Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-02


FOREARM.
Mrs. Hibbs lamenting her husbands
impracticability and Mr.. Hibbs regret
ting that his wife had been born with
such a narrow intellect as not to be
able to appreciate his efforts to lift the
family into prosperity by 4 brilliant
stroke Of genius. The want Of unanim-
ity between them came from the fact
that Mrs. Hibbs' mind was always on
the providing and her husbands was
always on his inventions.
Mrs. Hibbs considered there was
trouble on hand before the advent Of
the aeroplane. but after that she real
ICED that her previous tribulations
had been a bagatelle in comparison.
whats the use," said Hibbs, "of
these fellows using all these boxlike
affairs? What we want to do Is to
initiate the bird. Creatures navigating
the air have two wings for propulsion
and a tail for steerage. Man has an
advantage over the bird in this. Be
sides the wings and she rudder. he may
have a separate propelling force In an
| engine and fans" And it must be ad-
mitted, though it has never been
brought out publicly, that Hibbs was
the first man to construct biplane.
He was very proud OF this fact, not
stopping to consider that any man may
build a big bird, but not every man
can make 1t fly.
After Hibbs got the aeroplane fever
he rented house in the country, with
a big barn attached and ten acre lot,
for the purpose of manufacture and
experiment. He kept his aeroplanes in
the barn and had a shop there. The
| ground Of the premises was level and
enabled him to make starts. His wife
was compelled to view her husband in
one of these positions either lying on
| his back watching the birds he was
| trying to initiate, or at work in his
shop. or circling around the chimney
top in his machine. OF the three she
preferred his lying on his back study
ing the natural inhabitants of the air,
for while working in his shop he was
continually cutting himself with his
tools and while circling in the air he
was constantly in danger Of coming
d. IN, to be dashed to pieces on the
earth.
Taking it altogether, the wife of an
aeronaut does not lie on bed of roses.
On the other hand, it is very trying
for a genius while struggling with a
mighty problem to be obliged to listen
to his wife's continued talk as to how
she is going to keep the family's head
above water or constant reminder that
her husbands life is in danger. When
Hibbs came in from his shop with a
terrible cash in his forearm made with
some sharp instrument she had the
satisfaction Of knowing that be lived
and would likely recover from the
wound. But when she knew that he
was circling about the chimney Top
she was never sure but that he would
not only come crashing down. but
bring the chimney with him upon her
devoted head. The consequence was
that when Hibbs went up In the air
his wife hid her face in a pillow.
One day Hibbs went TO the city and
remained away for a week. When he
returned he told his wife that friend
"a promoter-had organized company
to take over his patents when they
were perfected and would supply hin
with money to pursue his investiga
lions. There were to be 3,000,00t
shares and Hibbs was to have 1880,
600 Of them If, as it was expected
the United States government gave al
order for machines to equip an arm,
corps of serial mounted men-birdler!
was the name used-the shares woult
be worth par. Then, sweetheart,
said Hibbs, throwing his arms aroun'
her neck. we'll be able to fly to tn
moon II we like"
Mrs. Hibbs usually received such IN