The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-06
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

hdu d Ldlk WlIn Jlm Lent aINef lho Wednesday Rotary lunch, and while he was all broke up over the tragedy which overlook his two daring friends, yet all ready had out feeIers to replace the act with some other one to take the place of the one which was so popular here last fall during the fair. I wasn't surprised to learn that already substitute teams do- ing air stunts were being offered by en- terprising managers.
 Such is life. The players die but the play goes on. It's frequently the case that some flying trapezist, some animal train CT, some bareback rider. or some other performer is hurt during the performance but they are rushed behind the scenes, the band continues a lively piece, the clowns tell their funDiest jokes, the ring master cracks his whip unconcernediy and the crowd, forgetting the accident. laughs and enjoys itself.
 But always out of sight of the audience is some one whose heart is wrung by the tragedy which for a moment halted the show. I know nothing of Lockiear's family, and yet I am confident that his sudden end carried grief to loved ones; but I do know that Elliotts death was a heart-rendering blow to his dear mother and brothers and sisters and other kins- people who live in the neighboring town of Gadsden, for he was one of our own boys, a graduate of the University of Alabama.
 As I read the simple announcement which flashed over the Associated Press wires. my heart immediately went out to Mrs. Elliott, and my memory was~ busy with visit I paid to her lovely home less than year ago. where went to pay my respects to her. and also to get some definite information about Milton, and to secure some photographs for the paper. I can never forget her pride in ways the undercurrent of the solicitous mother, who had constantly in her sub consciousnesg the drear of just such an accident as robbed her of her boy, of whom she was so proud.
 In the morning we go out on the front porch and pick up The Age-Herald and big world event has transpired during the night. If so, the big headlines tell it.
 After reading the leading articles we begin to pick around among the smaller happenings, with little thought that a paragraph may turn out to us the most significant piece of news In the entire national and even international news.
 
 Such was the case for me on Tuesday morning, for, glancing down, I read an Associated Press dispatch Los Angeles, Cal, August 2.-Lieuts. Omar Locklear and Milton Elliott, his aide, were killed to- night when their plane crashed from a distance of 7,O0O feet" Nearly every few days an item teHing of the death of some aeronaut appears in the paper, and 1 read it and think little of it. But the story of the death of my two friends touched me deeply, and I couldn't get rid of the thought of their tragic death. It's in the game to get killed sooner or later, but they had been at it so long and seemed so careful and com petent that somehow I had hoped that they would prove the exception and stand out like Barney Oldield and Louis Chew rolet in the automobile racing sports.
 
 had recently been talking with Jim Dent, superintendent of the Alabama l State Fair, and learned that they had been signed up for the big fall snow, and of course I was looking forward to resuming our very pleasant acauaintance- ship, and was expecting to have some daring spins with them. It is mighty hard for me to realize that they have made tteir last flight
 l They were such splendid fellows. Physically they were in the pink of condi- ton. and both of them had behind them regulations of service under Uncle Sam. Each went into the flying game for the sheer love of the sport, though it wasn long before 1t came to be highly profitable es they gave really thrilling and won- derful outdoor exhibition, which had few equals and no superior as drawing card.
 
 For years Mrs. Elliott had been my l friend, and the friend of the Alabama Baptist under my control but have still 1 another tie of interest, as Milton's grand father refugced during the Civil War with his family from Rome. Ga, to GIennvile Ala, where my father was living; and his son, Captain Elliott, the father of Milton, was a playmate of my two older brothers. So for half century the two families have been on a basis of friend ship.
 | I was not surprised at the adventurous spirit of Milton, knowing as I did some thing of the history of the Kyies and the Elliotts, It was also the natural thing flor his mother to make flight with him and of course his sister had to fly, too Say what you please, there is somethine in the mere act of gliding through space hike a huge bird which has the power Iof such a great fascination as to almos become an obsesson with those who onct ltrail through the atmosphere and pokt ltheir noses in clouds.
 who has never taken a chance, but wh'