Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-09

18 Some Of the Canadians had no idea that
the faculty Of the Stinson School was a slim
little girl who looked absurdly young and femi-
nine, even when done up in rough flying toys
and with q checked cap over her curls.
when some of them saw that the instructor
was a girl" says Marjorie, "they backed of and
went into huddles to discuss it. One day when
a new class arrived, could easily see that one
of those husky athletes was plainly leery Of
my ability to fly, so sauntered over and in
my best School-mam voice said, All set?
That's the school plane they're bringing out and
we might as well save time He shifted in his
number mines and carefully explained that he
had really planned to begin his instruction the
following day. Thought he ought to rest up
from his long trip.
Personally, admired his judgment But
he soon overcame any prejudice he may have
had against a girl teacher, passed his test In
good form and brought the plane down to per-
feet landings. What more could one ask?
really didn't try to teach them at all. just
explained the controls and the reaction Of their
movement when In flight, then sat beside them
while they learned by trial and error how to ny.
When the errors were dangerous, 1 took control.
That's all there is to it."
Eddie Stinson who is now president of the
Stinson Aircraft Corporation, had early aspira-
tions as plane builder. Marjorie mentioned
his first plane, constructed in 1910 when that
now eminent birdman was boy in knickers.
and the Stinson family living in Missis-
sipp
Eddie built the first airplane ever saw"
she relates, land 1t happened this way: Mother
had just bought an automobile, the first one in
our town. One afternoon she and Katherine
dressed up in auto veils linen buster, ETC., and
seated themselves in the back seat, the chauffeur
(an absolute necessity in the early days. in the
front seat, and they drove grandly away, leav-
ing what they considered the children behind.
1--WE felt abused neglected. We would have
to get even some way. Suddenly Eddie said,
Let's build an aeroplaner We used picture Of
the Wright biplane as a guide and the material
consisted of sticks, nails and bedsheets.
"A toy wagon supplied the wheels and not
being able to locate anything that would do for
an engine Eddie decided to roll the plane down
a hill to get start. The flight was scheduled
to take place the following morning but, for
tunately for Eddies pride, storm came up lur-
ing the night and wrecked the plane"
Marjorie recalls appreciation that noyie of
them was spanked for cutting up the sheets,
but then Mother Stinson had neve- sol kht to
discourage them from aviation
Mother has seen three of us in the air at
one time" Marjorie says land is good sport
and doesn't worry about us"
She had faith in aviation from the beginning
and financed Katherine's lessons for an entire
year before she found a school with planes that
would actually fly.
Had she chosen to- says Marjorie "she
could have delayed our learning to fly because
we were all minors. Father was not so easily
converted. We had to fly, and fly we'll to con-
vince him that mothers modern ideas were all
tight He stayed convinced though and the
Continued ON Pace Nineteen.