The Oregon Daily Journal from Portland, Oregon • Page 34

THE OREGON i SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, SUNDAY MORNING. JUNE 6. 1009 'TYS i If i How Much the Wright Brothers Owe tq Their 1 jf Wright utained th fearful fall at Forf Myer, near WaahlDgton. which broke his leg and killed Lieutenant Belfrldge, hla passenger, the first wish of the injured aeronaut upon recovering- consciousness was for his sister, Katherine. She was a teacher in the Dayton High School, and her work there had for years meant to her a livelihood as well as a provision for her future.

But the dispatches had only time to reach Orvllle'a home when the sister was on her way to Washington, where. Instant upon her taking charge of his difficult and very dangerous case, he began to mend, But It has not been known that the call of the Injured man for his sisterr. made as a hurt child makes Its call for a mother, was merely illustrative of the tie that has bound this previously unknown Kgeria of solenca to the two men who have made flight a reality. Back of the now-famlllar story of the atrusrsrles imminent poverty in thsir iittl bicycle repair formation, advising and, when the financial crisis came, backing up their inventions and experiments with the little hoard of cash she had accumulated out of her teacher's salary against the time when she should be able to teach no more the safeguard against that dreadful "old-age hunger" which women forever fear. Behind the "mystery" which so long shrouded their Innumerable experiments a mystersr born of popular resentment against what was ordinary shyness, discretion and business Judgment the years during which the Wrights perfected their aeroplanes and their skill in navigation were crowded with financial mirages, wun hopes and disappointments, through all of which their sister Katherine remained their rock of refuge.

When Ootave Chanute, the most profound reasoner upon the principles of human flight, gavo them the benefit of bis knowledge, they designed an aeroplane In which they flew so effectively that a syndicate opened negotiations with them for the perfected rsachlnes. The offer meant the beginnings of the fortune of which they had dreamed. But to perfect their Invention money was needed; and the brothers, always spending to attain closer to their goal, were practically penniless. As usual, they took their troubles to Katherine; and she, without hesitation, drew from the bahK her little savings and turned them over to the budding aerenauta Then, on the eve of success, the publicity they had all along dreaded' overtook their invention. CRUDE PICTURES COPIED Crude pictures of their craft appeared.

The Dels-granges and the Farmans abroad were enabled to maVe cruder copies, which, nevertheless, flew. The French syndicate, discerning no monopoly obtainable, abandoned them. The only truelnventors of a flying machine seemed ruined; and their sister, the woman who had given her all that they might win, was penniless save for her wages. It was that woman who, In the midst of the despair that followed, urged them to go on. "What!" she cried.

"Quit because Ignorant imitators can copy your invention and stay In the air a few seconds? This is only the start. The brains that invented the flying machine are the only brains that can carry it forward." Her judgment proved correct The Imitators could not advance beyond the limit of the resources which the Wright experiments put at their command. The hope A aviation still lay In the little shop at Dayton. The brothers gave more time and their natural hustle to the shop and to automobile repairs. They raised the Income to the point where it left them, a surplus for fresh experiments' In flight.

But, after a time, the certainty which developed in the, minds of those who were following the subjeot ot aviation that the Wrights alone had the key to the secret of the birds brought them other offers ot aid. Finally, it Is said, they accepted the unlimited means placed at their disposal by. a banker. He gave them the needful funds on a strictly business basis and has reaped relatively enormous returns already from his Investment, for they have won nearly a quarter of a million in prises alone and are now Ailing orders for sixty aeroplanes at $i60Q apiece nearly naif a million dollars more. Abroad, where recently they won their first meed of fame's recompense, the fates that sometimes so richly reward those favored by the muse of science brought three kings from the East to do them homage Edward of Great Britain, Alfonso of Spain and 1 Victor Emmanuel of Italy, with a queen or and scores of highly' titled nobilities to swell the chorus of adulation.

FRIEND OF ROYALTIES Katherine Wright, Joining: them In their triumph as she had been loyal in tneir disappointment and chagrins, found herself suddenly elevated to the position of princess regent In the court of nob1111'. royalty that now danced attendance on her brothers. For her the most attentive politenesses ot King "Edward; for her the most gallant deference of young Alfonso, whom she considers a very excellent and worthy young man; for the unassuming (frlend-linebs of Victor Emmanuel and the most solicitous Cupid toJMe Mmss letter Sister Katherine RESIDENT TAFT, in the East Rcom of the White House, is soon to present to the Wright brothers the New York Aero Club medals for their 'distinguished services to the newly born science of flight. If, among the notable assemblage of diplomats and representatives of the army and navy, tfie quiet, steady gaze of a girl whose features resvmble those of Wilbur and Orville Wright he there to note the proceedings with an equanimity greater than that of any of the men present, no erne there will have any difficulty in identifying her as Katherine Wright, the American girl who is the queen of the air, as her brothers are its kings, and the sister whose unswerving devotion has greatly aided them in making their amazing triumphs possible. She is typical of the American woman-'hood that, with its combination of courage, intelligence and loyalty, inspires and supports in their commanding position the men of the nation which has so splendidly led the world in its progress.

Modestly as she has taken the fame fvhich has so suddenly been thrust upon her, ihe stands today as the embodiment of the Hmerican woman who has aided in the 'achievement of allthe greater deeds and lias ever been content to find her reward in the advancement of those she loves and nerves. "Why," exclaimed one of the party that welcomed her and her brothers on their return to the United States, "they say you thought more of Onille and Wilbur, and treated them with more deference than you showed the kings and queens of Europe." "Why shouldn't demanded straightforward Katherine Wright. "Doesn't a girl think more of her brothers than she does of kings and queens Or, she might have added, hasn't this 'girl shown she cares more for her brothers than she does for herself? SOME time In the future maybe acouple of months or so, if grim death should reap one of them as it did beautiful Lady Curzon such celebrities as a duchess of Marlborough, a princess de Bagan a Couiitess Ssechenyl will amount to not even a memory in the world that lias been a-flutter with their international fame But If some one of the countless fatal accidents Which this untitled girl from Dayton, Ohio, has so often braved were to befall her now, long ages yet to come would still honor her unpretentious name, for lready It is so linked with the achievements of her brothers that hers Is the glory which cannot die. Science and the arts, whether or not they bring wealth to their devotees, have always had a way of conferring fame immortal upon some fortunate aspirants. In such fame Katherine Wright now chares.

Not because ahe is already known throughout Europe and America by any such sobriquet as "queen of the air," although she has earned it fairly; nor yet because the rulers of so vast a domain as Great Britain's or of so proud a nation Spain or Italy have accorded to her attentions which the utmost riches and distinction cannot rival. Her abiding glory must ever be the simplest and most rnodeat' efall that she, when the whole world regarded Its two unacknowledged sons of genius with suspicion and dlsdaJn, was faithful to them and gave them not oniy her. savings to carry on their In-ifmitable battle with nature for its last, jealously guarded secret, but that she supplied largely the firm and steady spirit that impelled them to the efforts vtiich conquered poverty and found their renewal In i.ur. It is now generally known, that worn Orville shop at Dayton, back of all the slow su. mounting of vicissitudes which have marked the Strang rise of the family of poor Bishop Wright to what is now comparative opulence, has long been the slender, staunch.

Inspiring figure of the quiet school teacher. It was not the first time that Katherine had taken charge of her ailing brothers. Her role of nurse goes back to. the days when Wilbur and Orville first had tneir dreams ot flight, and It was she who gave to those dreams their beginnings and their stimulation. When the boys for they were Just boys then fell pk.

or were wholly tired with their labors, it was Ksitherlne who read to them books on aerial navigation until they wondered whether they might not essay experiments, as the famous Lltllenthal and others were doing. "Why shouldn't you?" Katherine demanded, with the sublime confidence which women have in their men folk. So they did: and she was with them In their studies and their counsels. digging up recondite in- "Madame Sans Gene." But whether in comedy or tragedy her genius carries her through to triumph, whether in "Ma Coustne" or "The Doll's House" of Ibsen. 1 Madame Rejane's' home life, ntll the difficulties with her husband arose, was considered ideal.

To her children she is devoted. In her household she Is absolute mistress. She invariably dines with her children, and each morning walks with them. When, sdme years ago, the serpent of discord reared its venomous head In the Ideal home, people wondered. In 189) the couple separated.

Then fol-lowed the suit for divorce brought by -Madame Re-Jane. M. Porel retaliated with a counter-suit. Before the Judge madams stamped Her tiny French toot and exclaimed: "Paste! Zee brutel Zee monstaifel" And then. In a torrent of language, she declared that Porel had treated her badly, had beaten and mistreated her.

That It was a shame, a scandal. That she would stand.lt no longer. Parbleu! not a meenute longairet M. Porel was granted a divorce in 190 S. Madame Rejane had been under contract with her husband to produes 100 performances.

When she refused to play "La Montansier" he sued her tor 120,000. There was a great deal In the way of expletives, the air slxiled in French and the floors of the court resounded with the stamping of madame's petite toot. But now, of course; that they have made up, the future looks brighter, even if it was a business arrangement that brought Jthem together again. A LL Paris was highly amused recently hy the announcement of the impending remarriage of Mine. Gabrielle Kejane, its popular, volatile ana emouonai aevrcoa, and her divorced husband, ii.

Porel, theatrical manager. Not so much amused by the idea of the reunion as by the frank acknowledgment of the motive that prompted it. The rekindling of the spark of love? Oh, no! Merely a matter of business. Since their divorce both have met business reverses. Because of lack of success M.

Porel has been compelled to give up the management of the Vaudeville Theater, while Mme, Rejane. has been fighting a losing battle at the theater bearing her name. "When werking together they were successful financially. Then why not resume the old business relations! That done, why not resume- the old marital relations? Excellent idea. And not a bad advertisement.

So Eejane and Porel decided to remarry to make business better. 'JThere is nothing like a run of bad business" to bring two people together," explained M. Porel. Will this new idea find lodgment in the minds of American divorcees? "HEN Madame Rejane acted under the man agement of her husband she was a great success, and he made a reputation as a manager. Together they turned much money out of the theatrical grist mill.

For many years before their divorce the Porels did not get along amicably. There were disputes and altercations, and, on more than one as the actress testified during the divorce trial, the swarthy manager inflicted physical violence upon her. Re jane's failure to draw since her divorce is a mystery to many stage folk. First and foremost in the hearts of Frenchmen, the "divine Sarah" occupies an inviolate shrine; but in the hearts of the Parisians, who must not necessarily be Frenchmen, the Incomparable Rejane reigns supreme. She Is so sprightly, so vivacious, so srtful.

so witty. EhVance Ilk a butterfly, her laughteT" Is like sunbeams, her wit Is as nimble as summer breeml then, her failure Of all theatrical managers in Paris Porel has been considered one of the most' efficient, most capable. Why, since the divorce, has he been unable to bring crowds to the Vaudeville Theater? he managed Rejane they coined the blessed francs. The box office was always besieged. flut with the divorce In 1905 a change cams la the fortunes of both.

Was it because the two, together, blended a sense of the artistic and commercial; that, separated) the Artistry of Rejane failed because it lacked the supprt of the business mind of Porel? FIRST OF COMEDIENNES Among the world's comediennes Madame Rejane stands in the topmost rank. That, under an- circumstances, she should prove a failure is a mystery to those sage and almost clairvoyant minds behind the boxofflces who can figure, almost 'to a decimal. the receipts for a coming season. Rejane was born, in a sense, on the stage. Her Childhood was spent about the lobby of L'Amblgu, where Jier father took tickets and her mother took; care of the buffet.

As a child she longed to become an actress. She grew up with that overmastering ambition, and at an early age went on the stage, Her incomparable genius biased the war tot her. Madame Rejane Is well known as the original cre-ater of "Zaca." She also made notable successes In "Oermalne." "La Kobe Rouge," "JUHirondelle" and "fTlieaner" SUA vUt JLrafl A honors on the part of Queen Helena when the fetes of aviaton were presided over by that gracious Ttaliafei rrv let none ot these compliments could equal In her eyes or in the eyes of the throng who so passionately besought her brothers to take them as passengers for a single flight the distinction conferred upon her by Wilbur and Orville in permitting her to become the first and most experienced woman "flier the world thus far knows. Stared at by thousands of envious eyes, she was "borne aloft repeatedly at her brother Wilbur's aide, until at length her own ambition has been touched with the Promethean fire and she has declared her Intention of learning how to navigate an aeroplane on her own account. Indeed, she has already dons that very thing.

It was during the last flight, made privately in Rome, that she was given control of the machine, and she carried the journey' forward to a most successful landing. This Is 'the "queen of the the steamer brought back to the United States a few weeks ago to receive her unsought portion of the ovation thrust upon her brothers. What she did immediately afterward was characteristic She hurried home to Dayton. "But why?" everybody asked her. with her usual simplicity of answer, "my father la sick, and I ought.

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