1916
Depots of German Troops Violently Attacked.
PARIS, France. — The French war office issued the following statement of an air attack on German depots by French aviators:
"During the night ten of our aeroplanes dropped sixty bombs of heavy caliber on important military factories south of Bruges. The bombardment was carried out from a height between 400 and 800 meters and was very effective.
"On the same night 104 bombs were dropped on ammunition depots and other military establishments north of Somme-Py. Violent explosions were heard.
"Finally one of our air squadrons attacked the barracks and aerodrome at Saarburg (in Lorraine). Twenty well aimed bombs of heavy caliber inflicted serious damage."
—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 2.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
French Flyers Drop Bombs
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Sees Commercial Use of Flying Craft Soon
1916
Aviator Says Aeroplanes Will Be Used for Express and Mail Service Within Few Years.
"I expect to see aeroplanes in daily commercial use within two or three years. They will be used for high-class express and mail service and there will be no trouble of these machines crossing the ocean."
This was the statement made by Art Smith, 22 years old, champion "loop-the-loop" aviator, who is in a Chicago hospital for treatment of a leg which he injured in an accident in Japan.
Smith said he would not fly again himself, but that he planned to become interested in a $5,000,000 plant for the manufacture of aeroplanes in Japan.
"I think some of the aeroplanes in military use in Europe now can fly across the Atlantic," said Smith. One of the latest Curtiss machines in the British army has three motors and measures ninety feet from tip to tip of its wings. It is equipped with boats and can travel on water."
Smith has had a romantic and brilliant career as an aviator. He built his own aeroplane in Fort Wayne, Ind., when 16 years old. It was in this machine that he flew with his sweetheart to Hillsdale and was married. It was the first aeroplane elopement.
—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 9.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Vancouver to Have Largest Telescope
Feb. 1920
Its 10-foot Lens Said to Be the World's Greatest
VANCOUVER, B.C. — The largest telescope in the world is being erected on the Vancouver exhibition grounds, and will be one of the big attractions of this year's fair.
The lens of this powerful spyglass is ten feet in diameter, this being six inches larger than the world-famous telescope at Leipsig. It has been in the possession of T. S. Sherman, Vancouver's meteorologist and weather man, for nearly six years, but construction of the telescope was deferred owing to war conditions.
Tests His 150-Pound Airplane
Midget Flier Has 22-foot Spread and 9 H. P. Engine
REDWOOD CITY, Cal. — New aviation history was written here when a 22-foot airplane, driven by a nine horse power motorcycle engine and weighing only 150 pounds, flew for four or five minutes at an altitude of not more than 50 feet.
The plane was constructed by C. F. Flinger of Palo Alto, who said he has been working for two years on it.
L. E. Melandy piloted the plane, which Flinger calls the "Flivver of the Air."
Melandy drove the mosquito plane for about four miles and upon his return to the flying field here declared that everything worked perfectly.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
New War Appliance
1917
A newcomer into the family of war appliances is the motorcycle-carrying airplane. A special platform built between the planes juts outside the body of the airplane, carries the motorcycle. The addition of this machine greatly enhances the effectiveness of the airplane and affords a quick means of land travel in case of a shortage of gasoline or disability of the airplane engine. If the aviators who were lost in the Mexican desert during General Pershing's expedition had been equipped with motorcycles their return to headquarters would have been a matter of only a few hours instead of a three days' wait for the searching party.
Learned Too Late
"Much evil comes from bad company," as the man said who found himself on the gallows by the side of the hangman.
The Average Man
It would discourage the average man if he was able to realize how very important he isn't!
Friday, July 13, 2007
Teacher Refuses Tribute to Santa Claus
1910
By Samuel Parker of Chicago
During the recent holiday season a teacher in one of the Chicago public schools was subjected to not a little criticism for refusing to pay tribute to the Santa Claus myth, declaring it to be wrong morally to teach a child a falsehood or to tell the child anything as a truth which it would discover to be false later on.
Instead of being a target for thoughtless ridicule that teacher should command the respect of every teacher and parent who conscientiously regards the moral training of children. The holiest thing this side of heaven is the faith of a little child and he who carelessly or purposely abuses it perpetrates a wrong from which the abused child seldom fully recovers. If parents and friends would sidetrack the heathen myth and bestow their endearing gifts in their own names the dear children would be just as happy and escape the shock of falsehood and deception at the hands of those who ought to love them too well to expose them to such danger.
Romance of the Future
"Do you see that cloud? It was behind one just like that that I first kissed you." — Town and Country.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Flying Bicycle Given Test; It Works Great
1915
Latest Air Traveler Is Triumph of Chicagoan's Genius — Goes by Foot Power or Motor
Now comes the bicycle of the air — a noiseless and engineless flying machine operated by foot and hand power.
A. C. McClaughry of Chicago, son of former Warden I. W. McClaughry of the Federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kan., discovered the craft and its inventor in a basement on the Northwest Side of the city. The identity of the inventor is kept secret. McClaughry is now interested with the inventor in the welfare of the new type of flying craft. He has brought the matter to the official attention of army officers in the Federal building, and before representatives of foreign governments.
Col. H. O. S. Heistand, adjutant general of the central department, turned McClaughry over to M. A. Loosley, master signal electrician of the army, who will inspect the new craft. McClaughry said the first one tried out by the inventor was a success, but that it was torn down and a new one is now being built, which will soon be ready for official tests.
"There is no doubt but that we have a flying machine that can be operated without any power other than that produced by foot and hand and that the craft can be sold dirt cheap," said McClaughry.
The inventor figures that one of the machines can be put up for less than $500, and that in quantities they can even be turned out for $200 each. The craft, for which patents are now pending is operated much like the old fashioned bicycle. A farmer boy can take one of them and he and his lady friend can saunter away thru the air as easily as they can travel on land in an automobile.
"If one wishes he can buy a $50 motor and use it to alternate with foot and hand. In his first test the inventor remained in the air more than half an hour and traveled at a speed of forty miles an hour."
—Saturday Blade, Chicago, Dec. 18, 1915, p. 9.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Wright Defeats Gale, Thousands Applaud
1909
Flies 21 Miles Up Hudson River and Returns
NEW YORK, Oct. 7. — Over a tumbling sea of air waves that swept from the walls of skyscrapers Wilbur Wright made a sensational flight in his aeroplane from Governor's Island north above the Hudson River, around the British cruiser Drake, and anchored 1,000 feet north of Grant's tomb, and back to the starting point again without mishap.
Wright was in the air 33 minutes and 33 seconds and flew approximately twenty-one miles, including the turn over the warships, an average speed of thirty-seven miles an hour. At no time was he more than 500 feet above the waters of the river. The average height at which the machine traveled was 200 feet. A part of the way it went as low as twenty feet.
To use the bird man's own words: "It was a rough but exhilarating flight, and everything worked beautifully."
Hundreds of thousands of eager men and women massed in the towers and on the roofs of all the tall buildings, crowded in the streets close to the river and spread over the entire riverside section, gazed in wonder at the flying man as he deftly manipulated his slender machine in the changing currents of the upper air. Cheering that he never heard greeted him throughout his majestic flight.
Flying at a forth-mile clip at an elevation of 100 feet, Wright quickly passed the Battery, which was black with humanity and encountered for the first time rough air waves flung from the roofs of the down town skyscrapers. The tall Singer tower, standing between the aviator and the rushing wind, was responsible for an angry swirl of currents, and Wright was quick to see that it was ticklish going. The aeroplane bobbed and fretted at this point, but the master hand at the levers overcame the attack of the almost baffling air waves, the airship literally riding over them, now dipping, now rising sharply, like a steamer in a tumble of waters.
The machine passed the foot of Fulton street at 10 o'clock, 200 feet in the air. Finally he turned off toward the Jersey shore and settled down to an altitude of about 150 feet. The machine appeared to behave better after this maneuver and traveled at a fast clip.
In a wide-sweeping curve to the right, the plane dipping slightly and gracefully, the biplane circled the British cruiser and headed down stream again.
After the aviator had made his turn, he glided swiftly toward the Jersey shore and when the machine was about 1,000 yards out he turned sharply to the left again and began his triumphal journey back to Governor's Island.
From a height of 150 feet off the Battery the great bird began the descent where a little group of patient men, that included Major General Wood and James M. Beck, chairman of the aeronautic committee of the Hudson-Fulton celebration, had been waiting since the start. Finally it glided to earth only a few feet from the starting point with scarcely a jar.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Editorial Remarks — "The Balmy Days of January"
1911
Next June we all may long for the balmy days of January.
Possibly the pet in the cat show would enjoy more keenly life in the alley.
Some people can find a typographical error who never find an idea of their own.
We have yet to discover an egg that has been improved by the cold storage treatment.
"Gaseous imbecility" has taken its place in the hall of fame beside "Innocuous desuetude."
Higher education, too, has its dangers. An Illinois girl started for college, but got married on the way.
Chicago is to have grand opera in English next season. If Chief Steward has his way it will also have it in clothing.
In the Boston high schools 3,000 girls are taking the commercial course. The boys will have to go west or south.
A Denver surgeon was stricken with appendicitis while operating on a patient for that disease. Maybe it is catching, after all.
That Jersey architect who failed to provide a stairway for a new schoolhouse must have realized that this is the age of aviation.
Three and a half billions was the value of the foreign trade of the United States last year. Pretty big country this, isn't it?
Russia affords a big market for American typewriters. To judge from the cartoons we see, Russia is not a big market for American safety razors.
Monday, June 25, 2007
153 Pushed Overboard From Torpedo Boat
1909
Jam at Opening of St. Louis Carnival
ST. LOUIS, Mo., Oct. 8. — Fifteen thousand enthusiastic and curious persons tried to board four tiny torpedo boats at the same time. The boats wouldn't hold them, and part of the overflow, numbering 153, were pushed into the Mississippi, to be drawn ashore by police, sailors and others. Many were trampled under foot when two squads of police reserves charged the crowds to drive them back from the boats.
The torpedo flotilla, whose officers and crews are the first of the official guests at St. Louis' one hundredth birthday party, anchored at the levee, and the public was allowed to inspect the vessels. A small squad of police was stationed at the wharf-boat to which the boats were anchored to keep the visitors all in line.
In an hour the squad had been increased to sixty and the policemen were being hustled about roughly. There was not a square foot on the torpedo boats above or below that was not crowded and twice as many persons on the wharf-boat were trying to shove their way aboard.
Scores of women fainted. These were carried into the wharf-boat at the landing. The police, as a last resort, began to thump heads with their clubs, and the executive officer of the fleet ordered the boats closed to the public. The greater part of the crowd, which was good natured though rough, then dispersed. No sooner had they gone than another multitude arrived and the pushing, stampeding and cracking of heads were repeated.
Centennial week began in earnest here at 6 o'clock in the morning by the blowing of whistles and ringing of church bells. Sermons in the churches were devoted to centennial themes. In the afternoon, 15,000 children assembled in the Coliseum and sang patriotic and religious songs.
The aero grounds drew many thousands who viewed the airships and balloons which were made ready for the races. Ormon, with a Farman aeroplane, has arrived. Ten balloons will ascend and prizes have been offered for time and distance and the entrants hope to win the Lahm cup by exceeding 475 miles.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Henri Farman Builds New Aeroplane
Frenchman to Contest for $10,000 Prize
Paris. — Henri Farman, the Frenchman, who recently achieved so successful a flight in his aeroplane, has formally entered to contest with Santos-Dumont for the Deutsch-Archdeacon Grand Aviation Prize. In order to win the prize, which is valued at about $10,000, the amateur must arise free from the ground and in clear flight from the line of departure determined by two posts about 166 feet apart, fly around a post erected at a distance of about 1,650 feet, returning to the point of departure.
On the first attempt made by M. Farman to gain the prize In the presence of the official commission of the Aero club of France he made several ineffectual trials to arise, but finally appeared to be in clear flight. Unfortunately some of the ropes connected with his aeroplane grazed the soil, and the commission found it impossible to make the award.
Another attempt was made after Santos-Dumont had a trial, when M. Farman succeeded in making numerous flights of from about 1,000 feet to about half a mile. However, on each occasion he failed to achieve the prize because he did not succeed in coming back to the point of departure. The consistency of his results, however, has been regarded as remarkable, putting him at once in the front rank of the few who have obtained even creditable flights with aeroplanes.
In order to dispute the prize with M. Farman, M. Santos-Dumont has constructed a new aeroplane, numbered 19, for in this way he distinguishes his airships and at the same time confesses his enormous interest in the sport, for probably no person before the time of Santos-Dumont has built so many aerial machines.
With this machine he succeeded in covering about 650 feet, or less than half the required distance, to say nothing of the demand that the contestant shall return to the point of departure. As the case now stands it is generally believed that Henri Farman has the better chance of winning the grand prize, which really means more than the acquisition of $10,000, for it will be an achievement which may have far reaching effects on the problem of aerial flight.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Orville Wright Is Aeroplane King
Printed Aug. 1909
Dayton Aviator Sets New Record for Endurance
Washington. — Flying 50 miles, which is more than double the distance across the English channel, Orville Wright, the American "king of the air," Tuesday at Fort Myer, broke the aeroplane endurance record, with Lieut. Frank P. Lahm, as a passenger. The machine was in the air one hour, 12 minutes and 40 seconds.
The former record was made last year by his brother Wilbur, joint inventor with him of the machine in which both achievements were performed, at Le Mans, France, with Prof. Painleve of the French institute as passenger. That flight was one hour, nine minutes and 31 seconds.
The cheering which heralded the setting of a new mark in the conquest of the air was led by President Taft in person, who was an intensely interested spectator throughout the flight, and who insisted at its conclusion upon personally congratulating the brothers upon their success. This success was all-important to the Wrights in that it completed the first of two crucial tests of their machine imposed upon them by the United States government — the so-called "endurance test," which required them to remain one hour continuously in the air with one passenger.
Attempt to Fly Across English Channel Fails
Dover, England. — Hubert Latham's second attempt to fly across the English channel ended disastrously Tuesday. Almost in the moment of victory his monoplane fluttered down into the sea two miles beyond the Admiralty pier, like a bird with a broken wing. Thousands of persons crowding the water front saw the fall and feared Latham was dead.
A flock of large and small craft raced to the scene of the disaster, and a pinnace from the British battleship Russell picked up the unlucky flyer and put him aboard the French torpedo boat destroyer Escopette. After a surgeon had attended to his injuries the destroyer brought Latham ashore and he was taken to the Lord Warden hotel. His face was bandaged and bleeding and his nose was broken. The machine, badly wrecked, was hoisted from the boat to the dock.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Author of "Flying Machine" Poem Sees First Airplane
Author of "Darius Green and His Flying Machine"
1910
John Townsend Trowbridge Wrote the Poem 40 Years Ago, and the Whole Country Laughed
Boston. — Among the thousands of persons who witnessed the recent aviation meet at Boston there was no more interesting spectator than John Townsend Trowbridge, author of the poem, "Darius Green and his Flying Machine," which made the whole country laugh 40 years ago.
Despite his advanced age, 83, Mr. Trowbridge journeyed from his home in Arlington, Mass., to this city in order to take his first look at a machine which had been his dream from boyhood — a machine which would fly. He was introduced to several of the aviators, among them Glen Curtiss, Grahame White, Wilbur White and others, and the old gentleman was immensely pleased to meet them.
When Mr. Trowbridge wrote about Darius Green, 40 years ago, no one of that time expected to see a flying machine that would fly. There were lots of machines that wouldn't, but the idea of usurping the realm of the birds carried something uncanny with it. The baleful results of experiments of those times were always looked upon, more or less, as deserved.
Speaking of the days of Darius Green, the poet says: "I never dreamed when I wrote that poem that such a thing as a flying machine was possible in my time. I never had the thought of actually seeing one. While I have never attempted to build one, I have followed the aeroplane development from the first, and it has always seemed to me that the greatest factor and the hardest to overcome would be the motive force.
"I have never known that there were such powerful motors, and motors so light, as they are now using. They were a revelation to me. I don't care to make any prophecies as to the future, but it seems to me that the large machine for carrying passengers is possible, and only a matter of time."
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Want To Fly High
1910
Undoubtedly Most Fascinating Form of Air Navigation
London. — The most fascinating form of aviation is undoubtedly the high flight. One watches the machine rise from the ground and climb steadily an invisible stairway, winding round and round in wide spirals. From the size of a monster the vessel diminishes until it looks like an eagle, then a wild duck, then a pigeon, a blackbird, a lark, a bee, a fly, a midge — and so it finally disappears out sight; for men have now flown to over a mile, and it needs a strong glass and a clear atmosphere for a spectator to detect a machine at such stupendous heights.
One waits in amazement asking how the daring aviator will return safely to earth from the clouds. Suddenly the machine darts into sight, and it is seen plunging downward at an alarmingly steep angle. It is the vol plane, or dive, the most sensational of all aerial feats. Having climbed to his maximum, the aviator shuts off his engine and deliberately steers downward by the aid of the elevator.
He plunges through the aerial sea at terrific speed, but not at hundreds of miles an hour as some imaginative writers have put it. As the air resistance underneath the machine increases with the speed and the amount of surface presented to it by the planes, the vessel is automatically led back to its normal gliding angle, and the downward path becomes less steep. In order not to get too far away from his starting point the aviator thereupon makes another spiral at a gentle angle and then starts upon another plunge. Thus by a succession of these maneuvers he comes to a position from which he can make a final glide and reach the ground smoothly and without shock.
The world's record in high flying was broken by Brookins over Atlantic City, when he rose to the height of 6,200 feet. It took him 56 minutes to reach this point, or in other words he had to reach it by traveling over a distance of about 30 miles in a succession of long spirals, for his flight speed can be assumed to have been about 35 miles an hour all through. His descent was made in eight minutes and was composed of several high-speed dives and short spirals. Brookins used a Wright biplane.
The prettiest high flying is done by the monoplane, and at Rheims Latham, when he soared to 5,540 feet, afforded a splendid spectacle. Morane reached a height of 4,107 feet at Bournemouth and also gave a superb display. Captain Dickson is one of the most accomplished men at the vol plane, and he shows masterly skill and judgment. Mr. Drexel is also a very daring air climber, and in his descent from a height of 2,400 feet at Bournemouth he made a steep glide.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Civilization Flying Merrily Along
1911
Editorial Winks
Siam is to have an aviation week, and so the march of up-to-date civilization goes — or rather flies — merrily on.
The United States Army wants aeroplanes. They will probably be manned by the flying divisions.
Winter may be trying to keep it up until March. It began early and it has been told throughout.
The new census of Berlin and its suburbs shows a population of 3,400,000. It is camping on New York's trail.
Over-study killed a promising youth in Baltimore, but there is no danger of this malady ever becoming an epidemic.
A German has invented a noiseless telephone booth. A noiseless telephone party line would be a greater blessing.
It is necessarily true that the worst is yet to come.
No man becomes a jailbird just for a lark.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Woman May Fly Ocean
1914
Miss Ruth Bancroft Law and her brother, F. Rodman Law, are to try a flight across the Atlantic in a biplane. They expect to make the trip in July.
"The flight will be from Newfoundland to the Irish coast," said Miss Law today, "and I shall take my brother. I do not think there is the slightest doubt that we can do it. We shall carry no pontoons or boats, but under the wings of our machine we will have three floats of hollow tin, so in case of a fall the apparatus will float.
"Boats would be too heavy to carry, and in case we fell they would be of no use in the ocean. Then, again, by not carrying them we get away from just so much weight. We shall have to carry from 90 to 100 gallons of gasoline, and this will be enough for about 30 hours flying. We expect to make 100 miles an hour on our way across. Lord Northcliffe has offered a prize for the successful flight across the Atlantic, and we are after it."
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Maud Muller and the Aeroplane (poetry)
1914
By Henry Howland
Maud Muller, on a summer's day,
Was in the meadow raking hay.
She always had enjoyed good health,
But had a hankering for wealth.
Her cheeks were red, her eyes were brown,
She longed to live in the far-off town.
She wished she might be richly dressed,
And circulate among the best.
The judge came sailing up the lane
Upon his nice new aeroplane.
Below him he beheld the maid,
And tried to stop, and swooped and swayed.
He ripped a top rail from the fence,
And talked as if he had no sense.
The engine got beyond control,
The judge lost his immortal soul.
Maud stood there with a sickly grin,
Until he hit her with a fin.
"My lord!" she yelled, and ducked away;
The judge lit on a pile of hay.
She hurried where the spring gushed up
And filled her little old tin cup.
At first she thought the judge was dead,
But she splashed the water on his head.
He looked upon his aeroplane
And said some things that gave Maud pain.
At last he rose and, with a frown,
He started for the distant town.
Then bringing himself to a halt,
He said, "This, girl, is all your fault.
"If you had not been raking here,
I'd have stayed in the atmosphere.
"You've cost me dear and spoiled my sport;
I'll fine you for contempt of court!"
He then went onward up the lane,
And Maud returned to work again.
She gazed upon his wrecked machine,
And said, "Alas, what might have been!
"Ah, well, in heaven we'll all have wings,
And not depend on such fool things!"
Friday, May 18, 2007
Flying Machine Balks, Comes Down
1906
Montgomery Aeroplane Comes Near Killing Aeronaut Wilkie
Oakland, Cal., Feb. 23. — An unsuccessful trial was made by Professor Montgomery's aeroplane at Idora park yesterday and it almost resulted in serious injury to David Wilkie, the aeronaut.
At the height of eighteen feet Professor Montgomery signaled to descend, but the aeroplane did not respond. Suddenly, however, it was seen to drop from its support and a shout went up from the spectators. For a single moment the aeroplane remained on even keel then it swerved sharply and began to fall in short circles. Clinging desperately to the framework of the airship Wilkie could be seen making frantic efforts to regain control of the machine and twice it seemed that he had succeeded. Like a wounded bird the aeroplane swept downward, twice righting itself, only to again plunge toward the earth.
The last time the machine floated on even keel it was within a short distance of the ground and to this fact Wilkie owes his life, for when the machine started again toward the ground it had but a few feet to fall. It struck with force enough to wreck the machine, but the aeronaut escaped with a bad gash on the nose and a number of painful bruises.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Teen Breaks Arm Five Times
1909
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — Forbidden by his parents to play football after he had broken his left arm three times in the game, 15-year-old William Eminger found that he could not even watch the game with safety to his delicate member. He was a spectator on the sidelines at a high school game and the team in a scrimmage fell over his chair. Eminger's arm was broken when one of the players landed on top of him. This makes the fifth time the arm has been broken. The only time football was not responsible Eminger broke it falling out of bed.
Love's Young Dream
LOS ANGELES, Cal. — When Levi Hall, who is of the impressionable age of eighty-nine years, went to call on Miss H. W. Coe, a fair and sprightly maiden of seventy-five summers, he was greatly surprised when John Moore, ninety years old, emerged from an adjoining room and began to belabor him with a stout hickory cane. Hall hurried from the home of his inamorata to the receiving hospital, and then to the police station, where he caused the arrest of his rival on a charge of battery. Hall does not believe that Miss Coe will think any the less of him because he retreated.
Makes High Flight Record
POTSDAM, Germany — Orville Wright, the American aviator, broke his own and all other records for high flying. He reached the unprecedented height of more than 1,600 feet, although an official measurement was not taken. He had a red-letter day in a double sense in his experience as an aviator, taking up Crown Prince Frederick William as a passenger and more than doubling the altitude record which he made recently over the same field.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
UFOs Over Indiana? Residents Saw Something
Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1909
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THINK AIRSHIP WAS SAILING ABOVE THE CITY
Residents of Bloomingdale See Supposed Machine High in Heavens.
Did an airship sail over Fort Wayne Friday a.m.? Half a score or more of Bloomingdale residents are declaring their confident belief that such was the case. They saw it.
One of the earliest to report the presence of the supposed aerial navigating machine was Oswald Brudi, clerk at the post office, who resides on Wells street. Others in the vicinity were also attracted by a glimpse of the object and there is a concurrence of conviction that it was actually an aeroplane of some variety whose owner was enjoying a spin high in the heavens.
The airship, if such it was, was first noticed about 8 o'clock and it seemed to come from over the city, sailing in a northwesterly direction. A little later it turned to a course due west, and was soon lost to view, having been visible not to exceed five minutes. The machine was very high in the air, and apparently too small to be one of the big creations which the big aviators have been using in their sensational performances.
--Fort Wayne Weekly Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, September 8, 1909, page 9.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Keep Your Own Secrets
Never tell your resolution beforehand. -- Seiden
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Just So
It is not every bicycle rider who can lower the record, but it s a poor bicycle that cannot lower the rider.
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Spider Builds Strong Web
Spiders are met with in the forest of Java whose webs are so strong that it requires a knife to cut through them.
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Hatpin in Cow's Heart
In the heart of a cow that died at Tamworth, New South Wales, was found part of a hatpin 5 or 6 inches in length.
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Red Headed Dwarfs
In the Valley of Rebas, in the Pyrenees, is found a race of dwarfs. They all have red hair, broad faces and flat noses.
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Talk Less and Listen More
"In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression, but he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely." -- Proverbs of Solomon, x:19
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In a Few Words
The short and simple annals of the "bird man." Aviation, adulation, atmospheric agitation, pulverization, cremation, canonization.
--The Ellis Review-Headlight, Ellis, Kansas, 1911.