Evening star., 1919-05-28

A. c. Read, U. 8. N. as the intrepid
Gus page in aviation history by being
the first man to drive an aircraft over
the Atlantic carrying the Stars and
Stripes.
In Washington there Is one woman
| who knows Commander Read in ar
entirely different way, for, while she
| is prouder thany any other of his
great exploit. she remembers him
best for the many pranks and youth
full escapades of his early life. when
! she helped him develop the manly
qualities that fitted him for his cross
seas f1ight-his mother.
She has known him most intimately
for thirty-two years and today told
some new and interesting details OF
his life. To this account is added also
| some intimate sidelights by the one
other woman who knows Commander
Read best-his wife.
Get News From Star Reporter.
To both Of these women waiting and
praying yesterday for the successful
conclusion of his daring attempt. the
| writer was the first to bring news
that he had won.
"Oh, I'm so thankful. I knew he'd
do it, but it's great relief to know
that he has had no mishap. Thank
God" said the mother. Mrs. Mary
| Elizabeth Read, at her home. in the
| Imperial apartments, 1853 Column ola
road.
Its just splendid. I have not been
| afraid, because he was so conndent
/ l>s- r1~ IL.
| nifty. and l am SO proud he measured
| up to the Navy's trust In him. Wha'
time did he maker"
That is the way his wife. who was
Miss Bess Burdine OF Miami, ano
| whom he married while commandant
| Miami in January, 1918, received the
glad tidings at the home OF his
aunt, widow Of Rear Admiral Baker,
1716 N street northwest.
Nearly four hours after they were
| told by The Star official news from
| the Navy Department was given 70
the mother snd wife last night.
During the evening they had been
| receiving telephone calls and tele,
grams Of congratulations from naval
officers and family friends. The
naval hero's elder brother, William
Read, employed in the bureau OF
mines, is the proudest man in Wash
ington. He makes a home for their
widowed mother, and in that home
Commander Read lived for severai
months before he started on the
transatlantic flight.
Is Son Of Baptist Minister.
This pioneer in cean-spanning
aviation is the son of Baptist min
lister.
Commander Reads mother, who
came to Washington about hve years
ago from her home in South Hanson
Mass, has been really hurt because
press dispatches from Los Angeles
IcaIif. have made her share the honors
of being the mother of the hero naval
aviator. Mrs. C. o. Brooks. living in
sawtelle, Calf. has been quoted as
rejoicing over the success OF Com
mander Read, and claiming him as
her son, saying she Ahad dreamed of
his fying overseas ahead of the
others. The commanders mother had
no such dreams. She kissed him
goodbye and wished him God
mo. I can't recall that he ever got
a spanking-he didn't need any" said
his mother. but she smiled reminis-
Gently over some Of his escapades
which she thought, she "ought not
te1l' in the paper. She finally ad-
mitted that when her boy went to
new town to live, and it was time to
20 to school. somehow he suddenly got
q stomach ache. Then she qualified
it by saying that he must have felt a
nervousness that crept down into his
stomach-"but he got over it," she
boasted, "just as he got over every
thing unpleasant or difficult that it
was his duty to do" There wasn't
any such nervousness in his stomach
when he few across the ocean. she
intimated.
Native Of New Hampshire.
Albert Cushing Read was born
March 20, 1887. in Lyme. N. H. His
father was the Rev. J. B. Read. The
family lived in Lyme until he was
about five years old. when they
moved to Hinsdale, N. H., for short
time, then into western Massachus-
later to Chatham, Mass. for three
years, and back to his mothers old
home, in Hanson, Mass.
He lived in Hanson from then until
he was sixteen, when his father died
Soon after he went to Annapolis. He
was always studious. his mother says
but loved to play all boys games. and
was a sort of leader. too. He was es-
pecially fond Of base ball and of GRO
quet, which was played scientifically
in those days. His favorite study has
always been mathematics. He was ac-
tive at work or at play, full of vitality
and always quick.
HE has a very keen eye, and think
that has helped him to be a good
flyer" according to his mother. HE
seemed to see through things with his
physical and mental eye working in
harmony, she explained. Somehow or
- fn hn Of ney
point with his woman folks, for his
wife, whom he married only sixteen
months ago. threw back her head and
a far-off look came into her eyes. as
though straining over the seas to Lis
bon to look into his. Then she said:
ale has an eye that looks hard into
yours with a merry, almost sly.
twinkle, which seems to say: oh, /
know so much that I'll never, never