The Washington herald., 1910-02-20
HONORING THE WRIGHTS
Presentation of the Langley Gold Medal to the AyiatOrs
From Dayton.

II is a remarkable circumstance that
Henry. whose fame is linked with that
Of the Smithsonian Institution. should be
the discOverer Of MISUNDERSTANDING and
that Langley. at a later period likewise
secretary of the Smithsonian. should now
have become famous as a pioneer scien-
| tifc discoverer in aerodynamics. How
admirably has each Of these eminent men
fulfilled the desire Of Smithson to pro-
mote the increase and diffusion Of knowl-
edge among men!
February 10. 1910, witnessed a ceremony
Within the walls OF the Smithsonian
building at Washington that is worthy Of
special record. II was a simple cere-
mony, but one full Of meaning. We refer
to the presentation by the chancellor Of
the institution of the Langley gold medal
to the brothers, Orville and Wilbur
Wright, IN token OF their wonderful
achievements in the field Of air naviga-
ton. The occasion will long be remem-
bered by those who were so fortunate as
to be present. for it was Of unusual his
tOric Importance
The regents had assembled for their
regular meeting. They sat at the long
table IN the large room Of the institution.
where the walls were lined with paint
ings from the Harriet Lane johnson col
lection temporarily hung there. The ven
cradle Chief Justice of the United State
who was that day completing his sew
enty-sixth year. occupied the chair, Of a
dignifed yet kindly demeanor. On his
right sat the Vice President Of the United
States, his face aglow with interest In
the rear one might see a quiet-looking
man, known in both hemispheres, Charles
Darwin WalCOtt, man of science and of
rare administrative capacity. The chair
to the left of the Chief Justice was occu-
pied by the sole survivor of those distin-
guished men, Senators of the United
States, who as a court Of impeachment
tried President Andrew Johnson. He was
a Republican Senator who had the cour-
age TO vote mot guilty"-John B. Hen
deTsOn, of Missouri. One would not have
suspected that this alert, keen-eyed, in
tellectual-looking gentleman. one Of the
ablest lawyers in the Union, had attained
the length of years which is really his.
Others Of the board of regents were
Senators Cullom, Lodge, and Bacon, Rep
.resentatives Mann and Howard, and
United States Circuit Judge George Gray,
handsome and looking like a leader Of
men, as he used TO look while sitting in
the Senate. a leader of his party who has
caused many a person TO wonder why he
was not selected as a candidate for the
White House. Perhaps the most striking
Of all the figures at the table was DR..
Alexander Graham Bell, one of the great
est inventors the world has ever known.
His noble countenance and abundant
white hair rendered him easily conspicu-
Gus amid this group of distinguished men.
The board had disposed Of routine
business. and a few minutes after II
o'clock the doors were thrown open for
the Wright brothers and q few others to
enter. including Maj. George o. Squier,
U. g. A, assistant to the Chief Signal
Officer, a man we'll known for his able
management at Fort Myer during the
experiments conducted there by the dar-
ing aviator. Thomas Nelson Page was
present to listen to story almost more
romantic than any one that his fraternity
can give to the public. A few ladies were
seen to grace the occasion by their pres
ence.
The Wright brothers, slender in form
and modest in demeanor, seated them
selves at the foot of the table. DR.. Alex
ander Graham Bell arose, an imposing
figure, with a cOuntenance full of kindly
animation, and In a clear and sympa-
thetic voice began an address. It was a.
delightful address, whose words, fifty
chosen. were marked by judicious tenn
per.
The speaker alluIed to the many won
ders attending the opening of the twen-
tieth century. and then by easy transfer