f- '" ■ - ■ ■' *
j Letters From the Front
DAUPHIN LAD TELL
HIS FLYING EXPERIENCES
More of the difficulties of flying
lhe fast fighting Nieuports is de
.-rribed by Walter Shatter, of Dau
phin, in a letter home to his parents,
chaffer's letter from Paris follows:
Paris, France, Nov. 18, 191 V.
Dear Mother:
Since my next moves are rather
indefinite, you better send my let
ters to the "Army and Navy Y. M.
VINOL IS THE
BEST TONIC
Honest Opinion Doctor Gave
His Patient
Bedford. Ohio.—"l was in a pitiful
condition, weak, nervous and run
lown so I could not do my house
work. I had doctored for years and
uied everything under the sun. A
friend told me about Vinol. I ask
iil my doctor about it, and he re
plied, 'lt certainly is the best niedi
'■'ne that can be had to-day. I
couldn't give you any better.' 1
took it .and to-day I am as well and
strong as any woman could wish to
be, and it was Vinol that saved me."
—Mrs. Frank A. Horkey, Ash St.,
Bedford, Ohio.
We guarantee this famous cod
liver and iron tonic for all such con
ditions..
Geo. A. Gorgas, Druggist: Ken
nedy's Medicine Store, 321 Market
St.; C. F. Kramer, Third and Broad
Sts.; Kitzmiller's Pharmacy, 132.*>
,Derry St., Harrisburg, and at the best
drug stores in every town and city in
Hie country. —Adv.
Wm. Str
-
Here's The Time —Right
to Match Mary Russell's Dollar
Mary Russell made thirty-three trips
for the Postal Telegraph to make a
DOLLAR and then she gave it to the
All you need is a HEART and a
The Red Cross needs your DOLLAR
Our Store Will Be Open Evenings This Week
Our salesforce has not been working evenings up until
now and they are fresh and fit for the task ahead.
Whole Regiments
of Neckties For Men
are lining the front ranks -^v^Ns.
in HARRISBURG'S JP
MAN'S STORE and y : | A
they are awaiting the /'*' * '
rush of the Christmas gift L . ■ \
hu y e . rs • . . |i;S|
I Brilliant specimens in /
sentiment in the giving of
I He never gets too many
conceive of such a thing
I and we are going to make
The New Store of Wm. Strouse—3lo Market Street
MONDAY EVENING, *
C. A., 31 Avenue Montaigne, Paris,
France." I gave you that address
before, but had the number wrong.
However, I think it will get there
just the same. By all means, send
any packages for me to the address,
especially the Xmas ones. Inci
dentally, any number of socks, those
high woolen ones, would be appreci
ated as presents. And, of course, X
need shirts and handkerchiefs.
Yes, I am in Paris again, but only
for two days, niy next move being
to Pau, where I get acrobatics, hav
ing finished my Nieuport training at
Avord after a lot of hard luck. I
sure did have the grief aplenty after
1 began to fly Neuports alone. I be
lieve in my last letter I told you of
my first four rides. Well, the next
day when I came out to the field
and reported the moniteur did not
even have a record of my rides, and,
worse yet, my name. So there I was
as much at sea as the men building
the "Tower of Babel," for, not being
able "parle" French, I could not ex
plain, and thus wasted most of a
perfectly good day getting straight
ened o\it. An English-speaking cap
tain finally listened to my tale of
woe and 1 was started again on my
solo hop—the one where they watch
you so closer for signs of nervous
ness.
I don't think they noticed any
nervous signs. So at last I climbed
aboard, strapped myself in and re
ceived the signal to go. Open went
the throttle with a yank, up went
the tail and down the track we went
lickety-split for the high spots.
When 1 came down the moniteurs
told me by word and gesture, the
last being quite eloquent, that I ran
along the ground with the tail too
high, did not go in a straight line
and pulled the plane off instead of
letting it climb of its own accord.
All of these are faults of the worst
kind, for, if the tail is too high, the
machine may hit a, bump and s p'TJ"
mersault. The thing might
happen if you didn't 'keep the plane
going In a straight line.
As for pulling her off the ground,
it's quite safe if orte don t climb too
steep. Too steep a climb means loss
of speed—and then it's "off on a
wing" and "finis," as the French elo
quently put it, for flowers are gen
erally in order then. E*P® rt s
pull these Nieuports off and climo
nearly straight up, but stu der ar?
not allowed to do it.
initial hop being over, they gave
me another machine, which sure ' was
some bird to wish onto a bonehead
student. The gasoline tank had no
lid on and when one went running
along the ground at tremendous
speed the gasoline splashed out ana
back in one's eyes.
Not So Bad
That was not so bad, but it as
sumed dangerous proportions when
one came down to land, for when
nosing down to land after shutting
off the motor, back came the gaso
line again, making it very hard to
see, even with goggles. I also dis
covered that my tochometer was not
working—a tochometer, you know,
registers the number of revolutions
of the propeller, and without this in
strument to guide him the aviator
has no way of knowing whether his
engine is running all right or not.
So you can bet I hollered for a me
chanic as quick as 1 landed. He
looked blankly at the uncapped gaso
line tank and then walked away,
presumably after a covering for it —
and never came back. Finally, get
ting tired of waiting, I gave another
mechanic my hat to stuff in the hole,
took a chance on the tochometer,
told him to crank the engine and
away I went again.
Fifteen trips 1 made with this old
warhorse, that should have been in
the junk heap, ducking down behind
the windshield to escape the gaso
line while landing, and depending on
my "air sense" to tell me when my
motor was slacking up. Even at
that, about every third trip I would
have to stop to have the magneto re
paired and I imagine when 1 finished
up the airplane motor was nearly
ready for the repair shop. That was
the 23 m. class and there still re
mained another one —the 18 m. I
was sent there immediately, tired
and hungry. I surely did have a
smash when I came down to land on
mv initial flight in the 18 m.
You see, an engine is shut off in
a Nieuport at two places, a button on
t&Sffy TELEGKXFH
the side and by pressing a button on
the top of the "stick" (control).
Pressure on either of these but
tons will stop the engine until the
pressure is released. Thus the button
on the stick is used while doing acro
batics when the engine cannot be
shut oft momentarily and as quickly
restarted. But the button on the side
of the airplane either snaps on or
off and stays there until it is snapped
back again. Thus we were advised to
snap the button on the side so that
in case our thumb slipped off the
button on the top of the stick, there
would be no danger of the engine
starting. And that was just what I
did not do—"conpece" (shut off) on
the side, with the result that when
I drew the stick back toward my
stomach to get the tail down and
thus have the tail and wheels hit at
the same time, my thumb slipped off
the button and zowie!! went the en
gine full speed ahead and I was ail
set for a beautiful landing too. •
The next thing I knew I was hang
ing by the safety belt looking.down
at the ground as the engine dug into
the ground and the tail rose in the
air. It's been quite awhile since a
bellyband proved useful to me, and
one would think that I had out- j
grown it, but I found it very useful
when my winged steed reared up and I
plunged itself into the ground and
me in disgrace. Oh, no, I was not
hurt, and this seemed to be the
climax to an all around day of bad
luck.#l assure you, however amusing
this smash looks now, it had no
amusing side then. I feared I would
be put on a J-Cat and not allowed
any more Nieuport training.
Out of Breath
Since I soon ran out of breath
calling myself names for my forget
fulness, and the strap was beginning
to make itself felt, I snapped it open
and let my dangling legs rest on the
top wing and from there hop to the
ground and take account of damage.
Was surprised to find that only a
wheel and propeller were broken.
Just the same it got me in Dutch,
and left me fuming on the ground
while the moniteur got ready to take
me up in a double command 18m
Nieuport. It took him only two days
to get ready and after two rides In
which he did most of the flying, we
cam down and landed and he asked
the usual question, "Pourgnoe." 1 had
done thus and so.
Tries Again
Finally, however, I got a machine
again to fly alone, and take it from
me, when I came down to land, 1
had not forgotten to "cut the mo
tor" on both side and stick. So much
for the smash.
Made three landings all right and
then something went wrong with the
motor, for as I was "getting off"' she
spitted, exploded and gave numerous
other signs of not wishing to work.
Sometimes she would stop altogether
and then the whole plane would sink
10 or 20 feet, going along again when
the motor revived. After the motor
had fainted several times this way,
it got sort of monotonous and realiz
ing that I was driving a fast and
tricky toy I came down half a mile
away and landed. After waiting an
hour for a mechanic to come and
crank the engine so I could "taxi"
(run along ground), back to the
starting point, I got off again. It just
goes to show how matter-of-fact
these mechanics take the dangers of
this game, when I say that my en
gine was pronounced all right. En
gine behaved the same as previously
and when I had gone a mile, I knew
there was something radically wrong
with that motor, so down we came
again.
Something Wrong
I kept the engine running though
and having landed safely, went
bumpy-bump along the ground back.
Believe me I made some holler that
time, even if it was in English, and
positively refused to fly until the
trouble in that motor was discovered.
Seeing how much in earnest I was the
mechanic soon discovered that the
motor had something broken. I don't
know what it was, but the moniteur
pronounced it unfit for flying. No
more flying that day.
I only had had four rides in 18m
Nieuport, but the next day I was
given a different motored plane and
told to go up for altitude—go up
above 13,000 metres (11,000 feet)
and stay there 15 minutes. That lis
tened real good, and being given one
of those furlined overall suits, I was
soon bundled up, looking more like
a stuffed Teddy Bear than an aspir
ing aviator. When I finally got my
engine tuned up and "taxied" my ma
chine to the starting point, there
were no Paragraphs. (These instru
ments record the altitude with ink
and paper). So they sent me up
without it, which probably was a
good thing, because a written record
of that flight would surely have Its
ups and downs, as my motor was
running rotten from the start. It was
the same type of motor I had used
on my altitude test in a Candron,
only this time I had not forgotten
where the big levgr went. The trouble
was with the mechanic, who had not
told me right. As long as the engine
would pull me I was not going to
come down. So I started juggling the
engine controls while I climbed. To
make matters worse my revolution
indicator (tochoute) was not work
ing, so the only way I could tell
whether my engine was going was by
the sound (it sings a regular song
when it's going right) and my "air
feel," both of which are poorly de
veloped, Indeed. But since I was fly
ing around the school all the time I
saw no reason why I could not get
down safely even if the engine did
die.
When I got to 1200 metres I was
among the clouds and began having
an Interesting time dodging them
because I wished to keep the school
in view to prevent getting lost.
l T p 3,000 Metres
By the time I had reached 2,800
metres there were no more holes dis
cernible .then the clouds. The clouds
had closed in below me like smoke
over Pittsburgh, but I still continued
climbing as my altimeter dial reg
istered up to 3,000 metres and I was
going to chase the hand clear around
the dial if it took an ear. It nearly
did too, because I could hardly hear
the engine with the left one. Height
affects hearing that way and one
mudt swallow to get the ' hearing
back again. As I said, the clouds had
closed in below me and I was in dan
ger of getting lost, for these 18m
Nieuports are very speedy, but the
sight that I beheld spread out on all
sides of me was worth the risk, for a
more beautiful sight J have never
imagined, let alone seen, for the
clouds effects were marvelous and re
minded one of drifting snow banked
high. The sun, which was shining
quite brightly ,so high above the
clouds created all sorts of fantastic
shapes and images with its shadow,
gold and silver tints. You can see
what a bungle I am making of the
description. It must have been a little
bit of Heaven let loose for my bene
fit, for fairy castles, the kind you
see pictured, were quite numerous.
Whether that sounds like raving or
not, the fact remains that I did see
the "silver lining" so often spoken
of in regard to troubles. Goodness
knows 1 was having minfe aplenty,
for Just then I discovered another
one, I was past 3,000 metres then
and still climbing—(oh, no, I was not
hunting the pearly gates), Just see
ing how high I would have to go be
fore my feet got cold—happening to
look down I discovered I had for
gotten to fasten my safety belt. There
I was in a machine as big as a minute
going somewhere around 100 miles
an hour or more, and no way of
fastening the belt, because the en-
gine still required looking after and
the belt could not be fastened with
one hand even though I left go the
stick.
The fact that a student had gone
Into a "vrllle" (tail spin) from 150
metres the day before and sustained
a broken leg and arm was still fresh
my mind—and here I was at 3 r ooo.
After floating around a little consid
ering the problem of fastening that
belt I gave it up, took a chance on
making a good landing and started
down. Forgot I had no belt on and
began practising figure B's until I
came to the cloud curtain, when 1
suddenly remembered it, straighten
ed out the machine to a straight glide
and hit the clouds head on. It took
about ten seconds to bust through
this spongy, blinking stuff, and re
minded me of being with a pretty
girl, only it was not quite so pleasant,
for I was afraid of going off "on a
wing" and that surely would have
been "linis." Made a good landing
though, reported I was present and
was sent up again to make "tour de
piste," (circle of field). It was during
these trips that I discovered how to
run my engine correctly, notwith
standing the fact that the tochometer
was not working.
A Good Engine
She sure was some engine and
could pass anything on the track.
This fact nearly proved unfortunate
in several cases, because there were
a lot of Voisms and J-Cats flying also.
Dove under a J-Cat once and when
I came up nearly rammed a Voisin
which was flying above me and which
I had not noticed. But that was all
in the day's work and only served to
make things interesting. One French
man nearly made it too interesting
when I came down to land one time,
"taxing" right across my path just
as I was settling down to land. As it
was, it was nearly a smash. After
fifteen rides in an 18m Nieuport I
was declared "finis" and told to hus
tle off to Pau. Had quite a headache
and my hearing was still a little bad
after the day's flying, otherwise I was
feeling fine, because I was bound for
Let Your Christmas Gifts This Year Be Timely
and Reflect Your
W HAT would give any more com
fort and cheer to any member of
® machines play any disc record made.
They are not expensive. On the other 9
and jee the saving and convenience of
der values and make ideal Christmas
You Can Select Them Now, Enjoy Them and Pay After Xmas
Two Great Toy Specials For the
Santas and the Youngsters
Little Gem Coaster, with both wheels tfJO OQ Child's Tea Set, made in Japan; 9 pieces, A/\
and 4 sled runners for T"*/ O
Owing to the extreme low price of these goods, we are unable to wrap or deliver them at the above price.
Special Values in Watches,
Jewelry, Furs and Clothing
STORE NOT OPEN EVENINGS UNTIL THE 20TH
We are still receiving favorable comments and numerous c6ngratulations from the
public in reference to our humane spirit ofkeeping our store CLOSED NIGHTS until
the 20th. We are satisfied that not one of our regular patrons will desert us and take
their trade to any of the stores that kept their stores open evenings last week or the first
3 nights of this week.
We were told by a representative business man of this City (no merchant) that all
the motive he could see for stores keeping open nights last week and compelling their
employees to work long hours in the cold, go to their homes in the snow with poor trans
portation service, elc., was selfishness and greed and the merchants that did so are purely
and simply ignoring the Government's request on conservation, etc.
We have had no request from anyone to keep our store open nights until the 20th,
and it is gratifying to us to have the co-operation of our employees, other stores' em
ployees and the public unanimously.
FURNISHERS.
Gately and Fitzgerald Supply Co. ™o™ ERS
29-31-33 & 35 S. 2nd St.
The Different Kind Of a Credit Store.
the acrobatic school at last, the am
*
bition of a lifetime, if you could call
three years that. Expect to leave for
that place to-morrow night. It's quite
a journey. I'll have you know, taking
a night and day, something which I
have no relish for. I would much
sooner be given a map, a good en
gined Nieuport and go that way. It
would be quicker and more inter
esting.
Just finished a chicken dinner at
tlu Y. M. C. A. hotel, which sure
was some meal. Gee! My belt's get
ting tight! There is also to be a con
cert to-night with ragtime quite
prevalent. Well, you know how much
I like ragtime! And there may also
be some American girls. Now you
know I will be there!
Had a hot bath last night, which
was sure appreciated. After living in
mud and rain for two weeks with
nothing but cold w~ter to wash in,
you can imagine how much it was
enjoyed. Honest! I made the water
so hot, nearly scalded my skin off.
Will write more later.
WALTER
BUT THEY WON'T CUT PRICES
New York, Dec. 14.—A recom
mendation that three wheatless and
two meatless days be observed each
week in New York restaurants was
adopted unanimously by the New
York Society of Restaurateurs.
This is one more wheatless day than
the government is advocating.
Patrons of cabaret shows and not
the proprietors must pay the war
tax, the restaurateurs decided. For
every dollar spent for refreshment
at such places an additional charge
of two per cent, will be levied to
cover the tax.
KODAKS
"You press the button, we do the
rest" '
GORGAS
Hi X. Third St. Penna. Station
DECEMBER 17, 1017."
doesrC^knoxa) ,*■
would clear her skin
" She would be a pretty girl, if it wasn't Resinol Soap and Resinol
for that pimply, blotchy complexion!" Ointment are excellent, ton,
B , ' _ j ■ r ... lor the care of the hair, d-
But the regular use of Resinol Soap, aided pelting dandruff and keeping
at first by a little Resinol Ointment, would the hair live and lustrout. Ail
probably make it clear, fresh and charm-
ing. If a poor skin xnyour handicap, begin TheßesiuoiTreatment eon
using the Resinol treatment and see how /a,ft . s n othivgthat could injure
. n .. . or irritate the most sensitive
quickly it improves. s kin.
— tw
A Man's Gift From a Man's Store
Wk Wm. Strouse If
9