New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
SENSE ABOUT "STUNTS."

We have not met with sounder or
more practical and pertinent sense on
the subject of aviation than that which
was uttered by Mr. Wilbur Wright in
his interview in The Tribune Of Sunday
There is nobody who can speak with
more authority than he. especially in his
own country. his authority being rein
forced and confirmed by actual expert
ence and successful achievement lie
himself was not merely theerist ana
technical inventor. He was one of the
foremost actual pioneers in traversing
the airy spaces and he knows as well
as any man the possibilities. the tempta-
tions and the perils of such exploits
When he speaks. therefore, we should
expect not only his own employees 70
obey. hut also all aviators and the pub
lie at large TO give respectful heed.
The gist of Mr. Wrights earnest and
iudicious remarks was that there should
he no mere doing stunts in the air
The ''uselpssIy sensational perform
ancps which cause the unthinking crowd
10 yell are forbidden by Mr.. Wright and
should he avoided by all. Plain flying
Of the kind that is likely TO he of actual
use. is what should he encouraged In
saving that and in giving such orders to
his employees Mr. Wright proves his sin
cerity by speaking against his own pc
clIniary interest. for it is far easier TO
draw paving crowd TO see fancy fly
ing than to see ordinary fights. But
Mr. Wright Justly realizes that there is
more TO he gained for the practice Of
aviation in plain than in fancy flying.
and also that the risks of disaster and
death. which are always considerable
even in ordinary flights. are enormously
increased in the doing of reckless
stunts
Precisely the same principle applies,
of course. 10 automobiling and to other
sports and contests and exhibitions We
have repeatedly urged that the perfect
ing of that singularly interesting and
useful engine the motor car Is 10 he pro-
moted not by crazy racing with torpe-
does on wheels around letter s" curves,
but by practical tests Of endurance and
dirigibility in such work as will ordi-
narilv be required of the machines; just
as .-fmDroving the breed" of horses WIS
to he done far better in other ways than
racing two-year-old colts around track
for the profit of the betting ring.
There is of course. a strong tempta-
tion to the doing of stunts" The sensa-
ton OF speed in an automobile is fas-
cinating. even intoxicating. and the inn
pulse to indulgence is doubtless strong
We can readily imagine that in aviation
the sensation is still more eXhilarating
and the temptation TO play all sorts Of
tricks is still stronger. But so is the risk
of danger still greater, and so is the
uselessness Of such performances still
more marked. As for the popular APP
pla1lse which the ''Stunts" excite. its
quality can be judged by the conduct IF
the mob which when reckless aviator
was killed before its eyes rushed in 70
grab Shastly souvenirs of the tragedy
The spirit of those who howled delight
when a gladiator was "butchered 10
make a Roman holiday" finds its twen-
tieth century analogue in that of those
who demand that for their delectatlon
men shall risk their lives in seeing how
close to the brink Of death they can run
their motor cars or their aeropianes.