Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-29
Flying With ShaHer
NOTHING EXCITING


know that, never having heard me
talk to my motor.
The other day l arrived just as the
family were starting on trip in the
French Ford-a one-horse Garland
being duly invited to go along ac-
cepted with pleasure. The pleasure
didn't last long. There wasn't enough
action, what with three girls. and
talking French at that, how was one
lone man going to get a word in
edgewise? besides we went so slow
wanted to get out and push. Dis
covering that their journey might be
of six hours duration, and I might
be wanted at the scadrille that after
noon l dismounted at the escadrille.
Later, having a new motor to try out,
and remembering their route OF
travel and flying rather low, follow
ed along looking for a one-horse
cart. OF course, I didn't see it, but as
I flew over little towns along the
route made little dives, jumps and
steep turns. The next day when l
showed up for my lesson CD right
away they wanted to know If / was
the foolish one doing acrobatics so
low. l admitted the lowness, but not
the acrobatics for I had not done
any. Anyway the "professeur" had
seen that her pupil could at least fly
easier than he could talk. Really, my
knowledge of French is nearly as
surprising to me as to her at times,
because / have done little studying,
phrase there and incidentally &C
quiring some slang which "profes-
seur" scolds me most numerically
for. It's most amusing to hear her
speak quick aside to her mother,
trusting to my lack of knowledge not
to understand, and see her surprised
expression when 1 do. The darning
was nearly stopped on that account
to-day when she was going to throw
the potato at me.
Nothing Exciting
Now don't get excited Dad, for you
have yet to see me get serious, so
don't go making plans to receive the
prodigal son and let out the fatted
calf, for he is not going to bring a
''poulet" with him. And you know l
have to learn French some way and
l don't think you could suggest one
more pleasant way.
True, it's nearly Fourth of July,
but I have not suffered from the
heat yet. Honestly. this country is as
Dad as California when the sun is
not shining. One wants to dig up his
f1annels Cred ones) and fur coat, for
1t sure is chilly. In fact. the chilly
weather reminds me of one of my
comrades at Tours, who was such a
cold-blooded duffer he slept with his
cap on. Some go even further and
say that all he ever took off when
he went to bed was his necktie. /
have not reached that stage as yet,
but l tell you, if it don't warm up
pretty soon, 1 sure will.
That aviators are 'superstitious as
a class, there is no doubt for flies
there a Frenchman who does not
carry his particular fetish" with
him? doubt it. AS for these charms,
they are as numerous and varied as
the men themselves. To-day though,
l saw one that sure surprised me. 1t
was large picture one meter square
of the Virgin Mary, covering one side
of the body of the plane, and in di-
rect contrast to this sacred emblem,
on the opposite side was the escad-
rille emblem, consisting of a fero-
cious looking green alligator swim
ming on a background. With his
double rows of white teeth he pre-
sented such an odd contrast that one
gazed in wonder and amazement at
one who dared so much, as it SEEM
ARK of the Covenant" into battle.
Ear Warmers
Another Frenchman had a doll all
dressed up in black velvet, trimmed
with white, sitting on the body of his
"Zing" just back of his head. The
beauty of this fetish" drew my at
tention for it surely was chic" look
ing. OF course, every Frenchman has
one of his lady's silk stockings to
warm his ears and hold his hair in
place when in the air. To see one
Eithout the protection would be
strange and unlikely-possible but
highly impossible. Sometimes one
who is somewhat of a dude will have
several different colors. And those
colors! Gee! they would put Joseph's
coat to shame!-No, 1 do not wear
one, not having become that inti-
mately acquainted with any mar
rains yet.
Speaking about war paint, you
should see some of these battle
planes the way they are painted up.
Why, their variety of coloring and
ferocious< aspect would make an
Apache war chief green with envy.
All types of animals are used, for eX-
ample. the alligator told you about,
but not satisfied with that, the pilots
go further and paint the nose of
their machines every conceivable
color and pattern under the sun.
can well believe some of the de-
signs would scare the Hun to death
even If no bullet hit him. AS for our
escadrille, the dominating color is
red-plain red. our commanders
plane being entirely of that color,
while the rest of the planes have
their noses only a brilliant crimson.
It's time for bed now, and I am
both tired and sleepy, even though
have done nought but eat and read
all day.
WALTER.