| Show I and L Lv v the A Romantic Adventures of the I Girl 1 k I r 4 x Who Ran Away From Home 9 Sa y 4 x w 4 and a Fortune to Become T X r rt Russia's First Woman Aviator f I J Mi t 44 fJ r i 1 Aviator m 4 e B I or Cr tit t 4 tYli J it fl f f Y ti jo itC Ii i t M 1 t r kf f q lA I i 1 k P y 4 i j i i z I I cant can't understand an why more mor more American women are not flying says Mrs Its the best cure for nervousness I 1 know RS BORIS Rus RUI- Russia's Rus- Rus Russia's M MRS sias sia's pioneer woman aviator who arrived in New York reo re re with her husband is astonished at the small Email number of woman aviators in America Very probably however they would not be so few if every woman could be assured that when she donned an aviators aviator's suit and learned to fly she sho would have all 1111 11 the happy this Russian beauty found while soaring above the cloud clouds Mrs has to her credit numerous nu nu- nu numerous records for or flying not only in Russia but in several other European countries She has won prizes and trophies and miles of publicity in the foreign press The late Czar during her herIN pioneer flying days expressed his ad admiration IN for her courage and daring bythe bythe by bythe the gift gUt of ofa a magnificent diamond diamon bracelet 11 But all all the the gifts and admiring attention that were lavished upon her count for tor nothing by com com- comparison parison with with the great romance that came to her from out of the tb sky sicy as it were This is the outstanding or o rather the crowning feature oher of her long and successful flying hying career Mrs lira with all her he experiences is still a young woman only only three thirty-three years year M s- s smil mil old She began flying in 1911 44 One of the souvenirs of her early days in aviation is the little black leather covered book containing her pilots pilot's license from the Russian Rus- Rus Russian sian government It is num- num number num her ber 55 The four fifty-four other licensed aviators at the time all men pre pre pre- predicted disaster for the reckless young woman woman who insisted on taking her life in her hands to compete with them in the clouds as they put it it But the disaster they prophesied never came Indeed the greatest good fortune attended the flights of othe the lone woman aviator Through them she be gained fame wealth and love M My feet fet may be in the air but my brain and my hands aras are areas areas as steady as the earth she reo re- replied r plied to the prophets of disaster As time passed and their gloomy passed I prophecies went unfulfilled her fellow aviators seemed to forget force all about them They accepted u u on the terms she literally forced upon them by by reason reason reason of her suc- suc successful successful flights flight and her increasing knowl knowl- knowl knowledge edge If of the mechanism of the crudely built planes plan of that early day Daughter of a wealthy Moscow bust bust- bustness biness isi- isi ness man Mrs Mrs as a girl had had ambitions to appear on the tho stage Her father seriously objected He would cut cuther cuther her off without a pennys penny's allowance ho he threatened if she persisted in carrying carryout her plan to become an actress Finally one on day she snapped her fin fin fin- fingers gers at this parental objection money anyhow she asked Cant t I 1 earn money too She answered a this question herself by running running- away from home and getting a small part at a Mos Moe- cow under an assumed name About the same time she started learn learn- learning ing to fly just for sport Her father was father was doubly indignant when he learned that in addition to turning actress this favorite daughter of his was risking risking her neck neck in devil dare Stunts stunt inthe inthe in the air Her Fier sisters vere sisters were vere the only ones nes who encouraged d her aviation efforts They knew she could drive dyke a car and hunt bunt and fish fist they and swim as well as most men and so they had acl no no fear about her being able to fly ly as u aS well II too U Unfortunately fortunately the for for the girls girl's theatrical leal ambitions a few weeks were enough i to convince he herand and the Moscow manager ger that isle he had baa no o oi i real art talent lent for tor the the stage But before her engagement waS was ended ded her father died When his will was wu i read ead u r l lr fr r t jh 4 l It t III t f h I Ii i if d f fJ t t M l lJ J J 9 i bA i W- W i l f 00 ti t i t it ti i f t f h fl B Mrs accompanied by a friend starting off on j IA 4 a little air excursion from the aviation field in Moscow J where her first flying was done J At 1 i 1 k e eThe The aviation costume Mrs wore when she was flying dur dur- dur ing during the war in the Rus- Rus tian ian Rusian hospital service It was found d that he had reo re- remained unforgiving unforgiving r- r giving to the ie end and bad hi cut her off without a ru- ru ruble ru ble She was too proud to a ask k aid of her sil- sil si tern lers or mother She w 10 would o 0 u I 1 d earn earn her lier own om n living But Bi what could she shedo shedo do Only in inthe inthe ithe the i line i in n e of i sports was she sheat sheat slat at all profi I have my license why not fly By This was her first thought and a happy thought it afterward d proved Builders of the flims flimsy crude planes plan es then the n in use were not find find- finding fining d- d ing it easy to persuade e r s u a e young men of the desirability ity of learning to fly It was w too dangerous So although women aviators were as yet unheard yet unheard of f the future Mrs thought there should be a good chance for tor her to get geta et a flying job She applied for a place as demon demon- demonstrator with one of the concerns concerns that had met with some s success success cess in making its winged contraptions remain in the air ir She was Immediately accepted You have the courage and the ability t the manufacturer told her He lIe was pleased with any new convert to the cause of aviation at a time when he was en en- en endeavoring to convince the Russian gov- gov government government eminent of its importance A few months aft after r this comely young woman had become a familiar figure at atthe atthe the flying held field near Moscow she got her first important assignment Up to tl this time she had made only trial flIghts Inthe inthe In the new MW planes Her job was to circle in them over the flying field geld and thus us attract attention to this method of trai trans One day in the early part of July just prior to the outbreak of bf the World War she was adjusting the engine of her he plane when she the was interrupted by on one e of the field officers Would you be willing to start for forSt fo foSt r St Petersburg witha with a passenger o at t once 1 he asked She scanned the machine It seemed seen d doubtful if it was equal to such a nigh dt t against a strong head wind It is isa a most important matter i the th he e 4 officer urged I hope you will say yes All right she agreed Her passenger later explained how he 1 had missed the express train He had hadan hadan an engagement with the war minister in St St Petersburg He must be there on time to keep it it The slim young girl stepped lightly into the pl plane ne and the rather frightened frighten looking passenger pasSenger took his seat scat there If my business was not so urgent I 1 wouldn't risk my life this way he told her Oh its it's quite assured him The engine started the noise cutting off all possibility of conversation The Theman Theman e man shook his head gloomily lIe He distrusted dis- dis distrusted trusted the whole performance Curse Cure that chauffeur whose slowness had made e him miss his train I This isn't St Petersburg he cried d impatiently when after an hours hour's flying the plan plane began to descend to earth Hop out ordered the young woman Nothing serious I only want to get some oil These planes dont don't carry much you know After this short delay they again aga sped along in silence for another two hours By this time the passenger was begin begin- beginning ning to regain something of his normal spirits For the first fast time he noticed noticed id that his companion was extraordinarily pretty Why confound it she was more mo that pretty She possessed beauty He glanced at his watch Better Better stop now for tea he insisted and the aviator glad of this little opportunity opportunity r to rest taut nerves accepted the invitation What a devilish courage this girl g has mused the man as he sipped he-sipped ripped tea Many men would have hesitated h hesitated to undertake the responsibility of landing ig me at the war ministers minister's on schedule time but she s seemed emed to have no doubts doubts about her ability to do It it Then he remembered remembered something Of course passengers are not accustomed to introduce themselves to the drivers of cars or planes but in this case ho he felt It ashamed that he hadn't done so 60 Sobe So he told her bel who he was Boris was is known as the I bread king of of Russia and with untold millions of f rubles invested in railroads and banks and scores of other enterprises besides es his great bakeries And 1 right ht there the romance between the millionaire and and the girl flyer began There were rum rumors rs of ot war Ministers and secret agents flitted silently a and mysteriously about the capitals of Europe Mr had been cud sud su denly ordered from l f Moscow scow to confer or with the minister of war concerning a large con contract for supplying the tho Bus Rus- Russian sian clan army with bread His official business transacted he hurried back to Moscow by train while the youthful aviator remained in St Petersburg to make some repairs to the t machine which had so admirably Be ac- ac acquitted quitted itself the previous day A week elapsed and Mr was called again to St St Petersburg to transact some important business W Why far tt b Fe is e a t xi- xi xii 4 i r Mrs Boris v Philo off w stills still as s zat ah about aviation as in inthe the days when she won the late Czars Czar's praise for her skill and daring as s a flyer take the train he thought when the trip could be bl made so much more swiftly and pleasantly by airplane So 50 he went t to the flying field and was delighted to find d his pilot of the previous trip ready tal to take him over the route again So So much muc much did he admire the young womans woman's womans woman's dexterity in handling the crazy l looking oking machine mach machine machne ne that he thought just to show his appreciation of her ability he h a would extend an invitation to dinner that night in St St Petersburg From that time on on the romance moved penniless rapidly Within a few weeks the pennie penni- penn less young aviator r became the wife of oft t le bread king whose for for for- fortune tune was time lime estimated at more than Mrs had the distinction of being the only woman to fly in active service during the World War She Sh flew with the Russian army on the Vest Vest- West ern em front attached to the hospital corps Before the war broke out she ahe startled d Europe by making a successful flight nigh t from Berlin n to Paris P Pr r l While on this s trip she was forced to make a landing andin near Cologne It was twilight and nd very misty and when her plane came to rest it landed in a great stone flagged court court- courtyard yard Instantly there t ere was was a commotion German ed out into from all sides and surrounded her She understood enough of their language to know that she was inside a fortress arid and that they suspected her of being a spy spy Impossible she sho told them They were not convinced She was led inside the fortress and placed under arrest The Tho despairing flyer exhibited d her he license card The officers shook their heads They were dubious about the whole business But the situation was saved by Ithe the appearance of all an officer r whose face lit up with a smile as he ho saw her and said with the greatest cordiality Why hy go good d evening comrade cs comrade I What t c brings you here J Then to his fellow officers ho he ex- ex explained explained This is my old Russian friend i leahe huun Ina t tV V 1 14 e i J J c 3 To 4 ff t t J I 0 of fI t I IN N L 4 Y r J Lw's r I I 6 J s she yu S She he and I have often flown together Of course the aviator at once became becam an honored guest instead of a prisoner Next day a banquet was prepared in her he honor with all the officers and their the wives attending In 1911 when aviation was first at- at attracting at attracting the attention of the Russia Russian Russ n Imperial government the young viator nr r was flying over the St I Petersburg field I when she was signaled to from below She descended to learn th the reason Her license entitled her to member membership ship in the Imperial All Russian Aerial Aeria Ae Club of which Grand Duke uncle of the Czar was president Th The Duke had brought the Czar to the field fief eld that afternoon and wanted to present presen ent t the woman aviator to him His Majesty sty ty was most gracious and felicitated heron he heon her r on her success A fe few weeks later her flying was w as again apin interrupted one afternoon by a signal from an aide to the Czar He H e explained that he had bad come to present her with the Czars Czar's Czars Czar's compliments with w ith h a magnificent bracelet This bracelet like most of the other riches the once once possessed lost through the revolution rom From Russia's wreck they saved little except lives Now they have come coma to to start allover all over again and try rebuild their fortunes Being a wealthy friend of ot the nobility and his young wife were to flee to Odessa when the l broke out One dark night a steamer bound for C Constantinople out from the quay a couple of on the lower desk hauled on oard a much frightened young woman worn t was loIn She had been en on board from a II small row boat bent bo But a hour half later a B Russian cruiser the steamer It demanded and it got her Taken back to Odessa she was thrown nto prison and put at hard labor T This c j I l j- j UKI St q r 4 ae aeJ t J D rD r r X fa Boris the once im- im immensely wealthy Russian bread bread kig who fell in love with his future wife while speeding through the air with her meant working working on the roads breaking stone etc This work in all kinds of weather broke her health When Mrs was flying in Germany before the tho war she met met-a young German aviator who fell in love with her He lIe insisted that she give ive up her flying if it she sho marry him I r couldn't bring myself to do that says Mrs I love flying to too well Later this young man was killed by a fall of his plane Mr Mr told me when we be- be came engaged that I could fly as a much as I pleased after our marriage In fact he offered tu tv buy mo me the best planes in existence Only on this condition did I 1 marry himi himl him I cannot understand why more American women are arc not flying Its It's sucha such a wonderful sport And it its it's the best cure for nervousness I know When I feel a bit fussed with the complexities of life I like to climb into a machine and take a II spin among the clouds i 1 I l Cj |
