Evening star., 1919-05-28
PRIDE, IN COMMANDER READ
/. VOICED BY MOTHER AND WIFE
Sketch of Navy Officer Whose Successful
Flight Across the Ocean Gives Him
Worldwide Fame.

tell YOU And our little son has the
same sort of eyes,
Thus is introduced Master Albert
Gushing Read, jr.. aged six months,
who isn't yet able to talk. and so
can't cheer for his famous dad. but
strenuously ever since his mother put
her face right close to his and whis-
pered what a brave. efficient dad he
has.
Chased as CLONE Man"
Commander Read is a home man
both his mother and wife testify to
this. His mother takes some credit
to herself for his love of home. She
was shocked when asked If he ever
ran away from home when a boy.
No. indeed. he loved his home too
Well" she said. and explained: I'VE
had a big attic. He used to have
crowd of boys around. and they used
to do all sorts of stunts in that at
tic. l let them have all the fun they
wanted. It's good way to keep boys
at home, to let them have a good time
there. Mothers should give their boys
good time at home and they'd never
be sorry" she moralized.
Now any boy whose mother calls
him In from ball game to help wipe
dlshes shouldn't feel that he's being
made a Sissy" He may even grow
up some day to be a world famous
transoceanic aviator. That's what
commander Read did when he was a
boy-but he did it seldom. his mother
explained. He was the youngest, SO
l didn't ask him to help that way
very much"
His Record at Annapolis.
He went to the Whitman High
School and won an appointment to
Annapolis before he was graduated.
He passed an excellent examination
for the Naval Academy. His ambi-
tion for a career in the Navy was
inspired by his mothers brother. Rear
Admiral Albert Baker, for whom he
was named, and who died in Wash
lngton about two years ago.
Throughout his entire course in
Annapolis he was an excellent and
thorough student and was graduated
as one of the honor men of his class.
Probably the best sidelight on his
maturing years in the Naval Academy
is found in THE Lucky-Bag." the
1907 class book. This discloses that
his nickname was Putty" and his
mother will be shocked when she
sees it here mentioned. for she doesn't
like it. Here is what the Lucky
Bag" records:
Albert Cushing Read, South Han
son. Mass. Putty
He is retired as noontide dew,
Or fountain in a MONDAY grove.
Wordsworth
"Cockswain third crew 3D.; one
stripe %; star a. 3. p.
"A quiet unassuming man of small
stature, with an oversupply of savofr,
which appears in an easy don't care
m q nf 4,
ing he could have had the mightiest
crying for help. Has a proud record
Of patience and good nature. Lived
four months with Jackey Klein, fol-
lowed by four with Dusty (John
BarcIay Rhodes odetx Used h to have an
hop habit (2) in its most aggravated
fdAln. One of the chief interests at
dress parade. owing to his contrast
in appearance with Shorty Murfin."
His Mothers Divided View.
His mother isn't certain whether she
is proudest of his recent achievement
or of how well he did during his
course at the Naval Academy. --, "a
"Whatever he has done since he has
done WELL" She said. and explained:
"Of course, his transatlantic fight
is the most outstanding thing he ever
of his safe arrival that the pride-feel-
ing didn't seem to come in. AS long
as he was safe that feeling just went
ahead of everything else. He lived
with me for five months before he
started on this fight. He was SO eager
that he imbued me with something of
his trust. I hated to have him go. I
dreaded what might happen. But it
was his work. He wanted to do it, SO
1 wasn't going to hinder. His wife,
too, was very brave"
And his wife spoke for herself. in
this regard:
II was not afraid for him to go,
even though we have our little baby.
I was very proud he was selected and
had the chance. I knew what won
derful opportunity 1t was for him. It
did not occur to me that he was in
danger, because the Navy took such
elaborate precautions and made such
careful preparations. Even If didn't
want him to go. would not let him
know it. The wife of a naval officer
must school herself not to worry"
But young Mrs. Read doesn't blind
herself to her husbands shortcom-
ings, for with a real jolly little laugh
she admitted:
That's just it, he thinks he can
sing. and he can't"
Now there seems to be some differ
ence of opinion on that point between
mother and wife. The mother, when
asked about the musical talents of
Commander Read. said:
well, I wouldn't say he is a won
derful good singer. but he does sing
rather WELL"
And she also said that just before
he went to Annapolis he tried to learn
to play a cornet-until he made his
lips sore.
But the young Mrs. Read seems to
have won the decision, for she gave an
illustration. She told how he tried
recently to sing for her his class
song, Anchors Aweight"-and az
never did find out how it went" she
concluded.
And then she talked Of their baby
"just the dearest ever" land with
eyes just like his father"