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35

On [[strikethrough]] September 2, [[/strikethrough]] Sept. 2, 1910, I took off, supposedly for more 'kangaroo' rehearsals. Instead I went sailing into the air, went up about one hundred fifty feet, made two complete circles of the field and brought the ship down with ease.  This was what I considered my first solo flight, and has, in aviation annals, been so recorded.

The exhileration of being up there and flying was just that.... [[strikethrough]] Wonderul [[/strikethrough]] Wonderful! When I landed I anticipated a deserved scolding rom Mr. Curtiss. He neither reprimanded nor congratulated me.  He treated the incident as a logical culmination of my training.  I did the same.  However his quiet-matter-of-fact acceptance, based on my knowledge of the man, was as lavish as two choruses of eighty=eight trombones leading a mile long parade.  His attitude conveyed very subtly that I was being accepted as "One of them"...the aviators." I quietly vowed to myself that no one would keep me out of the air. I could FLY...FLY!.

When I first went to Hammondsport, my feelings toward Mr. Curtiss were a curious mixture of fear and awe. He was an international figure in flying circles as well as a top executive, and administrator.  In his company I watched my speech and deportment to the smallest detail.  After soloing I was meticiously careful. It was imperative that I stay in his good graces and move along to the next phase...the exhibition team. This step I wanted to take as soon as possible.

One morning at breakfast, he was [[strikethrough]] complaing [[/strikethrough]] complaining bitterly about the manner his eggs had been over-boiled and that his toast had a definite char.  Unconsciously I was staring at him.  He looked up quickly as he completed his tirade, "Blanche, what makes you stare so?"

"I didn't realize I was staring so intently at you, sir,", I I replied, "But I've just come to the conclusion that all people

Transcription Notes:
Reviewed ... removed the [[sic]] - no need for this