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Show sW 5 4 4L, nyntiyi l ii Vlt, - mm inmjk-- - ; ELDER and HER PILOTS WIFE What Mrs . George Haldeman , TF? o fie Flier, Has to Say About the, Fuss Stirred Up Since Ruth and Trans-Atlant- ic Triumph From Abroad, i . and Lonely Lyle Womack ' Went Back to Panama i" The two couples who were neighbors in Florida. Left to right, Lyle Womack, Ruth Elder (Mrs. Lyle Womack), Mrs. George Haldeman, George Haldeman to make the fl.ght Be didnt have anything to do wlrti that part of it at all. People who weoi go awfully busy looking for trouble for me demanded why he didn't take ME, HIS WIFE, ON THAT FLIGHT! I wasnt the one the backer selected. I wasnt the one who inspired them with the Idea df having a woman make such a Bight. It was Ruth. She had to have a pilot and she, as I say, naturally selected George. When they returned there was so much talking about how George was relegated to the. background. That's where he wanted to be. He didnt make tfte flight with any idea of going into vaudeBecause ville or anything of that sort. everything is very quiet down in Florida just now, he intended closing bis school for a while anyhow. Just what he was going to do he hadn't decided. Probably open up a school nesr here or somewhere else, or make another tour around the United States in his plane as be did with H. E. Cornell not so tong ago. I am sure if he ever went on the stag he would ftel very much out of place; he would rtthet talk on aviation from a lecture platform. status as a result of Ruth Elder's flight was edged Into the lntendew at this point Oh, yes, Im sorry for nyle because he felt so tost up North," Mrs. Haide- It's so much man said sympathetically. harder for a man because he naturally wants to be to the foreground Lyle is and it Just put his a regular on edge when he heard himself te-ferred to as Ruth Elders husband, and X can Imagine his feelings when that photographer thoughtlessly called him Mr Ruth Elder! Sitting, talking, down South about the wonderful chance which bad come to Ruth was one thing Pacing the realities of it was another. He knew it would have made her unhappy if be had not consented to her going, and when Lindbergh made his Bight it seemed so easy and seemed to minimize the danger. Lyle is very much In love with Ruth. He adores the ground she walks on. so you can picture the agony be went through while be was waiting, waiting until news cam from them on their way across. We expected to hear from vessels which had sighted them within a few hours They had wonderful weather to start off with. It was beautiful moon- T YLE WOMACK'S n, By Isabel Stephen inrrHAT about his wife and her hus-band? That was the question which from lip to Up when George Haldeman and Ruth Elder returned to this flighty country after their Did Mrs. Haldeman resent her husband flying away with another mans wife, and did Lyle Womack resent his wife flying away with another woman's husband? It was a situation for dramatists to conjure with. The Atlantic had been spanned by air before but not in this fashion. As a result, the principals have had as much privacy as the proverbial last goldfish since their homecoming month. Really, I was so astonished and horrified that I was struck dumb Mrs. I George Haldeman told the writer. didnt dare open my mouth scarcely in case I would say something that would be misunderstood. You know how it la when you pick up a bit here anObere and then put it together; it makes something grotesque at times." buzz-buzz- ed trans-Atlant- ic rrvHE French adjective petite admirably describes Airs. Haldeman. About 5 feet tall, very slender, delicate features with Urge expressive eyes, dark wavy ham, beautifully shaped hands and tiny panic-strick- wl-a- hus-tee- i- asked. a few momenta Alta. Haldeman considered the question. I don't know how be felt about It W d'dnt d.scu&s It Hs didn't Ignore It entirely it was too flagrant for thst, too terrible, for I really look on Ruth Ilk a sister. He said to me. 'You're not going to let this annoy you, honey, are youF end I didnt want to worry him, to I said. No. its Jus horrid, but I'm not going to think of It at all. Thats right too silly.' he responded and turned the conversation to something more impo- Pir Miss Eider, George Haldeman and Hon. Grover Whalen, New York official handshaker, are shown above- - At right, the aviatrix carrying a wreath to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris feet Born in North Carolina and "raised In Lakeland, Fla, Mrs. Haldeman spealif with a fascinating Southern accent. She has a keen sense of humor which expresses itself in little dry asides and a mischievous twinkle In her eyes. "Do you think they would have made all this fuss about Mrs. G raj son and her pilot if she had Sown across? she asked with an amused quirk on her lips. "Probably not. but you know the trouble started when Miss Elder was represented as a single girl when she first came to New York it was brought to her attention. Then it was discovered that she was married in fact, she has been married twice. she con"Yea, that was unfortunate ceded.. "But down South we have read so much about 'women up North using their maiden names and all their independence and that sort of thing, we never dreamed any attention would be paid to it. She really didn't mean to blue but I never for an instant peren mitted myself to be afraid or in any way. About the last word George said to me was: youre not to worry. I said, No! and I wouldn't go back on that I knew I ..as facing when I t married an aviator. I didn t marry George because be was an aviator, but in spite of his being an avis tor. It wasnt any impulsive act. We met when we were both going to Lakeland High School. George had come from Kansas and the boys ha ' a club. They used to entertain the girls at their homes, the boys taking turn as hosts, and it was all very simple, but great fun. When George was 19 he w t to aviation school in Austin. He was too young to enlist and he was just going when the armistice was signed. I went to Stetson University in Florida. But from the day I met George in the Lakeland High School, which is coeducational, I No never bad eyes for another boy. matter what career be had taken up. it would have been the same to me. I married t m knowing that his duty would often take him away for months at a time, and that if I let myself worry it wouldn t do a bit of good. I had every confidence n him. I know that George can land a ship anywhere anybody else can, and. with a smile, most all the aviators wives I know feel the same eay. Aviators' wives become accustomed tbeir husbands taking chances, and they don't think any more about seeing tben) stepping off In a plane than other th ,1vet think when they see their ,.,p jpto an automobile. We were married when we were 22. and went away for our honeymoon in an airplane. There are motor accidents George had his plane smashed once, but be escaped without a scratch. That's why I didn't feel the separation and the anxiety that poor Lyle suffered He was down South - Florid. I was stopping with friends in New Jersey. His , natural reaction was that Ruth should coma straight home and Well, not take any mere 'foolish risks. of course, Ruth Just couldnt do that, even if she had wished to. She bad to go on with wh. t she had started. "Though they loved to keep bouse tn Panama shortly after they were married, and Ruth Is very domesticated, it Isnt strange that she should be thrilled Everyat this wonderful experience. body is so kind and she is meeting so many interesting people. She Is really very shy, and it must be difficult for ha to speak in front of all those celebrities More food for scandal seemed to be picked up at the manner in which Lyle and Ruth greeted each other when ah and Georgs returned. Well, you know we are very reserved down South, and It was disconcerting when literally scores of cameras were trained on them when they met. They weren t accustomed to make love to each other in public. How did Mr. Haldeman take all the1 it was gossip about him and Ruth? pose as a single girl. She is not the sort to go in for mysteries. She is very you know. Aviation was being taken up by everybody, and Ruth went to my husband s school. That s bow we met her first. She was so enthusiastic about everything. Im not ambitious myself, and so I suppose it was her pep and wish to be up in everything that specially attracted me to her. "Then, out of a clear sky, came this opportunity to fly across the ocean. Some people who had seen Ruth at the field became tremendously Interested in her and offered to back her You can imagine how excited we all were when she and Lyi dropped in one evening and told us about it. Just put yourself in our places and picture one of your dear- frank, and she is very ambitious. Ruth and Lyle were married in Panama, you have probably heard. They had a comfortable little house and Ruth has often told me how much she enjoyed housekeeping for the two of them. I dont know whether she cooked and washed dishes and did all the housework. I .dont remember her mentioning It, but they had a great time and were very happy. Its hot, mighty hot, in Panama, and, of course, I am joking when I speak of her doing all the housework; they surely had help. Ruth is an awfully sensible, capable girl and she would make out well no matter what she might est friends telling you about such a . chance. Wouldnt you be thrilled? tackle. t Were they keeping house when you At that time, there waa some talk of met them in Lakeland? she was asked. Miss Elder going into the movies on ber " No, they wers living in a hotel. Ruth return, wasnt there? was working. She was In a dentists of"I dont remember that anything very fice. That was the time of the boom. definite was said, but you know the ( V J JlSrtiliauESEejbeMailid? Jkama movies, the chance to work in the movie, is the ambition of almost every girl, nen and poor. We talked of how wonderful it would be if she did go into the movies later or something like that And Lyle was Just as thrilled as Ruth was then. Ruth Is really a born aviator. She loves to fly and I believe she would rather do that than act In the movies. "Ruth's backers gave her her choice of pilots. Naturally she chose George be- cause he had been her teacher and sue had all sorts of confidence in. him as an aviator. Thats where a lot of people got mixed up they seemed tp be under the impression that George Chose Ruth i,f t 'LL light and very calm. They took turns Here a little in handling the plane. hesitation, and a quizzical smile "Moonlight and fair weather at night tn the clouds. I'm almost afraid to give that out It sounds 8" romantic, just the gossamer siiiy ideas are woven trom. You know running a plane takes every minute and every thought and the motor roars so. There really is nothing in it like automobiling. Weren't you afraid?" she was asked "Afraid? she repeated the word softly "No. Long after the hour bad passed when we expected to hear from them, 1 got a little well, you might call it One-ar- m rtant We discussed the possibilities of bringing George William, Junior thats our youngster BJly's real roll name up North, as his father was anxious to see him. He Just 4 years old. though, and has never been exposed to cold weather, so we wouldnt risk it "If Lyle Womack had stayed on and followed Ruth through the country, it might bave served as a top to those people, but be Isn't that kind of a boy,, and that kind of a boy would never have won the Rutb we know. , He isn't thinkhim hes ing of what people think only trying to think of wbat will be best for luth, whom be love with his hea.; " and soul Cvryripht Hr PW Ltdsr , |