Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-09

- now that flying machines have
SO engrossed the worlds atten-
ton the big boy longs for an
aeroplane and looks down on
the kite Of his younger days.
But the boys down In Warrenton. Va,
have added new wrinkle to the kite
flying of the old days 80 novel that II
turns the peaceful pastime Of holding
string to a combination Of sticks and
paper floating off in the blue sky. and
doing never a thing but waking up to
make an occasional dart, into sport
that is as exciting as any game Of con-
test-base ball always excepted-known
to the American schoolboy.
1t is fighting kites. The writer saw 1t.
indeed learned of 1t, for the first time
while on a visit to that Virginia town.
On the ground were a score Of boys and
in the air were a score Of kites. They
were Of all sizes. both boys and kites
In actual measurement the kites varied
inches in width, the little torpedo-boat
size Of the aerial fleet. to the great bat
tleships of the air. more than four feet
in height and nearly three feet wide.
The sight Of these boys and their kites
-
sharp halt; for it was not like any kite
flying he had ever seen. When he saw
the kites above he had expected to see
below their owners lounging upon the
ground or sitting placidly backed up
against a locust tree, lazily watching
their little airships floating in the sea of
blue But no such sight greeted his eyes;
instead he beheld above the score of
kites rising. falling, circling and darting
to and fro like flock of lunatic pigeons.
while below their owners. kite strings
grasped firmly in hand, were initiating
the antics of the kites above. running
now forward, now backward, ciEcling be-
hind or before now one, now another OF
his companions. swiftly pulling in the
cord until the kite sprang upward In the
air like rocket. or as swiftly paying
out until the kite dropped like sinker
And all the while there arose from the
excited group shrieks and yells that
would make the ghost dancers of the
Brule Sioux turn their copper complex
ions into verdigris with envy.
Just as the writer turned his gaze back
to those kites dancing SO Enthusiastically, ne
noted one that shot heavenward in frantic
bounds as its owner. pulling In the cora
with both hands. ran swiftly backward
Another boy ran back by his side with
equal speed, his own kite being a trifie
higher than the other and nearer the
runners. Suddenly the mounting kite.
hating in midsky like stricken deer
like a drunken man, came staggeI ing
down the heavens. floating off across a
neighboring field and alighting somewhere
out of sight in the valley beyond.
Its mine," shrilly yelled boy, run
ming back beside the owner of the dead
kite, and. handing the string of his own
kite to bystander. he raced off down
the hill in the direction where the kite
had fallen. The owner of the fallen kite
was standing. the picture of defeat
gazing ruefully at his cord. that came
winding and wriggling like long lean
snake, out of the sky
"She was top-heavy. JIM" remarked a
companion to the defeated one "Soon's
i saw her get into a mix-up with that
little fighter Of Billie's I knew it was all
up with her. If you balanced her Just
right she could whip Billie's in a minute
cause then she'll drop steady as a plumb
bob when it comes time to cut. What's
her price, did you say? Fifty marbles
and alley? How many marbles Won
got? Well. I've got sixteen and the al
ley. and thatll make plenty to get her
back. III come over tonight and help