AIRMAN AS LECTURER

Evening Star, Issue 15064, 21 December 1912, Page 4

AIRMAN AS LECTURER

A BAD START. 31. Vedrincs, tho French aviator who came into prominence last year by winning the great air race from Paris to Madrid, has just bad a lively experience at the hands of his old friends the Socialists (says a cable in the Sydney ‘Sun’). The famous airman was a Socialist lueiself once. He joined then; when he was nothing more important than a mechanic, but afterwards when he had made his name in the aviation world ho ceased to be a member of the great brotherhood. However, if lie had 'forgotten the Socialists, the Socialists had not forgotten him, as lie soon discovered at St. Denis, near Paris, where he was to have delivered Dio first of a scries of lectures on Ids aerial adventures. The Socialists rolled up in great force, but it was not to encourage their old comrade by their presence and friendly applause that They aiToUevl in such large numbers. It was with quite another object Rial they were there. Vedrincs had just about got under way with bis subject, when the Socialists revealed the purpose of their visit. They began by imitating the cries of various animals, and otherwise making it impossible for the lecturer to be heard. A r edrines appealed over and over again to be allowed to proceed, but unavailingly. Every time he attempted to go on with his story the outbreak was renewed, until finally (he organised interruption developed into such an uproar that the luckless airman was compelled to quit the platform. If the Socialists in other towns take the cue from their brethren in St. Denis. 31. Vedrines’s lecturiii" tout is likely to come to an abrupt termination.