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and really felt sorry for me. I stammered and spluttered, tried to think what it was all about and then finally remarked that I knew I would feel better five thousand feet up in the air than on this stage. This seemed to amuse the crowd who laughed and applauded, I joined in the laugh and then explained that I had forgotten my prepared talk but would tell them about flying in my own way. I managed to finish the twenty minutes allowed me and was able to show the moving pictures as well.

As far as I was concerned, it was a serious matter. I was trying to give an honest opinion concerning the possibilities of the then small airship as well as the large rigid airship of the future.

As we progressed with the three weeks engagement, the lecture became smooth, there was no more hesitation and I was under the impression that I was improving. On day during the last week a gentleman in the audience immediately in front of me asked, "Why don't you take it out doors and fly it? That is what we are here for, to see it fly." That was the end of any ambition I may have had to go further in vaudeville, and at the end of the week we definitely closed the engagement. The effort was charged to profit and loss, largely loss, for it lacked the element of appreciation.

THE AERO CLUB OF AMERICA
During this period I received a call back stage from Augustus Post. He told me a group of wealthy New York sportsmen had organized the Aero Club of America and invited me to join which I was very glad to do. He did not like the idea of the theatrical engagement. To the members of the