Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-11

Never MISUNDERSTANDING Cheered Her
Sorry Others Failed.
BY GERTRUDE EDERLE.
.v Cable TO The Star.

CAPE GRIS-NEZ. August Ill re-
Ceived a cablegram yesterday from
Nayor Jimmy Walker of New York
telling me how proud my own city
Is of my accomplishment in SWIM
ming the English Channel and prom
Using me a royal reception" upon my
return home late this month.
That was the best message ! had
vet received ! can hardly wait until
l get home to New York. for 1t seems
I've been away long time.
Yet today it was only two mohtns'
exactly. since our arrival here to tram
Cor the channel "A second time. m
hacking now, preparing TO return
home by way of grandmother S nome
nj Bissingen, Germany, ana Fafls'
leaving today. .o
Our party has been offered the use
of an airplane to fly from mere 10
Germany. but l trust trains more
than airplanes. The latest of1er comes
from a Berlin theatrical manager VINO
SAYS the German capltal Is dhAiou9
to have me appear there.
Rut as | answered Paris and Lon
don offers. I'm still determined not
IN annear anywhere publicly before
I gel back to New York. Anyway,
grandmother would be offended II we
Shortened our few days visit with her
In order to appear IN Berllh'
Sorry Others Failed.
I'm mighty sorry Ishak Helmy
failed in his new attempt to SWIM the
channel. but he's good sport ABOUT
his failure and means to STICK 10 IL
until he makes it. He had about the
worst luck in the world in his swim
attempt ,.
I'm sorry. too, that Omer PerrauIt.
col Freyherg and Georges Mlcnei
also failed to make 1t, and m wish
ing them all better luck next tillle.
col Frevberg, the World War hero.
said he had sent me, also Helmy, a
preparation to prevent the inside or
our goggles from steaming. the stun
having been used in the English army
for gas masks. but the preparation
failed to reach me before l TOOK on.
That was all right, however, for my
glasses didn't steam enough to be
annoying.
am delighted that my return
home will be i'll time for the Twin
Lights Club ball. which always marks
the end of the season for the Alley
at Hishlands. y. j., where my family
summers. We call the row of bun
galows where Wa and our friends have
PASSED many Summers the Alley.
| wouldn't miss that ball even If l
had had to leave here without swim
ming the Channel,
Was Never Nervous.
Gradually incidents which occurred
during my swim are coming back to
mind. l wasn't the slightest bit nerv-
Gus at any stage. and at the start |
was so happy my heart was singing
and l was the happiest girl in the
world that the day had come when !
was to have another chance at the
channel.
While my friends on the tug were
playing the photograph to amuSe me
and liven the passing hours l took
the cotton from my left ear, which
was the nearest the tug. to hear the
music better
When they sang | kept time with
my strokes to the rhythm OF their
songs. 1t was the sweetest music
had ever heard.
Over and over they sang all the
old songs, never once letting me for
get that they were with me every
minute With such friends along
with me il is no wonder that | sue
Caeded
When we We're nearing the cliffs OF
me English shore L remembered Bll!
Burgess had cautioned me not to look
because they are SO deceptive to the
aye seeming much closer than they
really are. so | put my eyes down into
the water. peeping out at the tug only
coca Slonally.
Sometimes il seemed | was not
moving forward at all. especially
when it grew dark. But later when
the people of kincsdown lighted their
welcoming flares ] knew ! must be
close.
When / walked out on the pebbly
beach of kingsdoWn. men. women and
children. soldiers and policemen ran
into the water knee-high to Congratu-
late and kiss me. | shall never forget
their marvellous reception or those at
Dover. Boulogne and Gris.NeZ.
tCopyright 1926, hv Chicago Tribune News
service