Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-10
Lessons Are Drawn
From Lindbergh Feat
To the Editor of The Star:

Possibly never in the history OF the
world has a task been undertaken
which demanded the courage, daring,
will power, nervous and mental con-
centration. and endurance combined
with skill and good judgment as that
exhibited by Charles "A. L1ndbergn,
referred to by Ambassador Herrlck
! as 1.-THE miracle boy" who lone-handed
made the remarkable flight across the
Atlantic. In all lands he is proclaimed
the hero of heroes VIII Rogers, in
his characteristic manner, said: This
boy is not our usual type of hero that
we are used to dealing with. He is
all the others rolled into one and then
| multiplied by 10. He is our prince
and president combined" Ambassador
| Herrick said, Had we searched all
America, we could not have found a
| better type than young Lindbergh to
| represent the spirit and high purpose
| of our people. He is of the Lincoln
| type. Who can say more? 1t was
| such an instrument as this boy-this
miracle-that was needed to clear the
air of misunderstanding between
| France and the United States"
| His success was not a mere hap
| pen-so.
Marshal Foch said: 'Lindbergh pre-.
pared his plane, prepared his trip,
prepared himself, most thoroughly.
There was no luck in his achieve
| ment."
The secret of his success is here
| stated-he prepared his plane, most
thoroughly. He prepared his trip,
| most thoroughly. And, last but not
| thoroughly.
Young men of Lindbergh's type are
not a product of chance. They are
not product of one generation. They
are not mushroom growth that spring
| into being overnight. Lindbergh has
back of him sturdy and noble ances-
| try, to which he is indebted for the
qualities he revealed, and which made
possible his remarkable achievement.
The virtues of the mother stand forth
as vividly as do those Of the son.
While heredity is an all-important
factor in the development of such a
character, early training figures large
ly in it. The best heredity may be-
come dwarfed by early training. The
best heredity and early training
amounts to little when the brain of
young man is narcotized. Wrong
personal habits formed after leaving
the parental home frequently neutral
ize both heredity and early training.
This lad, who is referred to as "our
biggest national asset" is a young
man Of clean living. His nights have
not been spent in the dance hall, in
drinking and smoking cigarettes. HE
does not smoke. He does not drink
anything stronger than water. He
does not swear" is the statement that
came over the radio through a per-
Sonal friend and former associate of
his. We are not surprised to obtain
this information.
For his voyage across the Atlantic,
prepared to face rain and sleet, travel
ing at time over 2 miles in tn air,
he prepared most thoroughly. Had
he been a smoker, he would surely
have laid in a supply of cigarettes.
Had he been accustomed to depend
upon an occasional drink of whisky,
wine or beer, he would most certainly
not have forgotten the pocket flask.
Had he been a coffee drinker, he would
have supplied himself with coffee. A
few sandwiches and water was all he
took with him on this trip. When
offered a cup of coffee on his arrival
by well-meaning friends and admirers,
he politely refused it and asked for
glass of milk. When, at the banquet
SAFCH III Ills uOIIOA, lile SuSSlS OIduh
champagne to his health, while he,
too, pressed the glass to his lips, not
a drop of the liquid went any further.
A member of the embassy staff, observ
ing how temperately he ate, said, "He
eats like a sparrow" Charles Lind,
bergh, our modern Daniel, stands forth
as an example to our American youth,
as did Daniel in Babylon, Of the secret
Of real success in any profession. Such
character as he possessed is not
developed in a crisis or in a severe
test. It is then revealed. What he
was on his voyage across the Atlantic,
and what he was in France at the
banquet, he was when at his home in
America. He merely did, under test
ing circumstances, as he had done
aforetime. Such an example as we
find in the life of Charles Lindbergh
should be kept before the boys Of our
country who have the ambition to
excel in athletics or some other pro-
fession requiring. courage. daring,
endurance and good judgment and
skill. d. H. KRESS, M. D.