The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-04-03
Excellent Two or Three Passenger
Aerial Gas Bag Can Even Now
Be Bought for About $75O,
COST OF SHORT DISTANCE
TRIP NOT MORE THAN SIS.
Next Thing In Society" viii Be- Invita-
lions 10 Take a Fly In the Air.

BY wireless telephone at Lenox next
season; Mrs. Bales o. F. Mum to Miss
Goldie Banks-"That you, dearie?
Come early this afternoon and we will
balloon few hours. Gwendolyne and
the others will follow in autos. Supper
at twilight where we land, and then
home in the machines"
There is no doubt about it, short
distance ballooning will be the fash
ionable diversion for the smart set
in the Berkshires during 1908.
Mrs. Goelet and Mrs. Bishop, who
have made ascensions, are enthusiastic
over the sport, and the Four Hundred
can hardly wait for good ballooning
weather again. The considerable num-
Der of orders which have been placed
Tor balloons, both of American and for
eign make, indicates that good many
ladies of quality" are to frequent
Cloudland this coming summer.
Licensed sky-pilots will be in de-
mand. There may even soon be schools
for them, as for autodrivers. A sky
pilot wishing to secure the Aero Clubs
license to tour the Milky Way and 9TH
er heavenly boulevards, must have an
approved record of ten ascensions, in
Guiding one alone and one at night.
Will be the Vogue.
Thprn ic ovorxy ,ooeo,, VIII, oLou+
distance ballooning which under Lady
Harbard's leadership has found great
favor abroad among the women of
fashion, should be as enthusiastically
the vogue in this country among the
merely near-rich as we'll as among the
billionaires.
1t has many things to commend it,
among them, as compared with auto
MODELLING, safety, Responsiveness, the
charm of exploration, restfulness and
aloofness from the more sordid atmos-
phere of the world. The balloon face"
so familiar abroad, is said to be one
OF rapturous passivity, a sort of Chris
tlan science ecstacy in repose, and OF
pleasing contrast with the bewrinkled
devil-car face.
An excellent two or three passenger
balloon can be bought for $3.50 and,
after its equipment with the essential
instruments of various kinds the total
first cost is materially less than that
OF modest touring auto-car, and
microscopic as compared with that of
yacht. The chief expenses of main
tenance are gas-Which for a balloon
OF this size is about $50 for a days
trip-and freight or express charges
on the balloon from landing place to
starting station. There are also to be
considered the expenses Of The passen-
gers after landing, such as possible
hotel bills and railroad fares, though
usually the automobile is used as an
adjunct to the balloon, and the flying
air-party is met by machines which
have followed with provisions to take
1T home. The railroad charges on the
balloon will soon be eliminated by the
completion of auto trucks built espe-
cially for balloon carriage.
The sky-pilot's wages have not yet
attained quotable status, as most of
the profession are owners, many Of
whom are glad, in the interests of the
sport, to include any desirable persons
of lofty ambitions who volunteer to
pay the expenses of trip.
Alan R. Hawley, a stockbroker, of
No. 20 Broad street, who is one of the
most Unsuitable and successful balloon
lists in this country, estimates the
necessary expenses Of a short distance
trip at about $76
The Aero Club, whose headquarters
are at No. IL East Forty-second street,
is formulating plans for minimizing the
expense. Pittsield Mass, has thus far
proved to be the most nearly ideal
place for short distance flying. The
best and cheapest gas is to be had
there; the plateau-crested hills make
the finest Of balloon "teeing grounds"
and the proximity to Lenox, Stock
bridge and other resorts of the wealthy
is a feature not, to be overlooked. The
distance from large bodies of water
and the varied typographical condi-
tons within the short-trip zone leave
little to be desired in the way of land
ing places.
Good roads in every direction expe-
dite the automobile sections of the par
ties, and the great number of good ho-
tells and inns assure 'all the comforts
of home" to those who conclude their
days highfying with some night trail
ing" which is one of the most pleas
urable features Of ballooning.
Trailing" which consists, as it's
name implies, in sailing above the
ground just the distance of a weighted
line or trailer, is Of course possible on