The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-07-20
MOTHER PROUD OF
HIS ACHIEVEMENTS

The Washington Herald prints the
following IN this mornings issue.
y gentle white-haired woman of
past nifty. carrying with her "a sub
uued tone OF quiet dignity subtiy in
termlngled with an the pride OF
molher for the wonderful accom-
pliShmcntS of her son. such is tho
mother OF Harry y. Atwood. the
young aviator, who yesterday after
noon flew into the White House
grounds and received the Washing
ton Aero club medal from the hands
OI PRESIDENT Taft At the Willard
Hotel last night. 10 a reporter for the
Washington Herald. Mrs Atwood sim
ply, ana without even a pardonabIe
tnSe OF arrogance. told how n felt
10 be the mother of the man who
was hOnOrcd 10y the President for a
flight unprecedented i'm history.
In all sincerity" said Mrs. At
WOOD, 1T was the prOUdeSt moment
OF my life. The anxiety I have felt
Tor my son i'm his many flights was
amply repaid today when he sailed
INTO the White House grounds. Since
have been in Washington nothing
but Kindness and attention has been
Showered upon me. but the flight this
al aiternoon was the climax. I am glad
that the people of WASHINGTON are
grained az my sons success.
Right To BE Proud.
have no idea what l said when
Harry landed this afternoon. Prob
ABLY someone standing near heard me
and II has been reported. However. il
was only what every mother would
say under the circumstances. / feel
that l have a slight claim to be proud
OF my son. as every mother would be
under the circumstances. 1t is all his
fame, nevertheless. and no portion do
/ take unto myself"
Mrs. Atwood was asked if she made
any objection 70 her sons tendency
toward aviation.
Well. 1 did at the start you see"
she said. We were worried over the
dangers of the sport. You know.
there are so many things that can
happen and so many have already
been killed. 1t was only every moth |
er 5 anxiety for her sons safety that /
l felt. Later. though. when he dem /
onstrated his control over the ma
chine and his infinite care / felt bet !
ter and became less alarmed.
am very glad of his achievement |
IN Washington this afternoon. We are |
from Boston, and Boston is my sons /
home city. TO see him win fame /
there was perhaps the most crafty /
ing or his many flights. one always |
likes TO do their best in the city |
where they have been born and rear
ed. Everywhere everyone has shown |
us nothing but kindness. The news
papers have been especially kind. and |
as tar as we are concerned we do i
not share the opinion that seems td |
generally prevail Of press representa-
uNes. In both Boston and in New
Ork the reporters called me up and |
told me OF the various stages OF his |
light and showed the attention in
many other ways. The Washington
newspaper men have been no eNcep-
ton, and l know (here Mrs. Atwood |
archly smiled) you will prove no ex-
ceptiOn.
Gets Many Inducements
Mr.. Atwood's father has been up
with him. also his sister, and perhaps |
l may go myself at some time. al
though at present l am undecided
went on Mrs. Atwood Il wish yot
could see the piles OF letters and l.,
egrams that boy receives every da.
ouering inducements TO him. II }.
hard TO choose from the great num-
Der. As for myself, since / have been |
in Washington i have received flowers |
and inVitations-almost more than |
can possibly accept ! felt that l had |
no friends in Washington when first !
l came, but in the short time l have |
been here ! feel that l have hun
dreds
My son has gone to New York this
afternoon TO decide what his course of
action in the future shall be. This is
the hardest task Of all-selecting his
next place for fight. our
plans are very indefinite. and will
]
New York trip. Wherever he goes, /
will accompany him, and l have every
reason to believe he will continue COW
ering himself with glory. Is it not a
proud event for a mother as we'll as
for the son?"
Simplicity seems to he the keynote
OF AIRS. Atwood s every word, move
and bearing. There is nothing Of the
nothing Of the oVe--enthus-
iastic, only a glowing pride in her son
1,f D., n--
him continually as my SON." and has
nothing but kindness for everyone
She received the Washington Herald |
reporter In the reception room Of the |
Willard with the query as TO the pri-
Vacy of the place. Gorgeously dressed |
women passed at intervals. and by |
some Mrs. Atwood was recognized. |
Toward none, however. showed she !
the least inclination TO baSk in the re-
Elected rays OF her sons fame; only
the true spirit of enthusiasm for his
achievements was allowed TO enter
into her conversation.