AEROPLANES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXV, Issue 12390, 30 July 1937, Page 2 (Supplement)

AEROPLANES

PROPHECIES OF A HUNDRED YEARS AGO “The other day we turned out an old hook of my grandfather’s,” says a writer in the Birmingham Post, “in which he had copied out some of his favourite poems, and also written his own efforts. Among these is a prediction of air transport. The 11 poem is called ‘The Match of Refinement, 1935!!!’ (The exclamation marks are his.) “ ‘Tell John to put the kettle on, I mean to take a drive, I only want to go to Rome, and shall be back by five. “ ‘Tell Cook to dress the hummingbirds I shot in Mexico; They’ve now been killed at least two days, they’ll be “un peu trop haut.” “‘And, Tom, take you that goldleaf wing, and start for Spain at three, d want some Seville Changes, twixt dinner time and tea. “ ‘The trip I took the other day to breakfast in the moon, Thanks to that awkward Lord Bilben, has spoiled my new balloon. “ ‘For, steering through the Milky Way, he ran against a star, And turning round again too soon came jolt against my car. “ ‘But, Tom, get you the car repaired, and then let Dan and Dick Inflate with ten square miles of gas, I mean to travel quick! “ ‘My steam is surely up by now; put the high pressure on, Give me the breath-bag for the way; all’s right. Hey! Whiz! I’m gone! “ ‘January, 1836.’ ”