The Washington herald., 1921-06-05
Sons Of Iearus.

motor we, walking safely half mile below,
can gauge the sustained tsnsty Of the effort to cir
cumvent the law of gravity. Even on this mild day
when flying conditions seem most favorable aground
and alof It is quite apparent that the machine is
kept up only by the grace OF good weather, per-
fectly tuned engine and strong stays.
Comes a little disturbance in the upper strata
Of which the aviator is not advised and his lie Is
In the hands of the inscrutable gods OF chance
Something goes wrong with the engine, something
which in an automobile would be cause only for a
short stoppage and some anger on the part OF the
driver, and the airman minute later may be
added to a long, black roll A carelessly inspected
guy snaps and again he Is face to face with death
Mishaps on the ground are instant tragedies in the
air.
This is true despite all the published statistics
relative to safety terra hrma and while navigating
the aerial Constant watchfulness is the price
of continued existence to the in the air service
One may be safer in flight than as pedestrian In
a crowded city. But government practice diseredts
this theory. Army, navy and marine corps hiers
draw more pay than those OF equal rank in other
branches Physical requirements for the aviation
army are considerably more strict than for the in
fantry, cavalry artillery etc. 1t is a dangerous
game There may be proportionatey fewer fiers
killed and injured in accidents than automobists,
but il must be remembered that every man in the
air service is picked man while in many parts OF
the United States practically anyone not hopeless
cripple obtain driving license.
j. FIyins is dangerous and it probably is well it
should be so regarded. Its hazards have so piqued
the nations that the very best specimens are drawn
TO il and consequently its development is guaranteed
swift because of the ntrepidity of the pioneers The
aviators will admit its picturesqueness and dan
ger that is not their calber. 1t remains for the
~; and he tn keeO charac-
terstics before the public in order that the@ittle
emblem of the spread wings may not to draw
respect
Galantry is the pathetic readiness of the sons
of men to stake faith against the unknown. These
old Phoencians, the first to go down to the sea IN
ships the leaders of the Crusades, Christopher Co.
luInbus Stanley of African fame explorers of the
Arctic and Antarctic, these all the linea for
bears in gallantry of our Aiers What though their
steps and their saines be directed by science'
Such direction ceases early in the game and the
rest is on faith. Faith wins in the end, and follow
venture of this century decade is the common
practice of the next But to gallanry that quality
compounded of stark courage, love Of a game and
dash of bravure goes the greatest need of praise.
Gallantry must have its celebrants for the ven
t,resome generally poor singers, especially OF
their own deeds. Sorfar in history~it fortunately
has not lacked for praise And it does not seem
likely that it will There is something Immediately
stirring in those scenes events where man pits
himself against the forces of destruction whether
created by his own oft-snister crafts as with the
instruments of warfare whether inherent in that
world he has set out to conquer.
1t is for the Aier to fly and remain withal,
dumb vessel as regards the chanting OF his own
achievements and for the who flies only in
imagination to render him his due in story, song or
marble Thus, through a mddleman OF the arts
precepts of willingness to do and dare are incul-
Gated in the rising generations with the greatest
material benefit to the whole race.
There never accident since times dawn
that snapped the ife-thread OF a bold-eyed pioneer
from which inestmable good has not resulted. 1t
is we'll to remember this the earth closes over
the latest groups of those who sacrificed their lives
aloft Their glory is not ended; it has but begun.