The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-25
WRIGHT BROTHERS
KEEP TO THEMSELVES

The Wright brothers adherence 10
their policy OF not mixing with the
curious ones who gather around them
at every opportunity has not abated
one whit the enthusiasm Of half d
dozen hero worshipers who have taken
up their headquarters at Fort Myer.
With the exception of the newspaper
men, these hero worshiDers were the
Only ones who journeyed across the hot
parade ground day after day while
the aerCplane was in the course OF con
struetion. They arrive early in the
mCrning and remain until the doors OF
he aeropiane shed are locked up for
the night.
One CT them arrived in Washington
last September on the day that the
aeroplane made its fatal plunge which
resulted IN the death of Lieutenant Self
ridge. He came all the way from Den
Yer and decided not to so back home
until he saw OrVIlic Wright rs again
so he remained il Washington all win
ter and now he practically lives at
Fort Myer.
Another member OF the gr1up is a
business man from Des Moinzs Iowa
who is a little ashamed of his enthu-
Slasm Tor the famous American avfa-
tors He declines 70 talk about him
self. but viii join any party which talks
ABOUT the Wrghts or enters upon a
technical explanation Of aerial naVigs-
last year in his efforts 10 keep track
OF the doinGs of OTviile Wright at Fort
Myer and Wilbur Wright in France, but
ne could not find enough in print to
satisfy him. Now he is taking his va
cation IN Washington so that he viii be
near the WrigEfs-
Left His Job
\ third man who dogs the footsteps
Of the Wrights left a lucrative job and
a family in San Francisco two weeks
ago and he can be found every day
peering in at the windows and doors
OF the workshop. watching the invent
cTs toillng over their machine 4 fourth
man is from Chicago. a fifth from Bur
hngton, Vt, and a sixth from Texas
The last named is seventy years Old
but he does not look over fifty. He
does not know much about airehips Of
any kind but each day he amuses any
one IL his vicinity by recitinc a brand
new poem Dedicated 20 the Wrights
aid likening them @ birds and angels
Not one of the six has bad an on
p0rtunity 10 exchange the IIme OF dav
with The two men who drew them TO
Washington Ike magnet. The Wrights
pay no more attention 10 them than if
they never existed. If they get too
close TO the Workshop ard their con-
Nersation becomes audible Wilbur calm
y stops work long enough to shut the
door. IF they crowd around a window
Wilbur asks them 10 let the air in. II
they attempt 10 approach tho brothers
outside OF the shop the aViators walk
right ahead and continue conversation
between themselves
Wilbur The Silent.
The brothers sfistaste for publicity Of
any kind is as keen as il was when
their efforts first attracted worldwide
attention. OF the two Orville is the
most laxative. wilbur answers all
questions with one word. il possible.
He may say two or three words when
lard pressed. hut it is like pulling teeth
from man with lcckjaw TO get a
healthy sentence out of him
Photographers who have nad expert
ence with basLful brides. dignined dip
iomats and others who are averse to
being photographed still find the Wright
brothers the most difficult subjects
they have ever tackled. They Rriu turn
their backs, cover their faces with their
hands or ha9 or do any thing else they
can 10 escape the snapshot A pose pic
tuTe Is out of the question
Another chsTaC teristic of the invent
ors IS their desire 20 ne alone. The
Officers Club is always open 10 them
~ Fort Myer and IL would take them
but a moment 10 go their for~their noon
Gay luncheon. Instead OF doing that
they get on strecI car at l. o'clock
every day aud ride DOWN 10 Georgetown
lunch rem.
Wilbur Wright IS very evidently the
boss Of the Wright combination He
issues his ORDERS like an army officer
breaking In lot Of rockies and he
talks just as sharply to Orville as to