The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-24
THE COST OF BALLoNINe.
Is Even More Expensive Than Keeping
 an Automobile.


 The chief of American amateur balloon been persuaded to write a most interest ing article on his adventures for Apple toms Magazine. Incidentally he says:
 T have often been asked how ballooning compared with other sports both in cost and in enjoyment. The first cost to those who wish to soar above the clouds is smaller than in automobilng; but each ascension costs some sS0O A flight may last less than an hour, or it may continue the better part of day. The tendency is toward fights of longer duration, as in- vention helps the aeronaut; and with the multiplication of It's devotees, particularly among the amateurs, the records will be- come longer both in hours and miles.
 "The delights of the sport are such that they are hard to describe to one Wno has never experienced them. They are so intense that in the reaction after they are over, the earth seems tame ana not worth while. One has almost to become acclimated on descending from the high altitudes for a week after an ascension I have no appetite and ami depressed. h. cidentally I should not recommend bal looming to a person of weak heart or nerves.
 "To start an ascension one must al- ready be an enthusiast one must make ones will, and say goodbye to one friends-and withstand the suggestion of ninety-nine out of hundred or them that he will never come back alive. In suspicious beginning to the most exhiliar- ating and fascinating of sportsl
 'When one leaves the earth the impress sons come 80 fast that one can hardly differentiate them. They produce kalei- doscopic effect. A man must stop and concentrate his mind on certain special sensations, or else on returning to earth he will find that he has no sensation In particular to tell about. There Is the impression of the crowd of people shout ing and waving their hands. Before you realize 1t they have vanished as ind!- viduals The earth sinks from you; tho houses become tiny boxes, the streets lines, and large rivers appear brooks that you could easily jump across. The lakes are pools, and marsh land seems solid (This latter was the cause of my friend Nocquets landing where he did, and sacrificing his iife) Forests become smooth like pasture land. Railroad trains are like crawling worms, and all the earth sounds eventually cease. At one or two thousand feet you pass the dust line which Is as clearly marked as the line between water and air. As hiSl. as 2O0O feet there are still frequently seen butterflies, mosquitoes, and other insects. Remarkably beautiful effects of clouds are seen from the balloon, especially when the sun shines on them. They often seem like snow banks and their edges are al- ways bluish like water, and ever give the aeronaut the sensation of approaching the ocean.
 "When in the clouds, you can see only the basket and it's occupants; and you may suddenly pass out of them to find that you are driving straight into a mountain peak-as we did once. If you stay in the fog there is nothing to warn you of such a danger except the roaring of the wind in the tree tops and quick casting out of ballast may be necessary to save you from balloon wreck on the crags'