The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-03-12

"IN WEEK YOU WILL SEE ME LEAVING
THE HOUSE FOR THE OFFICE ON WINGS.
the newspapers are full Of what bene-
fits may be expected when flying ma
chimes are as common as birds"
"Yes, l have read good deal about
them, but how can the problem ever be
solved? How can you expect a big and
awkward machine to fly against the
wind? How can you provide against
sudden gusts and squalls? At any
moment some part of the machine may
get out of order, and what's going to
happen then? A flying machine may
be made to sail around bit on per-
fectly calm day, but Of what utility
would 1t be?"
Mr.. Bowser looked at me In admira.
ton for moment and then exclaimed:
"By thunder, woman, you have got
a head on you! You have stated the
case lust as have. The flying ma
chine Is an impossibilIty. 1t will never
60 beyond the toy stage. Tell me-
then, what must follow"
"They will have to give it up"
"They will give up the machine, but
turn to something else. Man now
travels under the sea, and he will new
er be satisfied until he travels through
the air. If he can't do 1t one way, he
will another. He not only wants the
novelty, but the convenience OF It.
For instance, it is two miles from here
to my office. l have to transfer. am
detained by street car blocks and ac'
cidents. have to jam in with the
crowd. may be on time or may be
half an hour late have my feet step
ped on, my pocket picked and the con
ductor works lead nickels off on me
Suppose that instead Of all this could
20 up on the roof Of this house anc
launch myself into the air and be a.
the Office In three or four minutesT
'Tt will never be possible"
"You may witness 1t within Il week.
he replied with laugh. Mrs. Bow
ser. answer me this, How does birt
fyT
"By using its wings, of course"
"But what about the wingsT
"They are so constructed by natur'
as to sustain the bird in the air, tn
bones being hollow
"Ah-ha! Now we are coming dow
to business. It's all IN the wings In
stead of the bird. The ostrich ha
wings. but cannot fly Mt all. The swal
low has wings and can fly all day. tn
wing bones of the hen are nearly fu
of marrow, and she cannot fly ten RODS
The wing bones of the dove are entirel
hollow. and she can fly hundre
miles. What deductions do You draw
J "Thy, II man Is going to navigat
the air he must do 1t with wings"
Exactly"
"And the wings must be made afte
the pattern of the bird that flies th
easiest and the farthest."
Mr.. Bowser stepped into the vest
bule out Of sight Of the people on u
street and beckoned to noe. When
was beside him he put his mouth clos
to my ear and whispered:
you've struck 1t, Mrs. Bowse
Your head is level!' =.
"And what are you going to dor
asked.
"Do? Do? why I'm going to mai
s1O,O00,0O0 in the next ten years an
a reputation that will last as mar
years. / thought this thing all o.
days ago, but wanted to see II y
would corroborata me, II we want
ay we must 60 back to first principl'
and take the birds for our patter
Birds don't fly with their bodies, b
with their wings. Put the right so
of wings on a man and he flies. u
fy-I fly--everybody flies. BY thu
der! By thunder!'
"But those wings have got TO
invented" I protested, a bit staru'
BY his earnestness.
"Easy as rolling off a log-just
matter Of three days practice, Ml
Bowser. You will see me ieavf
this house for the Office on wings wit
In a week. You will see me saul
oyer houses and trees and the rly