davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1938-12-18

1t. Selfridge went to Hammonds-
port, N. Y, where Glenn Curtiss
was conducting experiments in COL
laboration with Bell. On May 10,
1908, Selfridge made two solo hops
of 100 and 200 yards in a Curtiss
plane, thus becoming the first Army
officer to pilot an airplane (though
the flights were uncontrolled).
Other short hops were made by Self
ridge in July and August, and on
August he flew alone for / minute
and 3 seconds at an tititude of rs
feet.
AS a result OF these flights, Sell
fridge and 1t. F. P. Lahm, one of
our three dirigible pilots, were Sc
lected to receive the contracted
instruction.
Early in September, 1908, the
Wright plane was brought to Fort
Myer and assembled. The first trial
flight was made September 3 and
the next day The Star carried these
sensational headlines:
ely? WHY, OF COURSE.
"Orville Wright Electrifies With
Test.
"Stays Up Over a Minute"
Then came week of winds. To
the Wrights, thinking only of full
filling their contract, of successfully
demonstrating their plane, any wind
at all was too hard. It was not
until September 10 that the second
tests were made, and Orville Wright
that day broke three world rec
ords. On the first fight he stayed
up ST minutes and 81 seconds, max
ing SIS laps around the parade
ground at a speed of 35.5 miles an
hour for new speed record (most
planes today will stall at that
speed.
On the second flight Orville broke
the duration record by staying up
L hour 5 minutes and SO seconds.
On the third flight he took up 1t.
Lahm as passenger, staying up 6
minutes, which was a duration rec
ord for flying with passenger.
These records were not to last
long. The very next day Wilbur
Wright flew at 1886 miles an hour,
and stayed up l hour, 10 minutes
and "a seconds. He also flew the
first figure eights in aviation his
tory.
The very next day saw three more
records broken. Orville stayed up
! hour, IA minutes and "a seconds
and established an altitude record
Of 800 feet. Then he took up Maj.
Squier for minutes and 6N Sec
onds.
Evening star., 1938-12-18

a tri-weekly, on October 81 Of that
year. In 1910 he sold out to Joseph
Gales, and for many years subse-
quent to 1912 it was published by
Gales & Seaton, and became a
daily in 1914. It ceased to exist
after January 10. 1870.
Mr.. Smith also bought a lot on
the west side of Fifteenth street
between Pennsylvania avenue and
H street. which he bought in 1921,
and erected upon it a dwelling
house, valued at $2,100.
Like so many people of that
period, and even now, Mr.. Smith
also had a country seat which he
purchased in 1868, and retained
it for third of century. Turkey
Thicket was the name of the patent
of which Mr.. Smiths farm was a
part, though this early editor named
his estate Sidney
Mrs. Smith believed in keeping
records, and in recent years much
of her writings were edited by the
late Gaillard Hunt and published in
book form under the title THE First
Forty Years of Washington Society,""
Mrs. Smiths letters, which, fortu-
nately, were quite descriptive, fire.
quently covered happenings of sew
eral days, and so, at the end of the
same letter unquoted, she says: "At
S this afternoon we got a hack and
visited our retreat. I shall not pre-
tend now to describe it. All I will
say is that am delighted with it.
A good house on the top of a hill,
with high hills all around it, embow-
cred in woods, thro' an opening of
which the Potomac, its shores and
Masons Island are distinctly seen.
1 have never been more charmingly
Evening star., 1938-12-18
West Point Man at
Time of Flight
Is Air Chief
By Bob Gordon.

OHhand, you might think there Is
little connection between the day
dreams of lanky blond plebe at
West Point and the day dreams of
couple of bicycle repairmen from
Dayton. Yet day dreams have a
strange way of crossing paths.
1t was IS years ago that this
harassed plebe stuck it out by
dreaming he would some day be-
come d general. It was IS years
ago yesterday that the two obscure
mechanics became immortal by
skimming a few feet over the desc
late sands of Kitty Hawk, N. c., in
the first powered airplane.
The mechanics you will recognize
at once as the Wright brothers. The
lanky plebe is now Maj. Gen. H.
H. Arnold, chief of the Army Air
Corps. This is the story Of how
their paths crossed.
From 1903 to 1907 is four long
years. The plebe had graduated
from West Point, had been trans
ferred to the Philippines for duty
with the infantry, and still the
Wrights were trying to convince the
world that they had actually flown.
The Army was dubious. Fifty
thousand dollars had been sunk in
the Potomac when Langley's "Aer-
drome" showed persistent tendency
to dive rather than fly. The Board
of Ordnance and Fortifications,
which had charge of spending the
money, was severely criticized on
Capitol Hill. Threats were made
to refuse appropriations if they con-
tinued to waste money. It took the
flights of the Wrights, Bleriot, Far
man and Delagrange in 1907; it took
all the salesmanship of Wilbur
Wright in an interview with Gen.
James Allen to convince the Army
that there was any military value to
the airplane.
But in July of that year 1t.
Thomas E. Selfridge was detailed
to the home of Alexander Graham
Bell to study his aeronautic expert
ments. He reported that there
might be something to this business.
So on December %, 1907, the specif1-
cations for an airplane as drawn
up by Maj. Qater GEM George
o. Squier were advertised and bids
asked.
Drawn up by no1-fyer, these
specifications were stiff, calling for
a much better airplane than had as
yet made its appearance. They
were, if brief:
That the plane should have q
speed of So miles an hour.
That it should carry two persons.
That it should remain in the air
an hour.
That it should carry sufficient
fuel for flight of 125 miles.
That it should be readily as
sembled and broken down, be cap
able of being transported on Army
wagons and placed in operation in
an hour.
That it should be able to ascend
in any country encountered in field
service.
Today those specifications sound
ridiculously simple, but at that time
there was not plane in the world
capable of meeting single point.
Nonetheless, 20 bids were received,
ranging from $500 to SIS, 5,000 Three
bids were accepted-the Wright
brothers for $25,0O0, A. M. Her
rings for the same amount and
j. F. SCOTS for $1,000. The
Wrights were the only ones to de-
liver, and their contract required
that their price include the flight
instruction Of two officers.
While the plane was being built,
Evening star., 1938-12-18
w. w. Corcoran, Banker,
Gen. Mcclellan, Residents
Famous Shoreham Patrons
Of Early Days Were
Active in Capital

library when the latter shall have
been established by congressional
legislation"
The real movement toward the
taX-sustained Public Library of
today had its beginning with the
local press and the Board of Trade
through its Committee on Public
Library even prior to 1894, as evil
denced by their report of March
q of that year. This report con-
sists of 10 printed pages and is too
long to repeat here, but it goes very
carefully into the needs of the
people and strongly advocates free
public library. The report was
signed by Theodore w. Noyes, as
chairman, and James T. Du Bois,
Daniel Murray, John G.. Ames,
Frederick B. Mcclure, George E.
Emmons and Simon Wolf.
The corner where stands the
Shoreham Building was early owned
by Samuel Harrison Smith. He
came to Washington in 1900, and
founded the National Intelligencer
and the Washington Advertiser, as
Evening star., 1938-12-18

On July n, 1909, Orville Wright
and 1t. Lahm, in the rebuilt plane,
complied with the endurance test,
remaining in the air hour, IL min
utes and 40 seconds.
For the speed test a measured s.
mile course was laid out between
Fort Myer and Shutter Hill, near
Alexandria. Wilbur Wright was
doubtful.
TT Is a very rough country" he
said to a Star reporter. Some Of
the hills are between $50 and 800
feet high, and the distance to be
covered is 5 miles and return. Or
vile must carry passenger and
make 40 miles an hour. The Diff
Guilty lies in flying over uneven
country, the geographical condition
of which is unfavorable and un-
known to him.
TN an emergency he might land
on the top Of a thick clump of
trees, but It is the scattered OBJ
stacles that cause concern"
The Wrights waited for a perfect
day to make this last test, but the
deadline of July 30 arrived with a
wind blowing 5 miles an hour. In
spite Of this hazard Orville took off
with 1t. Benjamin D. Foulois as
passenger. This was Foulois' first
airplane ride, though he had been
plotting dirigibles for two years.
But in spite Of Wilbur's forebod-
ings the test was successful. The
trip from Fort Myer to Alexandria
was made at 37.735 miles an hour,
but with southern wind at their
tails they came back at the tremen-
dous speed Of 47.431 miles per hour.
for an average of 42y583. The de-
lighted Wrights turned the plane
over to the Government and COL
lected the $25, 900 and a bonus Of
S.. 900 for extra speed.
Then came the job Of teaching the
two Army officers to fly. 1t.
Humphries was selected to take
Selfridge's place, and with 1t. Lahm
they moved out to College Park,
where a thousand acres of level
ground were leased.
The instruction consisted of a
student going up with one of the
Wrights, watching him work the
controls, and then trying short hops
himself. After three hours of dual
instruction, that lasted over several
weeks, Humphries soloed for three
minutes. Immediately afterward
1t. Lahm stayed up 13 minutes. It.
Foulois had, in the meantime been
hanging around College Park, and
] although not obligated to do 30. the
Evening star., 1938-12-18

Sidney, and just before he left the
White House, Mrs. Smith writes:
"Yes, Susan, do indeed feel sorry
when I think that we are soon to
lose our dear, good President. You
know mine is not a common regard
that not only venerate and admire
his character, but am personally
attached to him-his long visit last
Evening star., 1938-12-18

surprised than in seeing this re-
treat"
The Smiths were social leaders in
the early days of Washington and
numbered among their friends and
associates the foremost people of
the Republic. Thomas Jefferson,
author of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, was frequent visitor to
Evening star., 1938-11-11
WOOdShire
Suits. '3:5

The tailoring and material of these fine
suits is far superior to that found in
clothes that regularly sell for this low
price. Worsteds, .cheviots, tweeds, GOV.
erts, twists and Shetlands are in the group
-. all of fine, long-wearing wool. Semi.
drape and regular models are included
in both the single and double breasted
styles. Pin and chalk stripes, the new
charcoal brown and plenty of plain
blues, grays and browns are available.
Try on one of these Woodshires-you
will appreciate the "difference.'
Evening star., 1938-11-11
Production Line Plan
OF Homes Reality,
Realtors Told
Prefobricotor Reveals
Rapid Strides in
Mass Building
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON,
Star Real Estate Editor.

MILWAUKEE, Wis, Nov. IL
Mass production of homes, with
. lumber and other raw materials
. entering one end of production line
and complete houses coming out the
: other in nine standard sizes, is now
reality, D. c. Slipher, Indiana pre-
fabricator, told the 31st annual con-
! vention of the National Association
of Real Estate Boards meeting here
today.
Rolled into freight cars in panels,
including insulation and even in
terror finish, the houses may be
shipped within an hour of receipt
of order, Mr.. Slipher said. 1t is pos
sible to have the roof on the "as-
sembled house" by evening of the
day it is delivered to the site. The
doors and windows are set the fol-
lowing day, and "a hours later the
home is ready for occupancy. Pre-
fabrication, the speaker said, is
making rapid strides, with obsolete
building codes its chief deterrent in
) many cities.
Specialized Councils Meet.
With no general meeting sched-
uled until tomorroW's final session,
the convention settled down today
to meetings of the various specialized
councils and institutes of the asso-
citation. Charles j. Rush, executive
secretary of the Washington Real
Estate Board, presided today at a
second session of the Realtors Sec
retaries Council, of which he is
chairman. John L. Weaver, veteran
Washington realtor, and president
of the national group in 1919, was
among those honored at founders
banquet.
One of the most interesting trends
In real estate development is the
construction of suburban-type, linn
tied dividend housing projects,
financed by private capital with F.
H. A. insured mortgages, John McC.
Mowbray of Baltimore declared.
These projects not only open for
development residential tracts of
considerable size as income -produc-
ing properties, but encourage con-
struction of single family homes in
adjacent areas There are four of
these developments near Washing
ton.
Tax Exemption Debated.
"Shall homesteads be tax eX-
empt?" was the subject of debate
yesterday, with Carl Taylor of Mil
waukee taking the affirmative and
Graham Adds of Chicago upholding
the negative. Declaring that encour-
agement and security of home own
ership is a social necessity, Mr.. Tay-
lor argued that real estate should
be taxed on the income it produces
and its ability to pay. He urged
exemption for modest homes and a
tax limitation of IS mills on all other
real property.
Julius P. He'll, Republican Cover
nor-elect of Wisconsin, advocated a
fair valuation of real estate for tax
purposes instead of a routine and
arbitrary assessment, in an address
yesterday.
The convention will close tomor-
row with election of officers and
presentation of resolutions which
will form the basis for association
policy in the coming year.
Evening star., 1938-11-11
Radio Script Contest
Is Opened by A. A. A.

The American Automobile Asso-
citation today announced the open
ing of a national radio script con-
test for high school students to de-
velop student broadcasts in the in
terest of traffic safety education.
The contest will be open until
next May, when the winning script
will be broadcast on a Nationwide
radio hook-up, together with the
announcement of awards.
Preliminary to the national
awards, outstanding scripts will be
selected by local committees to be
broadcast locally. Contest rules pro-
vide that entries must be filed by
high schools through A. A. A. motor
clubs. The best script submitted
from each high school will be eligi-
BILE for consideration in both the
local and national contests.
Evening star., 1938-11-11

A shipment of rare, fantastic and
decorative goldfish was received at
the Commerce Department aquari-
um yesterday, including a pair Of
"lion heads" from China.
In the opinion of Fred Orsinger,
aquarium director, the new addi-
tions are timely in view Of the
trend among miniature fish en-
thusiasts from tropical species back
to the old standby-the hardy gold
fish.
AS a matter of fact, Mr.. Orsinger
said, such rare goldfish as lion
heads now come as high as $40 or
$50 each. They were bred in China,
where fanciers sometimes spend
generations in the development of
a single type.
The shipment included veil tails
and mottled calicos colored in blue,
gold, red, black, white and yellow.
Interior decorators more and more
are including aquariums filled with
spectacular fish in their home de-
signs, Mr.. Osinger said.
The goldfish are becoming popu-
lar again because they survive sud-
Evening star., 1938-11-11
Cathedral S Great Organ
Dedicated al Service

With simple ceremony, the great
organ of Washington Cathedral was
dedicated last night by the Right
Rev. James E. Freeman, Bishop of
Washington. The instrument, re-
garded as one of the finest installa7
tions of its kind in the United
States, raised its rich voice at the
touch of Robert G.. Barrow, Cathe-
dral organist and choirmaster, after
the brief service.
The organ, unique in having an
ensemble of muted strings to enable
Evening star., 1938-11-11

production Of unusual tonal effects,
was played by Mr.. Barrow for a
capacity audience which included a
number of local choirmasters and
musicians. To demonstrate the full
musical possibilities of the 125-stop,
10000 pipe instrument. the organist
presented "The Legend" a compost
ton written especially for perform
ance on the new organ.
The ceremonies last night were
opened with a procession of clergy
and choir men and boys into the
Cathedral, unaccompanied by music.
After prayer for the donor of the
instrument, whose name has been
kept secret by request, Bishop
Freeman pronounced the dedication.
Evening star., 1938-11-11
~ II
M<<@>
CHINESE
discovered Ephedrine
Found very effective in
treating head-coIds
Now Americans develop new,
better E phedrine prescription
discovered Ephedrine

With the discovery of the Chinese
drug Ephedrine, science took a great
step forward in its fight against head
colds! When you have a head cold,
the membranes of your nose become
swollen, thus interfering with normal
breathing. Ephedrine has the remark
able power to shrink almost instantly
these swollen, irritated membranes
thus tending to clear the nasal passa-
ges, make normal breathing easier.
Now comes a new and important
development in the use of this mar
velous drug! The makers of REM for
Coughs have perfected a remarkable
Ephedrine prescription for use in re-
heving head-colds. 1t is called REL.
REL combines a special form of
Ephedrine with another valuable in
gredient, In step with advanced med
ical opinion, REL is water soluble"
-. not an oil l. so it mixes instantly
with the watery secretions of the nose.
That's why REL is absorbed so quick
ly.. works SO fast. 1t actually starts
relief in half-a-minute! REL reduces
the swelllng... releases the mucus.
clears the head .. makes breathing
easier. Don't just ask for Ephedrine!
Ask for REL for Head-Colds that
different and better Ephedrine
prescription.
soc and 50c-at all druggists.
Evening star., 1938-11-11
Mrs. BiddIe Will Head
Seal Sale Committee

Mrs. Lloyd w. Biddle, former
president of the District Federation
of Womens Clubs, today accepted
the craftsmanship of the Organiza-
tions Committee of the District Tu-
berculosis Association.
The committee will aid in the an
nual sale of Christmas seals by
sending out copies of the associa-
lions latest annual report to various
women's organizations with an ap-
peal for a special gift or an advance
order for the seals. it was an
nounced. Proceeds of the sale will
be used in the fight against tubercu-
lOsis.
Evening star., 1938-11-11
School Trolls Nomods

The Irak government has started
a travelling school for Bedouin boys
belonging to the Arab tribes that
roam the desert with their cattle
The authorities at Baghdad state
the teacher travels with the pupils
The boys meet in a large black tent
to learn reading, writing, arithme-
tic, Arabic and English.
Evening star., 1938-11-11
Radio OfficioI Speuks

Edward r. Murrow, European di-
rector for the Columbia Broadcast
ing System, in an off -the-record
speech at a National Press Club
luncheon yesterday, described events
surrounding the recent European
crisis and told of difficulties faced
in sending a. description of them
to America.
Frank r. McNinch, chairman of
the Federal Communications Com
mission, and George Henry Payne,
board member, attended the lunch
con.
Evening star., 1938-11-11

Mr.. Barrow began his recital i'm
mediately thereafter.
Among those attending was Ernest
M. Skinner, head Of the Methuen
(Mass) firm that installed the
organ.
Evening star., 1938-11-11
New Pasture Plants

Many new pasture plants Tor
grazing lands are being imported
into New Zealand in an endeavor
to reclaim for sheep raising vast
areas of wilderness in the Central
Otago district of New Zealand.
Evening star., 1938-11-11
Rare Goldfish Received
For Commerce Aquuriunn

, den changes in water temperature
and are more decorative than the
less hardy and smaller types of
tropical miniatures.
Evening star., 1938-11-11

Italy's great industrial activity is
slowing down.
Evening star., 1938-10-06
1.3o & 1.6o Mattress Covers
100 to 200 Brossieres

Samples, discontinued - ~
styles. Wide, 36 TO 40; M
short, 81 to 36. ~ Il
Evening star., 1938-10-06

1855 Refer Suits, IA.
1885 Forstmonn Suits, Is,
ls.
3s2e.o5 jacket Suits, q to 20.
1855 Navy Goats, 43.
1885 Ton Coots, 81 e Al.
6I2e.95 Furred Swooeers, lo
to 46.
Suits & Furred Coots
, l-l3.95 Black Royon Beneo-
line Coot, size lo-----7.s5
s-e.e5 Royon Shorkskin Coots,
Suits, II and l4-----2.oo
3-l3.e5 Ton Suits, IA, lo,
lS 500
l-llO.OO Fox Trimmed Navy
Coot, SO ------4s.e5
1-llo0O Fox Trimmed Blue
Coot, IA -------5s.s5
1885 Red Fox Trimmed
Tuxedo Coots, sizes IA,
10 ----- -ZS.S9
hon --- Second Floor
Evening star., 1938-10-06
Anniversary Condy Specials

Chocolate Covered Cherries, b---34e
Bitter Sweet and Milk Chocolates tchoco-
Iote-pecon bork) b.-----------49e
Coshew Nuts tfresh roosted) Ib.3se
Mixed Nuts fresh roosted), b.--49e
CdndteS-Street Floor
Evening star., 1938-10-06
100 & 1.19 NeedIepoint

Floral centers with book ~ 80
ground to work: l5xl8 or
l6xl s sizes. Attractive. y y
AIT Needlework-Thrd Floor
The Washington times., 1938-09-08
Election Officers
Going TO School

ROCKVILLE, Md, Sept. 8.
District election officers that will
participate in the Montgomery
county primary election of Sep
tember IL are going to school this
week to learn the county'S new
system Of tabulating ballots and
votes, according to Mrs. Clara
Holmes, chairman Of the board
Of election supervisors.
Election officers met last night
in the courthouse at Rockville.
Tonight, election officers in the
Silver Spring district will meet
at the Silver Spring DiSpensary
Building, and tomorrow night
Bethesda officers will attend the
meeting at the county building in
Bethesda.
The Washington times., 1938-09-08

Mrs. Bamberger, an English
Showgirl, was brought to this
country in 1925 when she was only
II years old, by the late Florenz
ziegfeld to appear in the Fol
lies" and Howard Chandler
Christy, famous artist, proclaimed
her "the most beautiful Titan"
in the world.
She met Colonel Lindberg after
his flight to Paris, and for a
time rumor was rife that they
were engaged. She denied this,
although admitting they were
close friends.
In 1888 she eloped with Bam-
berger to Greenwich, Conn, and
they were married with a hotel
porter and maid as witnesses.
She left for Reno several weeks
ago. Bamberger did not contest
her suit.