Untitled

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 41, 25 March 1914, Page 6

.Somewhat• of the spirit that dominated the crowds who clamoured for blood and.who were not content until the sand of the Latin circuses was dyed red, still survives in us moderns. The great motor-speed drives ,jn America a r 9; rarely unattended by terrible accidents, but each succeeding event (according to report) sees the huge throngs more and more animallike in their demand for thrill —and thrill topped off with a flaming car or a .driver hopelessly broken, for preference. It is a modified form of the same spirit that prompted a selfish hostility in Dunedin, and now in Wei-, lington, to the young aviator, Scotland, when lie refused to- risk his neck and li'is machine to gratify the wishes of clamorous spectators.' In effect, the importiinate people, said: "You have advertised a flight, we have paid our, silver to see you go up, and we demand as our right that you" should keep faith with us. "It is little use the individual whose life is to be.endangered calliWg attention to the wind: apparently that is 'a matter on which the aviator muslfcompromise with Providence. These foolish people are unaware- of the: situation. Scotland's biplane is a light,' jf strong, machine, propelled by an engine whose horse-power is not big enough for .him to' tackle a strong wind. Even at Hendon (England), the home of flying, the most distinguished aeroplanists hesitate with all their magnificent engines to go up and give battle with a heavy wind. It is : on record that in one week, because Of the. climatic conditions, not one of the hundreds of airmen at Hendon essayed a flight. Scotland is very young, and, as :he has proved, quite sufficiently intrepid. ,His chief assets in this great game- are his machine and his physical welfare. Had he yielded to the threatening persuasion of disappointed .onlookers iin Wellington, he would hayjQf; discredited his, aerial tutors and their training, besides risking disaster. Clearly, we are becoming advanced, idl our excitements. Speciality "turns" of ten years ago are old-fashioned in' their thrill. Their spice of danger do'eS'' not titillate the toughened palate',of to-day. We have been educated up ; ta something, more hair-raising, and wea? Shylocks demanding the pound. ,of flesh, for .which we have paid hard cash i ...(a, il iitt}e) ! So aviators, if {they w^uld,be driven up into the