Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-22


last three months, why undertook to
f1y around the world, but even now
hardly can say why really did Many
things perhaps, influenced me, but the
chief one was that all my friends were flying
In England-and that If I did not wake up
soon and become air-minded, should become
so old-fashioned that nobody would want to
talk to me.
But think the thing that influenced me
the most occurred one day about six months
ago, walking down Burlington street London,
and seeing a little areoplane called Blue
Bird in a showroom with a price tag, and
the words: Ready TO go anywhere" 1 had
never cared about flying in fact, had only
once been up in the air, and although do
a great deal of motor boat racing, car racing,
had always been afraid of flying.
used to tell my friends that should never
Nv I told them sometimes even hated but
terfiies or anything with wings. used to say
it made me dizzy to look at my own loot.
And that was my outlook so far as flying was
concerned until this day when I spied this
little machine in a shop window.
turned back and had another look. It
was painted a pretty blue and silver and
seemed SO neat strolled down the street
little further and saw very pretty frock IN
another shop window. This tempted me to
60 in, and tried the frock on, only not to be
pleased with it and impelled again toward the
aeroplane. fingered a while and then
stepped inside.
was greeted by a very smart salesman and
sked him the price Of the machine. said,
could one ny around the world IN this?"
and he replied, "Of course, easily" He was
certainly a good salesman and spoke Just as
though he might have been selling . package
Of tea, . yard of CLOTH not an aeroplane.
THIS impressed me, made me realize that
flying was an ordinary affair and had
rka~ TTyI,n nj
planes Ia shop windows and could 60 IN and
buy them just as one would new frOck,
suddenly woke up to the fact that should
soon be left behind, and become old-fashioned.
did not buy the machine that day. I went
home, but it was constantly in my mind. That
same evening took atlas Of the world and
from that moment I felt that was going to
take up flying and see all the countries Of
the world.
took a pencil, drew a line from England
to India, and then on from India, across the
tungles of Siam to China and Japan. Here
I would put my little aeroplane on board
steamer, fold its wings, and fly away again
when landed on the other side. So drew
my line across from Japan to Vancouver.
From Vancouver drew q line down the west
coast to California and San Francisco, and
from here across the United States to q little
town called New Albany, Ind. Here drew q
circle and had the first idea Of what could
do II decided TO buy this machine.
NY mother is an American lady and was
born In New Albany Ind. She left America
~ years ago to pay q visit TO England, and
met my father, who was an Englishman. They
were married and she never returned 10 her
home town. She said she lost all track Of her
relations and most Of them had died.
Two days after had first seen the machine
In the shop window I met my mother and
told her, Mamma, I'm going to ny from
Esher chat Is the town live IND TO Indiana,
and I am going to find the old house where
you were born, and If I do win send you a
telegram and tell you what it Is like" Ny
mother was very upset at the time, for she
feared for me to take this lonely journey.
But when she saw that I was determined,
she gave me an American nag and said to me,
Elf you do find the house where was born,
drop this American flag upon it from the air"
I took the flag home with me and returned
TO Burlington street the next day.
In 10 minutes had bought the little blue
machine. They asked me how long had been
flying and told them had not yet learned to
ny, but that before started to fly around the
world, naturally, I would learn. The sales
man certainly looked astounded and expect
he thought / was quite mad, to be organizing
q flight around the world before I had learned
to 11y.
RUT there was a reason for this. There was
20 much to do in organizing q flight Of
this kind. There were routes to choose, sup
plies for fuel 10 be laid down, weather 70 be
considered, 20 that II were going, knew that
the only time Of the year possible to make this
Night would be IN the Autumn. That left me
eight weeks from the day that bought the