The age-herald., 1901-09-25


 experiments with mammoth kites. One of his kites stands thirty feet high, and when held firmly against the wind is capable of sustaining the weight of man.
 Of course, the principle of the aero plane Is that you must hold 1t against the wind in order to effect an upward movement, or to sustain it stationary in the air. In aeroplane kites this may be done by means of the string, but in the flying machine in which the aeroplane is an important part there must be propell- CTS of sufficient force to hold the ma chine close to the wind, and then the force of the wind will raise the machine by striking the planes at the proper an- gle.
 To go back a bit in flying machine hIs- tory, one finds that in 127S Friar Bacon, a worthy man. predicted on his reputation as a scientist and philosopher that flying would presently become very common, and that few years later no less a parsonage than Bishop Wilkins, the brother-in-law of Cromwell, in an out burst of aeronautical enthusiasm, pro- cleaimed that within few years, when gentleman desired to go to call upon neighbor he would command his servant to fetch him his wings, as he then com manded his servant to bring his boots. The good bishop died without seeing man soaring in the clouds, and many centuries have passed without notable progress be- ing made toward flight by man.
 Along about 1510 there appeared before James " of Scotland an Italian, who had become famous as a flying man, and who announced to James that he could fly anywhere So, in the presence of roy alty, the Italian put on his wings and jumped off Stirling castle. It is set down in history that he descended quickly and with great force, but, to the great relief of the king, was not killed.
 But this Italian had poetry in his soul. and he told the people who had assem- bled to see him fly that he had made a fatal mistake In the construction of his wings, in that he had used In them some feathers from ordinary barnyard fowl, which were naturally no sports and were attracted to the earth. Hence his fall.
 The balloon was first devised in 1870 by Francis Lana, who made four great  pumped the air out of them. They did not make very good balloons, but they were a start. In 1872 the fire balloon such as staid citizens sent up on July for the delight of their offspring-was invented, and two Frenchmen tried to navigate the air with them. There was trouble somewhere, however, and noth- ing is recorded of the success of the at tempt.
 Then, little later, an Englishman took it into his head that the thing was a great rocket. He figured that if the rocket were started in the right direc- tion, and had sufficient power behind it. t would reach US destination and create excitement by the way, no matter what the condition of the weather might be. He could not find anybody to make the first trip. however, and not having the courage to do 1t himself, the experiment was never attempted, although the En- glishman did build a rocket of sufficient size to set an American boy wild with delight on the night before the Fourth of July.
 The French government in 1886 made d DdllOOH lndl lTdVeleu HOTe Qldn seven miles against the wind, and everybody proclaimed that here, at least, was the solution of the mystery of the navigation of the air. But after a trip or two the government gave up the experiments, and nothing has been heard in recent years of the great French war balloon which was expected to revolutionize modern warfare. The French govern ment, of course, has war balloons, for the taking of observations, but like all other governments, it takes care that these balloons, when in use, are secure ly connected with the earth.  special train of five sections back to Washington.
 Congress not only paid President Gar fields funeral expenses but also made liberal appropriation for Mrs. Garfield. She was paid her husbands salary for the remainder of the year, was given pension of $5000 per year for the remain der of her. life, and was given the frank ing privilege. by which she can use the mails without the payment of postage. Mrs Mckinley will certainly be treated with equal liberality
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