New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
P4RTS WORSHIPS FARMAN.
Winner of AeropIane Prize Has
Had Mdnu Ndrr0zC Escapes.

Henry Farn1au IS the hero Of the day in Paris
Since he succeeded IN completing the run OF otD
metres and then coming ba,k TO the starting point
the public interest in aerial navigation has n
creased tenfold- The curious thing is that, before
he carried the test before the official commit
tee Of the Aero Club. he had already accomplished
the same feat. and the public remained compare
lively unroved II was only when 1t was officially
certified and he handed the check for $1,000
francs that the enthusiasm broke forth.
Since then he has been the most talked of man
in the French capital He has been banqueted and
fsted and been the recipient Of congratulations
from all parts. He is OF the most popu-
lar figures in Paris Henry Farulan, in spite OF
the fact that he Is purely British, has little IN his
appearance Of the typical Englishr1lan He Is OF
slight wiry nervous figure, with French quickness
in all his movements. II is when he is at the
steering wheel of his aeroplane that the English
qualities OF nerve sangfroid and confidence in him
self come to the front. In fact. he seems 10 COM
b.ne al that is best in the qualities OF the two
races.
Mr.. Farrnan has been singuIarly successful in
AL that ne has undertaken. Sixteen seventeen
years ago. when the bicycle boom" was at its
height he was one OF the champions Of France
on the racing track In fact. he ana his brother
Maurice were never beaten as a tandem Then.
when the automobile ousted the more modest cycle.
Mr. Farr1an developed into the most fearless
chauffeur OF the day. He drove in every great IN
teruational race for ten years with vary success
He AZ the same time embarked in the automobile
Industry and is at the present moment at the head
Of one Of the largest automobile concerns in
Europe Then. when NJ Santos-Dunont. with
his steerable airships brought the problem of
aerial navigation within the domain OF practical
effort Mr. Farman plunged into the matter with
his accustomed enthusiasm and success.
All his life he had shown fondness for risking
his neck and SO given his father many an hour
Of anxiety. But he has always had wonderful luck
When on the cycle track he had terrible
falls and in automobile racing he had numerous
hairbreadth escapes and bad accidents. But
though sometimes severely hurt he has always
survived Though he never hesitates TO risk his neck
he is at the same time caution itself in his prep
arations He leaves nothing undone 20 put any
machine he may be riding-be IT cycle automobile
or aeropIane-ln the most perfect condition pos
eibe; and it is only when he has the certainty
that everything is as perfect human foresight
can make II that he starts out
II am casse-cou IL you like" he said to me a
few days age. but at bottom am the soul OF
prudence When I risk my neck, which, OF course.
every man who mounts an aeroplane Is bound TO
do at least have the certainty that have left
nothing undone TO make my apparatus as perfect
as possible I take unnecessary risks IN the
way OF height I could, If ! wanted. soar OF into
the air TO any height please. Il my motor would
work long enough. could clear the Eiffel Tower
But the present stage II would he folly 70
ascend yard higher than Is necessary. Tos