The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-22
Russell H. stannard in.the London Daily

~ URING the last three weeks ] have
watched Mr.. salmet the famous
- Daily Mail airman, fly with
score of married women.
During the flights / have talked with
their husbands, several of whom, not
wishing themselves TO fly, have tried TO
conceal their anxiety while protesting per-
feet confidence in the airman's ability
to bring their wives safely back to earth.
Their nervousness has been SO palpable
that / have been struck with the differ
ence in the demeanor of the women, in
tho entire absence of any visible sign of
apprehension when their husbands were
flying. | have asked myself. Is it more
courage or more self control or more of
both qualities in the women that accounts
for this apparent absence of fear?
do not think it is that women realize
any less than men that flying, amazing
as has been its progress, has yet to reach
the same degree of safety as the other
means of locomotion. Rather l think the
explanation may be found in the fascina-
ton of the airman himself. The complete
mastery he has over his machine more
vividly impresses the minds of the women
The enthusiasm of the women spectators
at Folkestone, Margate, Scarborough and
the other seaside places we have just yis-
tied has been Enthusiastically more spon-
taneous and less restrained than that of
the men.
Not once have heard woman express
the least misgiving about either the pilot
or his machine after having seen them
in the air But many men, and young
men, too, while evincng the keenest ad-
miration for Mr.. Salmet, have shaken
their heads when it came to taking the
passengers scat behind him and leaving
terra firma for q few minutes
mot IL you paid me s50O would ! do
it"--that has been the common express
sion.
Trying to peranade their husbands to let
them fly, 7 nave, heard women say But
it is salmet; With him 1t win be quite
ALI right-he is so careful and so clever.
One day little woman ran joyfuliy up
to the machine leading her big' pow
erfulIy built husband. Rather half heart
edly he tried TO share his wife's eptilrs-
iasm, and told the airman that he was
the only airran with whom he would In
trust his wife. The propeller whizzed
round. and the husband jumped out of the
way of the fierce draught that sent his
lwifes scarf flying. He made a sorry
business of a snapshot OF the machine he
tried to take as it made a perfect ascent
from the flying ground by the sea.
without a glance at the sky, he hastily
opened a conversation with me.
shes been a good woman-a splendid
Wife he said "Wonderful courage. you
know I'm sure she is not bit ner-
vous. There are not many women who
would do that, are they" His hands
shook as he opened cigarette case,
gave me cigarette, and made three un-
successful attempts to light match.
He looked up. His wife, Mr.. Salmet and
the monoplane were speck 1000 feet
above the trees What height are they
lnow? Marvellous flyer, isn't he? Never
seen ANYTHING like him. She's a wonder
ful woman-never has the slightest fear
vet quite nervous about some things.
you know.'
A fixed determination to fly, a resolve
not to De-iDdlt>tu NY Oily AOi 'iN>.iHS nus
hand. possessed more than two or three
of the women A desperate eagerness of
exrerience a new sensation in several in
stances led to strategy. Young wives,
middle aged wives, and one or two elderly
women came to the flying shed in hot
haste TO book a passage, fearful lest rela-
tiyes should impose ban. One woman
came running breathlessly to the hangar
when the Frenchman was flying at Folke-
stone "Caf1 Mr.. Salmet take me up at
once?'' she asked. II only left my home
an hour ago and my husband does not
know I'm here" she said excitedly. do
please take me up now! must fly If
my husband comes he may not let me
GO"
| I remember three sisters, only one OF
whom was to take flight. settling which
| it was to be, after much argument, by
| tossing coin. The successful one did not
hesitate to exploit the experience as a
| sort of personal triumph. She went away
| between two very crestfallen sisters who
avowed it great shame that they should
have missed such an opportunity.
! Every woman passenger that Mr.. Sal
met has taxed wanted to go up again at
once directly the flight was ended They
Were obviously sincere when they SAID