The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-01
MOTHER OF MISS 'EARHART TALKS.
Tells flows It Feels to Be Parent of Famous
 Flying Star
BY MRS. AMY OTIS EARHART (C0uyright 1887. by United Press)


 Copyright 1887, by United Press)
 Amelia has always jokingly blamed me because she was born on @ Sat- urday. She often refers to the old saying, Saturdays child must work for a living" and adds, That's why I have to work so hard"
 She was born at 11:30 o'clock on Saturday night, July A, 1898 at the old homestead in Atchison, KanS,, where too, was born.
 As her mother, don't feel any different than before she planned this flight, and I don't think I feel different from any mother whose daughter is doing things. I always expect Amelia to do things, so I'm prepared for anything.
 believe in women doing almost anything. People should do any, thing they have calling for.
 Doesn't Worry Any More
 If l worried about her, wouldn't have dark hair left. No I don't worry any more, though did when she first took up flying.
 Aviation was not safe in those ddyo lAAA 0klC lCd1 IlCd OVC1 ULlC 1llkll Sierras where down drafts caused by the canyons caught at the old Jenney she flew. Those worries are over, for I've been flown over those canyons considerably myself since then.
 I'd like to have made this flight with her. She had so many in- teresting things to try out.
 Far from objecting when Amelia wanted to take up flying I told her I'd go with her. Her father did not oppose 1t, but he never would go himself.
 Has Flown Many Miles
 l have never tried to pilot a plane myself. But I have gone thousands of miles by plane and have spent a great deal of time in the air. l have crossed the continent by plane four or five times, and we often go by automobile, though I don't drive because I have been hard of hearing for eight or nine years.
 have lived with Amelia consid- erably since she has been flying. She always tells me about new tests and new instruments she is to try out, and when I am not with her she writes often-oftener than would most people who are so busy.
 I clip all the stories l see about Amelia and now hahve four large scrapbooks full. People send stories to me from all over the world, but l can't keep up with the pasting.
 Nephew Interested
 Little David (Amelia's nephew) is keenly interested in all kinds of transportation and follows his aunts activities. He hopes someday to be a bridge-builder and goes to bed with the book of knowledge under his pillow. Of course little Amy. who is only four, likes to hear about her aunt.
 As a little girl, Amelia's ambitious were along musical and artistic lines. She and her father would improvise for hours on the piano. Later she played the banjo and mandolin as many college girls do.
 But she always was interested in tools and in doing things. Her fathers hobby was working with tools. He was railroad attorney, which accounts for her having lived in so many places.
 My favorite story about her IS of the time she remarked: Hun dreds and hundreds of years ago when mother was a little girl--'
 We've had more laughs over that.
 First Interest in Flying
 l think Amelia first became in- terested in aviation during the World war. She had finished her work at a Philadelphia preparatory school, where she was studying to enter Columbia, l think 1t was about 1915 when she was IS. She came from Philadelphia to Toronto; where we were living then, and be- came a V. A. D.. nursing in hos pital until the terrible epidemic of flu. Then she came down with it herself Sinus trouble has bothered her more or less ever since.
 While she was in the hospital, expected fully she would become bacteriologist. She was intensely interested in the laboratory worE she did along with her nursing Many of the wounded men she met were aviators who were axious to show her about flying. I believe her interest in flying must have been born then.
 Now she knows her job. l have no fears for her, for know that she always prepares for emergencies in advance. And know, too, that MT. Putnam is always behind her. It is awfully hard on him, though, because he must stay behind. But he is real sport.