Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1908-09-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence.

uiic OulCldl uuu SOCltti ulFtT-
sions are scarce in Washington
just now the eyes OF the world
nevertheless are fixed on the Cap
ital. Wherever man exists the
desire to conquer the air by fly
ing is felt and no one can say
how many years men have been
engaged in the experiment. For
many years in this country it
was considered 80 quixotic that
the inventions would not be con-
sidered in the patent Office and
were regarded as the perpetual
motion devices are now. Never
theless Orville Wright has been
demonstrating here for a fe W
days the most remarkable heav-
er than air flying machine that
has yet been produced. His broth
er, Wilbur Wright, is also exhib-
iting the same type OF machine
in La Means, France. but it has
remained ior the brother here to
break all flying records SO far.
On Wednesday last he remained
in the air two minutes more than
an hour, and during that time
had perfect control OF the ma
chine and alighted when he was
ready as easily and lightly as a
bird. Before an audience made
up OF the Secretary OF War, also
named Wright but not related|to
the inventor, Secretary Metcalf,
Secretary Straus, General Mel
son Miles, other prominent Ar
my officers, newspaper correspon
dents and hundreds ofcurious' on
lockers the fight ofover an hour
was made and a second one when
the machine carried an addition.
al man was successfully execu-
ted. There is little doubt but
that the government will pur.
chase the Wright machine for it
has already shown its ability to
fiji all the requirements of t b
government test. 1t is not many
years since committees compos-
ed OF prominent men assembled
in different places for the pur
pose OF testing the actual work
ing Of the automobile, and at
that period the motor was quite
as crude as the flying machines
that are being exhibited now.
The whole marvel OF thelatter is,
as has been said OF a woman's
preaching and a dogs standing
on it's hind legs, not that they
can do it we'll, but that they can
do it at all.
Not for several years has th'
Capital experienced snch an ear
ly awakening from it's summer
stupor as is promised this year
Contrary to all expectations bas
ed on late experience that eacf
year would see fashionable and
officiatf folk lingering longer ovel
their vacation, next week will SEE
the President and his family es-
tablished in the White Hous,
and a large contingent OF the di
lplomatic and official sets back il
the city. The White House has
been put in readiness for TIL ,
President and the annual clean
ling which requires all the sum.
mer and thirty thousand dollars
has been dominated. The man
sion has had q coat OF paint out
side and been thoroughly reno
waited in the interior in a way to
make a New England house keep
Fer's soul thrill with Joy, though
in a manner SO extravagant al
to fill her with dismay. Certain
rooms are carpeted anew eacf
year, and though the amount o
Entertaining that is done during
| the winter and spring does Civ,
the carpets severe wear it ii
doubtful il the President or an,
other man would buy new car
pets without making some effor
to see what cleaning and re-ma
king and other expedients nigh
be tried to make the old one