Holbrook argus., 1910-02-15
THE ERA OF THE AERO
,(Copyright. by w. G. Chapman.)
By WILL BRADSHAW

of the fact that Wilbur and Orville (note the familiarity are among us again? Do you know that just as soon as possible after they have rested up from their European sojourn we will be permitted to stand in line and file orders for future deliveries in 1909 models of aerial conveyances?
 Wilbur Wright and his brother Or. vile are great young men, no mistake. Our country can we'll be proud of them. They have taken an idea, probably as old as the human race, developed 1t to 8 certain point, and by careful man. ipulation, elevated themselves until king and peasant look up with un. stinted admiration.
 It was lucky day for the Wright boys the day they hit upon this method of rising in the esteem of their fellow men. They have risen higher than anyone ever expected; and if at any time they should drop suddenly it would be very sad and unexpected.
 But they had better be very careful. ! The game of rising up into the clear blue sky is beset with difficulties of the most perilous order; difficulties that are likely to upset the best laid plans of these brave Ohio youths.
 1t was only the other day, while reading some ancient literature on the subject the Wrights and thousands of others are most interested in at this 1 time, I happened upon an account of the first recorded attempt to navigate in true bird fashion that great void above us.
 The old document told graphically of the longing of pious friar to rise l in the world and SORT above his fel. lows. It told of the long years he spent in nerve-racking research for an apparatus that could be attached to his person and with which he could attain the heights his ambition led him to- It told how the credulous populace gath. cred on the morning of the trial to see the good man make his getaway from the top of the town-hall. The rest of the account dwelt on the virtues of the deceased and the plans for great public funeral to be held the next day
 This occurred in the year 845 A. D. We can, and have done, as much as this in our time.
 How another attempt was made to solve the problem some time later is related in another part of the vol 'lme. It tells of an ingenious farmer who lived on the outskirts of. Nice. His land being situated in very swampy section, and having a wife who was fond of travel, he longed for some means whereby he could secure pleasure for himself and change of atmosphere for the rest of the family. While watching the family canary fit about in its cage, one day be suddenly turned pale and left for the wood shed st the rear of the house.
 In spite of the neighbors' gossip about moonshining and counterfeiting, l and other nefarious schemes, he bid from view for period and when he emerged, placed before the astonished villagers a huge object that to all ap- | pearances was cross between grass hopper and canary in wood and iron 1 The family were to leave for a spin before breakfast the following morn ing from the top of the barn. The page at this point was very much thumbed, but I finally made out that the farmers brother come up from Bordeaux and claimed the estate.
 Since that eventful morning when the friar made his last bow to the as. sembled multitudes. though the cen turies, and up to the present day, the population of the globe has been ma terially lessened by the airship fans. This may appear as very discouraging to the party contemplating touring aeroplane that will seat five, or a simple little affair built for one and with accommodations for another; but it is not the intention of the writer to knowingly discourage or hurt the feelings of any one. The man who succeeds in constructing a pair of flip ! pers that will lift him of the earth and keep him of as long as he wishes to remain is deserving of all the honor 1t Is in our power to bestow.
 Have you ever given a thought to all the misery the successful invention of the airship will bring? Ever thought how many lives will come tc i an abrupt end when the carburetor refrains from giving the right mix. ture, or the port flipper rips at seam, or weary aviator pulls the cord that 1 calls for a back somersault and re- verse;"
 1 Think of all the trivial accidents that will happen with the advent of the aero. Think of the safety of the l walking population when airships are as numerous as the punches of mo- squitoes we see lowering over a cer- tain spot and playing what Is, seeming, ly, the game of tag" And then, talk | ing the side of the aeroplanist, what | fate Is in store for the unlucky voy. ager who falls overheard and lands on the apex of a church steeple?
 No! It is hard to say what benefit rrrfll -s,-I