The Detroit times., 1908-08-27
WILBUR WRIGHT HAS
GOT ON THE NERVES
Of THE FRENCH
THEY CANNOT UNDERSTAND
WHY HE DOES NOT SHOW
SOME TOKEN OF TRIUMPH
BLUSH OR EVEN A TEAR.
BY VANCE THOMPSON.

PARIS, Aug 2..--Wilbur Wrights
flying machine becomes more and
more familiar TO the French public as
his successful experiments at the lie
Mans race course follow one ano-
Their. but Wilbur himself grows more
and more mysterious to them. II his
Great White Bird as they call his
acceptance. pleases them he himself
does not
They are disappointed that he will
not be glorifed, will not show any
emotion after his descent from the
clouds, such as no French aeronaut
has ever accomplished. They would
like 10 see a tear or a blush, or an
aye shining with triumph. but instead
Of these concessions to French ideas
Wilbur leans up against his shed of
pine planks when he has finished one
OF his flights and begins whiting a
stick OF wood, or twirling mechani-
cally round and round In one hand a
piece of string, while with complete
composure he assures the excited
French aerial experts that they ought
TO see what he can do when he really
tries.
NOT 90 FEMININE
have more effect on this quiet young
man from Ohio, who walks round ana
round his tented field many times
day In his shirt sleeves, giving orders
10 cut away tree here or tall bush
there, keeping waiting the bevies OF
charming French and American WON
en-, who come all the way from the
distant Brittany seacoast In order TO
witness his sensational performances.
They've no right here" says un-
gallant Wright. II don't invade their
houses, why should they come over
my feld?"
Wright Has His own Views.
When the daughter OF the project
of the department of Sarthe appeared
on the race course. clad in charming
multi-colored summer garment. and
asked Wright to make lust one flight
for her. the aeronaut not only refused,
but did not even put on his coat. He
confined his efforts to rather CURLY
explaining how The machine worked
The only time this obstinate genius
relented was when Miss Anne Nor
gan, accompanied by Miss Elizabeth
Marbury and Miss Murray, the daugh-
ter OF the London publisher. arrived
on the field and begged special
flight for their benefit. What Wright
would not do for the French girl he
willingly did for his fair compatriots,
whom he even asked II they did not
want later on to take passage on the
aery vehicle. Miss Morgan did not
answer quickly but Miss Marbury
said she was willing to do so immedi-
ately.
ohio Man a Great Favorite.
Wright thought, however that they
had better wait. The now triumphant
man bird" receives all sorts OF signs
OF approval from the public, which
only 10 days ago was ridiculing him
and his pretensions TO the extent OF
making them the butt OF music hall
iibes In his shed on the race course.
where he sleeps beside his machine,
one sees unopened bottles OF cham
payne. punches OF flowers and all
sorts of such delicate present. for
which, tt1p- Hustere Wright who- has
been raised In a strictly religious at
mosphere, has no use. They are Pill
ed together In a corner. together with
hammers, a turning lathe, f1fps and
rusty chains What will be their ul.
innate fate is hard TO tell. for Wright
does not allow his men TO drink or
smoke either
Nor does be allow them to work on
Sundays. for the Sabbath Is kept holy
on the Hunaudieres race course, and
one man has already been discharged
because. despite Wrights orders. he
painted over the machine with metal
lie paint on Sunday. Wright may
be unable TO keep his Frenchmen
from drinking wine with their meals.