The Washington herald., 1909-07-10

The Wright brothers performed yester-
day-really performed. They ate out OF
the hand, showed themselves 10 be thor
oughly broken. and did everything but
sit up and beg. And Ike the old. old
story which was told first when time
itself was cutting its teeth. the ringmas-
ter was a ringmistress.
Mrs. Nicholas Longworth. nee Miss
Alice Roosevelt, went out 10 Fort Myer
20 look things over with Representative
Gardner, Of Massachusetts. They came
very comfortably over the dusty parade
ground IN a smart electric runa5out
The fact that the rope about the aero
plane shed had been made TO include a
much larger area. taking IN both Signal
Corps tents, made little difference TO
Mrs. Longworth. First she led Mr.. Gard
ner around to the back. where the dis
tance between the aviators and tbs rest
Of humanity was a trife less than else
where. and inquired when a flight would
be made. One OF the stock answers was
handed back across the rope:
Just as soon as the wind goes down"
Went Back TO Wait.
Mrs. Longworth and Mr.. Gardner went
back 10 the electric 70 wait and to pom
der on the peculiarities Of some persons.
Presently the daughter Of the only living
former President became restive. This
wasn't Ike the good old days. So she
told the gentleman from Massachusetts
10 step around 10 the back and have one
Of the army men ask the Wright brothers
If she might not have more OF a loOk-in.
Now. mind: ask them IN a gentleman
~ way" she said as Mr. Gardner made
OF for the Signal Corps tent.
The summons was effective. Pretty
soon-Yery soon-for one OF the Wright
brothers. Wilbur. appeared around the
corner Of the aerOpiane shed in tow OF
the representative Of Mrs Longworth.
For the first time since he arrived in
Washington he was up in the air As ne
came IN view of the white figure stand
ing on the other side OF the rope he
faltered and fumbled his cap For let It
not be omitted that Wilbur has divorced
the old black derby and taken up with a
very sassy little headplece. every bit as
sassy as Orville's: also he was looking
uncommonly clipper, with wing collar
tickling his chin, an honorable necktie
sticking out Of his sleeves
But IN that brief moment Wilbur
doubted. He fumbled. He stretched this
part Of his raiment, took a surreptitlous
pluck a that. and pecked slyly at some
thing else Suddenly, Ike an official test.
a smile creased his aquiline face Just
IS abruptly II vanished. And so he was
led up 70 Mrs. LongwOrth. nee Miss Alice
Roosevelt
But the lady in white quickly took the
situation out Of stays.
Il wonder If I'll be killed II I 20 by
this roper she Queried. and. holding il
down and stepping lightly over it, she
started forward to meet the renowned
aviator. She asked him II the aeroplane
was going to fly. asked him IL his sister
had come 70 Washington. wondered II the
wind would 90 down. and vowed she
wouldn't bulge II there was a chance
OF H.
Having been led to water. Wilbur ac-
Quilted himself very well in the drinking
The Official test smile came back, found It
didn't cause an outCry, and stayed Pretty
soon he asked If Mrs. Longworth wouldn't
Ike % go inside and see the machine
So with Representative Gardner forgot
ten IN the rear. IN they went with VII
bur az the man o. tho hour
OrviIIe Was Hiding.
Orville IN the meantime had been hid
ing behind the water cooler. preparing
himself for an emergency just like the
one approaching. Consequently he had
things pretty well screwed up 10 the
sticking point and tied there with pink
ribbons. His little cap was jauntly
perched on his head. HIS little mustache
was Immaculate and his slender figure
showed no symptoms Of crimping. In
fact, he sort Of took charge OF the situa-
ton. jumped IN among the braces and
wires. and pulled all the levers In the
machine to show how everything worked.
while Mrs. Longworth made excIalna-
tons and egged him on
Just as things were progressing nicely
IN came Secretary of War Dickinson and
Gen. Allen. chief signal officer. They
found a pink tea going on, with Mrs.
LOngworth pouring. and the Wright
brothers acting ike willing hosts. The
Secretary Of War himself stepped in
among the rods and braces. and Orville
put the wings through their PAGES again.
Later in the afternoon other groups
were admitted 10 the shed. although the
only other woman was Mrs Huntington
Wilson. who went in with her husband.