Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-12-20


reaped a harvest that year. They have
been reaping ever since, but less and
less as time goes on. With the influx
of so many strangers. all come for
the same purpose, the natives gradual
ly ceased to become excited them
selves in witnessing the excitement OF
those strangers. Soon the inhabit-
ants assumed an air something weary
like-sort of bored demeanor, as it
were.
And so it has gone for three years.
1t is a great privilege for the stranger
to mingle personally with these ma
tives who have actually ridden aero
planes and have had such wonderful
experiences-In their minds
After listening awhile to these tales
the stranger goes to the aerodrome
field There be finds a half dozen men
working at an aeroplane-repairing
rents IN canvas, testing the engine. re-
placing ribs. These men are looked
upon with awe. You see they make
aeroplanes. You watch them from the
outside. The aeroplane is in barn.
slides just like barn door. and this is
open as the men work Perhaps you
may, in your eagerness. step inside to
get a better view of what that fellow
is doing with the soldering rot. but
they don't notice you. They don't'even
notice you when they step on your
feet. They have very peculiar habit.
these men of stepping on your feet.
Since 1908 hundreds and hundreds
of flights. varying from 20 feet to sew
eral miles, have been made at Ham
mondsport, and so today the native
pays little or no attention to flights
If he sees an aeroplane flying ahead
of his he may follow it with his eyes
until either he or the machine turns
If he has to turn around to follow its
fiight--well. he simply wouldn't turn.
Aeroplanes to him are like automo.
biles on Broadway to a New Yorker.
Three years ago the native eagerly
picked up his daily paper and scanned
il for a Hammondsport date line.
Now aeroplane news appears not to
interest him. Whereas he used TO
tramp four miles almost daily to the
original aerodrome field, now he sell
dom, II ever. goes to the new field
located right in the village-unless a
game of baseball is to be played. The
diamond is on the aerodrome field
The young men of the village play
baseball while Curtiss or some other
aviator. is circling over the field. and
no errors are made through fielder
having his eye on the aeroplane.
Dick Brown will tell you that once
Aviator McCurdy. who some time
plays center on a Hammondsport
team. played that position in an aero
plane and made four put-outs and
two assists out of six chances.
Millions OF people would deem It
great boon TO get just a glimpse of an
aeroplane In flight. Thousands and
thousands have gone great distances
and spent much money TO witness
flights, and he who Game back from
one and told about it to his fellow
citizens was looked up to. But the
Hammondsport inhabitant doc~"'t
turn his head. But they're proud VI
Curtiss
When Curtiss evolved the aeroplane
with which he has been SO successful
he interested Or. Alexander Graham
Bell, of Bell Telephone fame. who
spends large sums of money for exper-
iments, but who cIoses his purse when
the experiments have reached sue
cessful stage and the matter takes on
a commercial aspect Then the Aero
EXPERIMENTAL association was formed
The aeroplane with which Mr. Cur
tiss few down the Hudson 10 New
York. and the one which be few last
summer from Cleveland and return
are practically OF the same make as
the June Bug. built in 1908 and one Of
the first made.
The immediate surroundings of the
aerodrome building. which houses the
aeroplanes with which Mr.. Curtiss
broke many records and made his long
est flights. are commonplace enough
A dozen COWS roam the fields With
these cows the story is also old. The
noises made by the engine and whir-
ring of the propeller no longer cause
them 10 lift their beads AS said be
fore. the building dseIf is a barn
like structure, implanted. Weeds grow
abundantly. The men go about their
work of making and repairing aero
planes much as do others at digging
potatoes-with no thought. seeming
ly. that they are engaged In building
objects that now hold the attention
of the whole world