too heavy or too light; the modern ones
have no tails. 70 adjust the big kites il was
necessary TO tie stones 10 the tails or 10 cut the
tails ot; when one ntes AN acrOpianc he simply
undoes n knot or slips Il ring UP the string n few
inches. The old fashioned paper machine Is now
laid away. II curious relic OF the barbhrOUS age
OF kitinR, and its place is taken by II trim ma
chine that shows its modernuGss i'll every Joint
and fold.