The Washington times., 1935-03-09
NOW
Girl Mail Pilot
Is Spartan
NO ACCIDENTS
By HELEN ESSARY


Though the pastime of, hitting
the high spots adds zest to the
personality, it frequently says
the face. Helen Richey, first
woman air mail pilot. whose
young life is a series of high
spots, is, however, radiant and
sweet and very feminine.
Of course, she is only 25 years
old. Even so, she is a pioneer
and an adventurer. She calmly
meets dangers that would terrify
most people and laughs at life
and it's complications.
We found her the other night
at Mrs. Alice Longworth's,
thrilled with the people she met
there. And delighted as she
usually is with the chance for a
frolic. She said, smiling:
"PiIots haven't much time
for parties.
1--WE have to have plenty of
sleep and calm nerves. We just
can't indulge in any excite
ment.'
Flying the air mail on the De-
troit-Washington route would
seem vaguely exciting, even
hazardous to us. But not to
Helen Richey. She said:
'cPIaneS are safer than auto.
mobiles. Statistics prove this.
But people won't read statis-
tics, How did 1 happen to be a
pilot? Well, ever since 1 can re-
member I have wanted to fly.
At 20 1 did fly. And I've been
at it ever since"
In five years Miss Richey
has not had one accident. She
was chosen as the first woman
air mail pilot because of her
clear head, her sense Of re-
SponSibility, her keen eyeSight
(they are pretty eyes, too), and
her ability as an aviator, nat
Urally.
A pilot must have practically
no personal life. Miss Richey
has cheerfully given up most OF
the leisurely ways attractive
women consider important
because she likes to fly.
A pilot cannot even eat as
other people do. The run be-
tween Washington and Detroit
is on q five-hour schedule.
Before she leaves in tn e
morning. Miss Richey has no
breakfast but coffee. Until she
arrives at her destination, no
food. But more coffee. Lunch
would make her groggy, and
she takes no chances in the
air. But she doesn't mind
such a trifle as being hungry.
She's a gay, charming per-
son. We like her lots.
The Consumers Council will
soon be popping with activity.
Read these two opinions of
Emily Newell Blair and agree.
Mrs. Blair Banister, Assistant
Treasurer of the United States,
says:
'Mrs. Blair, it is widely
known, touches nothing S h e
does not enrich and embellish."
Jim Reed, of Missouri. says
of Mrs. Blair, who fought him
for the Senate (he's an tex"
this very minute):
EMILY Blair can raise more
hell than four men,"
Department of Justice GRIM
inologist admits it's quite true
that Carmen was a gunman'S
moll. Charlie curtis, once
Vice President of the United
States, is now vice president Of
a moving company. John Pc
lenyi, Minister of Hungary,
looks like Lou Tellegen did
when Geraldine Farrar first
made UP her mind about him. ..
We had thought that editors
were beetle-broWed creatures
with shears in one hand and
stamped rejection slips in the
other.
Yesterday, however, we met
the prettiest woman we prac"
tically ever saw. She was
young and slim and had a gay
sense of humor. Her black dress
was Of taffeta Zone must have
taffeta this spring. made in pc
riod style and dotted with small
white stars painted on by hand.
And she was Aimee Larkin,
associate editor of Golfers Mag"
aZine!
Thoughts on spring:
The waSps in our attic are
coming to life.
Promises to repave Connec-
ticut Avenue above the Taft
Bridge remain-promises.
One new pair of roller skates,
one new beau, one jumping
rope, two pairs of gardening