The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-12
EARLY ATTEMPTS
 ID CONQUER AIR Medieval Scientists Pondered
 Over the Subject BEFORE COLUMBUS DAY Some of the Early Adventures In At tempts To FIy-Francls Lanas
 Airboat, Which Led to tho
 Use of the Balloon.
From Philadelphia Public Ledger.

From Philadelphia Public Ledger.
 Aerial navigation is no new aspiration or man. Long before Christopher Colum- bus sailed into western seas and discov- cred the vast continents of the New World mediaval scientists had given attention to the problem of conquering that other element which still defies the skill of man. but which, the world Is beginning to believe, will be as nayigable as water be- lore the twentieth century wanes.
 A famous Augustine monk, known to history as Albert of Saxony, who lived in the fourteenth century, was the first man on record to define the primal principles or the science of aeronautics. His ideas were followed up by Portuguese named Francisco Mendor, who. however, made no material contribution to the science.
 An Alrboat.
 Late in the seventeenth century came rFaneis Lana with proposal to navigate the air by means of a boat raised from the ground by four hollow balls made of thin copper from which the air had been exhausted. Here was the germ of the navigable balloon which the Germans of today are trying to work out to perfec- tion in the form of "dirigibles."
 In the middle of the thirteenth century Cavendish made the notable discovery that hydrogen was nearly Il times lighter than ordinary air, and this for a. while revolutionized the methods of ambitious aeronauts.
 Utility of Airbags.
 Hardly had this idea been promulgated than an Edinburgh man, named Black, made practical experiments with bags hlled with hydrogen. These rose rapidl V 10 the ceiling of his sitting room, and thereDy demonstrated the utility of air bags for mounting into space A dozen years later two brothers arose who might well be styled the Wilbur and Orvilie Wright of the eighteenth century. These were Joseph and stephen Montgolfier who produced the first fire balloon this being large sillIen bag filled with heated air. With this new form of balloon they made an ascent at Annonay, in France. 1t was in one of the Montgolffier bal looms that d daring aeronaut named Iytler made an ascent at Edinburgh on a summers day p 17S4 to the amaze Inent of a considerable crowd
 First Woman Aeronaut.
 About the same time a woman Mime. Thible, won distinction by being the first of her sex to make balloon ascent. The first balloon ascent was not made in Eng land till a month later, and four months afterward the first ascent from Irish soil was made from the Ranelagh Gardens in Dublin.
 Having thus learned to rise and descend Tn inc air in safety oa ical l venturers next sought to travel through the air, and the over-sea passage natural ly proved an irresistible fascination. It was so long ago as 17S5 that the aerial voyage across the Straits of Dover was first negotiated-and with success. Two balloonists, Blanchard and Jeffries, made the ascent at Dover, and aided by favorable winds were waited across the channel to Calais, where they safely alighted at spot not far from the scene of M Blerlot's great and successful feat.
 In the Irish Channel.
 Years passed without this feat being repeated, and in 1872 balloonist, named Sadler, who had established reputation with many successful expeditions over land, tried to cross the Irish channel. This time he failed and fell into the sea near Holyhead harbor. He was picked bp dil KiBAtv Obl ht ScSi4S tO nave iHuhc no further attempt to cross the water in 50 frail . barque. Just before Queen Victoria came to the throne still more daring essay in aeronautics was made by the building of a big balloon, named the Nassau. 4 stoutly-built car to hold three persons was attached. and in this a voyage was undertaken from the famous vauxhAu Gardens, then one of the most popular resorts of Londoners.
 The secret of aerial navigation was still undiscovered. however, and the balloon