One day a Married Woman who was entitled to a long row of Service
Stripes on her Sleeve, sat in the Motor, and watched the remainder of
the Sketch try out his new trick Monoplane.
He scooted away with the Buzzer working overtime and soon was cloud-
hopping about a Mile overhead.
When he began doing the Eagle Swoops and the Corkscrew Dips, which so
often serve as a Prelude to a good First Page Story with a picture of
the Remains being sorted out from the Debris, most of the Spectators
gasped and felt their Toes curling inside of their Shoes, but Wifey
never batted an Eye. With only one little Strand of Wire or
perchance a Steering Knuckle standing between her and a lot of
Insurance Money, she retained both her Aplomb and the Lorgnette.
"How can you bear to watch it?" asked a Lady Friend, who was heaving
perceptibly.
"Listen," replied the Good Woman. "For many Snows I have been sitting
on the Side Lines watching the Dear Boy take Desperate Chances. To
begin with, he married into Our Family. Once, at Asbury Park, he
acted as Judge at a Baby Show. Later he put a lot of Money into a
Bank, the President of which wore Throat Whiskers and was opposed to
Sunday Base Ball. He has played Golf on Public Links, hunted Deer
during the Open Season in the Adirondacks and essayed the Role of
Claude Melnotte in Amateur Theatricals. Once he attended a Clam Bake
and took everything that was Passed. An another time he made a Speech
when the Alumni celebrated a Foot Ball Victory. Frequently he goes
Shopping with me. Last year he acted as Angel for a Musical Comedy.
The Driver of our Car is a Frenchman. And don't overlook the Fact that
for Six Years he has been a Stock Broker. He may fall at any Moment,
but if he does he will pick out a Haystack on the way down."
MORAL: The Wright Brothers were not the first to be Up in the Air.