The Winslow mail., 1910-01-22
THE ERA OF
THE AERO
Copyright. by w. &. Chapman.)
By WILL BRADSHAW

your deTDDIal0 YET! are you aware
Of the fact that Wilbur and Orville
mote the familiarity are among us
again? Do you know that just as soon
as possible after they have rested up
from their European sojourn VIC will
be permitted to stand in line and file
orders for future deliveries in 1909
models of aerial c0pveyauces?
Wilbur Wright and his brother Or
vile are great young men, no mistake,
Our country can well he proud of them,
They have taken an idea, probably as
old as the human race, developed it
to q certain point, and by careful man
ipulation, elevated themselves until
king and peasant look up with un-
stinted admiration.
II was a 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
il 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
It 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
time, 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
in the world and soar above his fell
lows. 1t 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- 1t
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 a 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
ume. 1t tells of an ingenious farmer
who lived on the outskirts of Nice.
His land heing 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 a change of
atmosphere for the rest of the family.
While watching the family canary fit
about in It's cage. one day he suddenly
turned pale and left for the wood shed
at the rear of the house
In spite of the neighbors' gossip
about moOnshining and counterfeiting,
and other nefarious schemes, he hid
from view for period and when he
emerged, placed before the astonished
villagers huge object that to all ap-
pearances was cross between grass,
hopper and canary in wood and iron.
The family were to leave for spin
before breakfast the following morn.
ing from the top of the barn. The
page at this point was very much
thumbed but ! 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
turtles, 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 discourag ging
to the party contemplating a touring
aerOplane that will seat five, or
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 off the earth
and keep him off as long as he wishes
to remain is deserving of all the honor
it 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 to
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
calls for a back somersault and re-
verse;"
Think of all the trivial accidents
that will happen with the advent of
the aero. Think of the safety of the
walking population when airships are
as numerous as the punches of mo.
squitOes we see lowering over GER
tain spot and playing what is, seeming
ly, the game of tag" And then, tax.
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?
AYAN = n