Did you know George Washington was one of the first American advocates of flying?"What 's this, Grandfather?" asked Robert, rising from his seat on the floor, and bringing to his grandfather a folded paper, yellow with age, with a picture of a balloon on the outside. "It looks as if it had a story."
Robert and his mother had come to tea, and, according to an old custom, Robert was rummaging in Grandfather's drawer of keepsakes, with the understanding that if he found anything that "had a story," Grandfather would know it and would tell him about it.
"That?"—Grandfather adjusted his spectacles and looked at the closely printed page—"I have n't seen that for years! You have found something this time!
"Helen," he continued, calling to the boy's mother, who was just then passing in the hall, "did John ever tell you that his grandfather saw the first successful attempt at flying in America, and that George Washington was there?"
"Never," said Robert's mother.
"It 's a story! Come, Mother! Let 's hear it!" cried Robert, excitedly. She came gladly, and sat down by Grandfather, who was poring over the old paper.
"Yes," said Grandfather, "this is a clipping from a Philadelphia newspaper giving an account of the flight. Here is the date, January, 1793,—that was just before the close of Washington's first administration, Robert. Congress met in Philadelphia, then, you know, and all the distinguished people of the capital went to see this Monsieur Blanchard make his exhibition of flying. How often I have heard Father tell all about it!"
"But I thought they did n't know how to fly till just lately," interrupted Robert.
"Not in aeroplanes; but ballooning had been invented a few years before by another Frenchman, named Montgolfier, and every one was greatly excited over it. The shops of the city were closed the day the ascent was to be made, and people came in from all the country round. Father used to tell how he was awakened at daybreak by the booming of cannon, which was repeated every half-hour until ten o'clock, when the ascent was to be made from the prison courtyard. That was the only inclosed space in the city big enough for balloon and spectators."
"And Washington was there?" said Robert's mother. "It must have been a great occasion."
"Yes, it was really a wonderful event. Mr. Blanchard was one of the most famous balloonists of the day. He was the first man to cross the English Channel in the air, and he had made ascents before all the kings and queens of Europe. The remarkable thing was that a boy like Father went. As the tickets cost five dollars, few children could go; but he was so eager that the family decided to take him.
"How old was he?" asked Robert.
"Ten years old," replied Grandfather. "Afterward people told him what a distinguished assembly of men and women it had been. He then cared for nothing but the balloon and its operator. He thought Mr. Blanchard the handsomest man he had ever seen. He used to tell us just how he was dressed. He had on a bright blue suit, with a white, fluted ruffle, and a three-cornered cocked hat with a huge white plume. He must have had a Frenchman's fondness for effect, for the bag of his balloon was of bright yellow silk with green stripes, and the car which hung below it was painted light blue with silver spangles. The bag was about half full of gas when Father got there, and he watched it fill gradually till it tugged at its cords like a huge creature trying to get away. Meanwhile the band played gay music, and Mr. Blanchard moved about, looking after his arrangements and greeting distinguished persons. Some one brought a little black dog and asked him to take it on the trip to see how it stood the upper air. Father said he would have given anything in the world to be in that little dog's place, as Mr. Blanchard took it and lifted it into the car.
"At last the bag was full. The band began a slow march, and Mr. Blanchard turned to bid farewell to the audience. Then President Washington stepped forward and shook hands with him, presenting him with an official-looking document. It was a passport. I see there is a copy of it here. Do you want to read it, Helen? The print is too fine for me."
Robert's mother took the paper and read:
"George Washington, President of the United States of America, To All to Whom these Presents shall come.
"The bearer hereof, Mr. Blanchard, a citizen of France, proposing to ascend in a balloon from the city of Philadelphia, at 10 o'clock A.M. this day, to pass in such direction and to descend in such place as circumstances may render most convenient—
"THESE ARE therefore to recommend to all citizens of the United States, and others, that in his passage, descent, return, or journeying elsewhere, they oppose no hindrance or molestation to the said Mr. Blanchard; And that on the contrary, they receive and aid him with that humanity and good will which may render honor to their country, and justice to an individual so distinguished by his efforts to establish and advance an art, in order to make it useful to mankind in general.
"Given under my hand and seal, at the city of Philadelphia, this ninth day of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-th ree, and of the independence of America the seventeenth.
"Signed,
"George Washington."
"Does n't that sound grand!" said Robert, with a sigh, when his mother had finished the reading. "Mr. Blanchard must have been pleased."
"He had reason to be very grateful for that paper later," replied Grandfather. "He put it away carefully in his breast pocket, then stepped into the car. The ropes were untied, the ballast thrown out, and he sailed upward standing hat in hand and waving a flag decorated on one side with the Stars and Stripes and on the other with the tricolor of France. For a moment nobody moved or made a sound then there rose from the people within the courtyard a great cheer, which was taken up by the crowds watching from the roofs of the city as the balloon came into view and then sailed off over their heads. Father always said that was the most thrilling moment of his boyhood."
"What happened?" asked Robert. "Did Mr. Blanchard come back?"
"No," replied Grandfather. "Some gentlemen galloped off along the road in the direction he had taken, but they soon lost sight of him. They did not have steam-cars then, you must remember, much less telegraphs and telephones. That was one reason why every one was so excited over flying. Until balloons were invented, no one had traveled across country faster than a horse could take him. No; that was the last the people of Philadelphia saw or heard of Mr. Blanchard until seven o'clock that night, when news spread among the waiting crowds that he had returned and was at the President's house telling his story.
"When he had been in the air about an hour, the gas in his balloon had given out. He had to come down in the first open space he could see. He had made the descent safely and found himself in a field in the midst of woods. Then the question was what to do. He had no idea where he was. From his compass he could tell the general direction of Philadelphia, but he could only guess how far he had traveled. Fortunately some farmers came to his aid. They had been chopping wood near by, and, seeing him land, had come to investigate. It was then that President Washington's passport served him. The men were very much frightened. Mr. Blanchard could speak no English, and his French only increased their terror. He bethought him of the passport and gave it to them. As soon as they saw Washington's signature and gathered the meaning of the paper, they were eager to assist him. They brought a cart for his balloon, and escorted him to a near-by tavern. There some gentlemen welcomed him and entertained him at dinner. They told him where he was, which explained why the farmers had been so surprised to see him drop down out of the air. He was no longer in Pennsylvania, where the news of his flight had been carried far and wide. He had crossed the Delaware River, and had come clown some eighteen miles inland in the State of New Jersey. A paper was drawn up, which all signed, testifying to the place and hour of his landing. This newspaper contains a copy of it. It took Mr. Blanchard six hours to return by horseback, carriage, and ferry over the distance which he had covered in his balloon in less than an hour.
"This was the story which he told to President Washington, to whom he at once went to report in order to thank him for the passport and to present to him the flag which he had carried on the trip. The President showed great interest, congratulating him on his success, and making many inquiries about how the altitude affected his breathing and heart action, and how the country looked from such a height.
"So the next time you go to an aviation meet, Robert," concluded his grandfather, "remember that your great-grandfather saw the first successful flight in America; and add to the things which you know about Washington that he was the first great American to encourage aviation."
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