Early last summer I was travelling through Ohio and came to the prosperous city of Dayton. While spending a few days visiting in this enterprising city, a friend met me, and proposed to call on the Wright Brothers, who had won wide fame as the men who knew how to fly. I was rather skeptical about a man contesting the atmosphere with the fowls of the air. I had a private opinion that Mother Earth was meant for man, and that the nearer he kept to it the better.

BEGINNING OF MY AEROPLANE TRIP THROUGH IRELAND

I went to see these aeronauts with a prejudice against the flying business. We soon found the airship factory, and we were introduced to Mr. Wilbur Wright. He greeted us very cordially, and even took us around his factory, showing us an aeroplane and explaining its workings. I was astonished at the simplicity of the airship and was impressed with the enthusiasm of the successful young aeronaut.

I began to thaw out. I asked a lot of questions. Before half an hour had passed by I was a convert to the flying business and made up my mind that Mr. Wright was a “bird.” He had discovered not only how to fly, but also, which is more important, how to light. That was the beginning of my interest in aeroplanes. I do not expect that anything wonderful would have come out of my Dayton experience had I not journeyed the next week to New York State to visit an old-time friend, Mr. Mike Connor.