The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-04
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SlCkNeSS.
The plane was now in the air.
rapidly gathering both speed and
altitude and the air hostess, whose
name was Virginia Cathcart. was
distributing magazines and news
papers. Then she collected the
tickets, chatting with the paSsen-
gers in a chez I'll manner calculated
to convince me Skeptical that air
travel was a casual and uneventful
method of transportation
Irene, keyed to an expectation of
something more spectacular, felt a
relief mingled with disappointment.
1T was so much less exciting than
l. the sight of that airplane had
been. She didn't feel as if she were
doing anything dangerous or I'M
usual at all.
Her second trip, however, was
different. Shortly after the plane
left Sacramento on its way to Port
land the -colored sea beneath
them changed to storm whipped
clouds. The air hostess in charge
strapped the passengers in their
seats and brought pillows and sed-
atives. The plane was bucking
headWindS which forced it up and
down like a fractions horse. But
there was no hint of alarm in the
smiling poise of the green uniformed
girl who moved briskly up and down
the dipping aisle.
Irene's pocketbook bounced from
her lap to the top of the plane.
How do you feel?" the other
stewardess inquired, rescuing it.
Irene grinned, "As if I'd like to get
out and walk"
1T is bit rough" the little air
hostess admitted blithely.
fitting her perky hat more firmly
over one eye, she held the hand of
the frightened old person in the
front seat, laughed at the fears of
the profane man in the third from
the rear, and managed at the same
time to give Irene an occasional re-
assuring nod.
BY this time a fog ha6 set in. AS
the plane was piloted Skillfully be-
tween the snow tipped peaks of the
Cascades the steWardesS confided
that they we're going to make an
emergency landing.
I'VE never take unnecessary
chances" she explained.
AS the lights of the emergency
landing field blinked up she busily
computed refunds On tickets and
issued checks to cover the I'M
Travelled mileage.
Being an air hostess isn't as
simple as it soundS!" Irene re-
f1ected.
When they had landed, the pay
ing. passengers went on to their
various destinations, but the two
stewardesSes remained with the
pilots until the storm Nhad abated.
SurmiSing that her companions
were curious to know her reaction.
Irene affected a nonchalance she
was far from feeling 1t really had
been a nerve shattering experience
but her hospital training helped her
to conceal the evidences of it.
Powdering her nose with a hand
which shook, she managed to keep
up her end of the conversation
about everything under the sun but
aviation and she was rewarded as
they ferried the ship to Portland
several hours later.
Still going to be an air hostess?"
the pilot leased.
She lifted a determined chin.
Naturally"
Good kidd" he approved Lots
OF EN- change their minds after a
trip like this"
QUT it was after that, on their
- way back to San Francisco,
that she felt her first real thrill.
Although it had been cloudy on land,
within 10 minutes they were flying
in sunshine with the white fog bill
lowing far below.
The co-pilot, stopping at her seat
for a moment, explained that the
top side of the clouds was always
white no matter how dark they
might appear from beneath.
1.-THE light, unable to penetrate
the clouds makes them look black
from the earth, but it is that re-
Elected light which CLEANS so bright
ly from above" he said.
Sitting in the rear of the plane
Irene looked out and made the SYM
bolic application.
Far below were cities like crowded
anthillS with worried men creeping
through miniature streets If only
they could soar above their troubles
they might be free. For looking
down upon difficulties like clouds
made their brighter side visible
Flying unsupported through spc e
gave one a godlike imperSonality.
For those who could tear themselves
loose from the earth there was a
reward. Not in the physical release
only, but in mental freedom which
swept the brain clean of cobwebs
and gave one a perspective which
made such tragedies as broken
hearts shrink from mountains into
molehillS.
Such sublimity was temporary, of
course! 1t couldn't keep her from
turning quite white several hours
later at the sight of her name on
the outside of an envelope ad-
dressed in Bartlett's handwriting.
The letter was accompanied by
the same small package she had
mailed to him earlier in the week
and both lay side by side on table
in the living room.
(To Be Continued