Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-17
WRIGHT PAGES TRAIN
CONTINUED from First Page.)
dress the part. But Wright seemingly
cares little for appearances.
That Golf Cap Signal.

That Golf Cap Signal.
He keeps golf cap tucked away In one
OF the pigeonholes Of the signal service
desk In the aeroplane shed. His fishing
this out in place OF his derby is usually
sign that he is going to fly. Frequent
ly however. he wears this cap In a spirit
OF Observation-Disclosures long after he gets
through flying and even takes trip tn
town with 1t. leaving his more conven-
tional headgear hanging in the shed.
Also, he never wears overalls. no mat
ter how much he is working at the
bench or around the oil-spattered ma
chine. Yet he always looks about as
clean and we'll dressed any of his
visitors.
Usually he flies as he happens to be
dressed at the time the machine is ready
though his army pupils wear puttees or
high boots, as though they were going
horseback.
1t has turned cold. however at Col
lese Park. On yesterday mornings early
flight Wright decided he wanted some
thing to keep the draft out OF his trouser
legs. So he went to work and tied them
up with white cotton strings. aud looked
like an old lady's umbrella bagged in the
middle. This is about as much as the
admiral of the air. cares for personal
appearance
while they serve its purpose of keeping
the aeroplane on an even keel. fore and
aft, interfere both with speed and lifting
power. Apparently the absence of one
plane from the front of the machine
makes a decided difference in its carry
ing capacity.
1t is not known what Wright intends
to do about fixing the machine perma-
nently. It is thought probable he will re-
turn the oval front rudder to its place
and design a somewhat differently shaped
following plane to give the stability that
he wants to the machine.
Personal Equation"
1t was explained by experts yester-
day that the change made could be re-
garded only as a makeshift. The matter
Of building aeroplanes has not yet be-
come an exact science. The machine
used now. while built closely on the lines
of the machine Orville Wright was fly
ing at Fort Myer last year. seems to
have a different personal equation" 1t
is this factor that has to be reckoned
with in adjusting it to meet practical
conditions.
Lieut. Humphreys. junior pupil of the
aviation class of two, has but a short
time longer on the signal service detail
He is really an engineer officer and will
have to go up for his examination at the
War College within few weeks.
He is anxious, however, to master the
running of the aeroplane before his sep
aration from this branch of the service.
This matter Of booming up" for an exami-
nation and mastering FESTIVE aeroplane
at the same time is enough to keep al
most any one busy.
1t is possible, however. that IL this o.
ficer wins distinction as an aviator, the
War Department will keep him on the
job. Good aviators are rather scarcer than
engineer officers, however distinguished
that branch Of the service may be.
There is also the possibility Of mussing
up an aviator at any stage Of the game:
The War Department probably would
like to keep a few In stock to draw on
in case Of necessity.
However. this is an unpleasant matter
FOR speculation. There Is not much dan
ger that it will become a vital topic so
long as Wilbur Wright is allowed to keep
Eldred in Disgrace.
Edward Eldred. the enlisted man of
the Signal Corps. who was sent to the
hospital at Fort Myer suffering from
the effects of exposure i'm the aviation
camp, returned Friday morning with
consignment Of medicine from the surgeon
at the post, and instructions to keep the
blankets we'll tucked around the lower
portion of his torso while asleep.
Residents and real estate dealers IN
College Park were much outraged at
anybody having fallen i'll within th'.
purlieus Of this subdivision, where
corner lots are taking a boom In pros
pect of having the aviation meet here
next year. 1t is not known whether the
threat of the townspeople was carried
out to have delegation call on errins
Eldred and warn him against getting Ill
any more while on duty here.
Several citizens explained at con
siderable length to The Stars represen-
tatiye that the enlisted man in question
had merely a pain in his tummy. An
overdose OF doughnuts i'm Washington
and not the climate of College Park WAS
really responsible for his fall from
physical grace, they are sure.