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RHODE ISLAND
AVIATION ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL MEET-NARRAGANSETT  PARK
Sept. 2, 1912 LABOR DAY 2:30 P. M.
LINCOLN BEACHEY
WORLD FAMED! SPEED KING!
Flying in spectacular and dangerous, but skilful glides, banks and corkscrews. Do not fail to see his races around the track with professional motorcyclists.
MISS RUTH BANCROFT LAW
Beautiful! Artistic! Graceful! The only professional woman operator flying with the ease of a veteran.
HARRY MARTIN JONES
One of our boys. Reared in Providence. Don't fail to see this local professional. His work is phenomenal.
ARCH FREEMAN
Cool, careful, deliberate work. His control of the big biplane is astounding. Bomb dropping. Aerial baseball. Inside stunts cannot be seen elsewhere.
Prof. Rodman Law will Conclude the Meet in a Triple Parachute Leap
He is a man who jumped from the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, out of an aeroplane at Marblehead and from a multitude of other places. He is fearless. The work inside the grounds before the grandstand will be such that the price of admission is trivial.
RAIN OR SHINE.
AUTOMOBILES FREE. GRANDSTAND FREE.
ADMISSION FIFTY CENTS
Music by the Rhode Island Boy Scouts Band.

An accompanying illustration presents Miss Ruth Bancroft Law in her Burgess-Wright bi-plane. She has been making a number of very creditable flights in Rhode Island, and is regarded as a worthy addition to th elist of world's women aviators.
Miss Law always has been interested in athletic sports and holds the opinion that women should be allowed to compete with men in such events. When her brother, Rodman Law, began jumping from aeroplanes with his parachute. She decided that the field of aviation offered a splendid opportunity for her sex.
Her first effort was to interest Orville Wright of the Wright Company, but his advice was discouraging. In effect, he suggested that women could not be successful in aviation for the reason that they were unable to grasp the necessary mechanical details. Miss Law was not so easily discouraged, however, and straightaway began to study the internal workings of the aeroplane, not forgetting the engine, and it is claimed that she has a much better knowledge of her mount than most men who are flying.

Henry Roadman Law, the parachute jumper, has succeeded, it is believed to-day, in establishing a new altitude record for women at the meet of the Aeronautical Society at Oakwood Height, S. I.
  It appears that she surpassed the record held by Mme. Dietru of France, who made 3,100 feet, but Miss Law's mark will not be made public until the society reads the barograph she carried.

WOULDN'T LET BROTHER OUTDO HER SO SHE LEARNED TO FLY

[[Image]]
Ruth Bancroft Law.

I believe a woman can do anything a man can do and do it just as well, with the exception, of course, of undertakings which require great strength" is the profession of faith of Ruth Bancroft Law, the first woman aviator to fly in Rhode Island. And the "anything" includes everything in general from casting a ballot to bossing these United States, with special emphasis upon driving a finicky aeroplane up into the clouds and making it perform all sorts of thrilling stunts.
 It is a tenet of faith which she has followed with more or less persistency all her life, for since she was knee high to a grasshopper she has had the reputation among her playmates of being a girl whom her boy friends were very much afraid and entertained a wholesome respect for her agility and courage. Urchins in the desert where she lived as a small girl in Little Old New York learned a long time ago that when it came to climbing, at least, they stood about as much chance of phasing Ruth Law as they would in defeating a fish in an underwater swimming stunt and they gave up trying.
 If a new youngster in the neighborhood, in an effort to excite the admiration of his new made friends, shinneyed up a telegraph pole and hung off the cross arm, like as not a slender light-haired girl would step bashfully out of the crowd before the youngster had ceased strutting about like a pouter pidgeon his pride would be punctured by the unusal sight of  a girl climbing the self-same pole and hanging from the crossbar with only one hand. Then for good measure she would probably climb on over the crossbar and stand upright on the top of the pole. And in all probability to the misery of the crestfallen cutup would be aggravated after she returned to the ground and quietly remarked, "There, Smarty, try that"
 As a rule "Smarty" didn't, for it is a gas-gig to a wheel barrow that before the members of the little coterie had ceased holding their breath someone had "wised" him to the fact that if he at-tempted it Ruth Law would go him one better.
 All of which leads one to the conclusion that the young aviator who took a prominent part in the meet in his city on Labor Day and was engaged by the officials of the Washington Country Fair to give demonstrations at Kingston last week, is a mighty daring and cool-headed person. According to her own story, however, there was one young playmate of her childhood who kept her so busy duplicating stunts which he thought up that she had a little time to think up any new ones while he was around, which was a great part of the time.
 That was her brother, R. Rodman Law, who as a lad seemed to have a mania for doing the spectacular. Miss Ruth had her nerves put to pretty severe tests in trying to duplicate the feats of her daredevil brother and after they grew up and she attained an age at which her boyish tricks could no longer be continued without giving more or less scandal, she was almost heartbroken when she had to settle down to her books and the prosaic life in a trading stamp office while her brother made his living by gamboling around on the flag poles which decorated the roofs of lofty buildings in the metropolis.
 As if that wasn't enough, he began to jump from the Brooklyn bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and capped the climax when he began his career of jumping from aeroplanes. It was more than human nature could stand and, getting back some of her old self, Miss Ruth came to the conclusion that if "Rod" was snuggling up to the idea of monopolizing all the attention focused on the Law family he was doomed to disappointment. 
 Anyone could fall out of an aeroplane, she soliloquized; it was merely a matter of luck and landing right side up. The real science was in manipulating the aircraft so that one could stay in the air and so she decided to go her daring brother one better and learn to fly. After burning the bridges and by closing up the trading stamp office, she struck the trail which was to lead her to a fruitless interview with Orville Wright at Dayton, O.
 She found the wizard of the air merely a grown-up boy such as she had met hundreds of times in New York, who had a wholesome contempt for a grown-up girl's ability to enter a field in which be believed women had no place. He listened to her pleas and argument, but eventually brought the interview to an abrupt close by asserting that while he admired her courage he wished to tell her frankly that she was attempting the impossible.
 "There is no place in aviation at the present time for women," he said, "for the simple reason that they are not mechanically inclined. It is absolutely necessary for the person who wishes to become successful in the air to understand all the working parts of the machine, especially the mechanism of the motor."
 Miss Law returned from her Western trip somewhat crestfallen, but not discouraged. Mr. Wright's statement in regard to the necessity of understanding the working parts of the aeroplane was worth more to her than the cost of the trip and she straightaway began to study motors, magnetos and the theory of flying.
 That was in April, and before the end of May she was more determined than ever to become an aviator and made her 

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in July. She was on the grounds the day upon which Harriet Quimby plunged to death, but was not at all discouraged by the fatality.
 "From what I had learned I believed that aviation is a science that is still in its infancy and, perhaps, the fact that I have never had any faith in the monoplane, and the type of machine in which Miss Quimby was killed, may have accounted for my not being discouraged by the accident," said Miss Law a few days ago. "The accident, I believe, was due wholly to the fact that Miss Quimby attempted to volpane without first cutting out the motor and instead of gliding, as she planned, the added impetus of the motor sent her forward in a headlong plunge.
 "Mr. Wright was correct when he said that the successful operator must understand the working parts of the machine. The motor is the life of the air craft and it is the one thing upon which the life of the operator depends. If the motor should stop it requires prompt action on the part of the operator to throw the lever forward to volplane back to the earth, and the delay of a second or two is sufficient to cause the machine to plunge instead of glide.
 "The solving of the problem in devising some device to overcome this danger is one that has yet to be worked out and I believe that birdwomen who have taken up the science seriously have just as good a chance of learning what that device will be as the men. With me flying is more than a pastime; It is a serious business, and I make an effort to learn something new every time I leave the grounds.
 "Nearly all the women now flying with whom I am familiar fly straight ahead taking the corners and making turns with the wings of the machine horizontal. The men have acquired the faculty of banking their machines; that is, making quick short turns with one of the wings of the machine dipped. You can readily see the advantage of banking; if the aviator is suddenly confronted with a tree or post in descending it might not be possible to make the long turn. Let the tip of one of the wings touch an obstruction of this kind and it means a nasty fall. And banking is by no means as difficult as it appears. It was one of the first things that I mastered after starting to fly alone, not so much because it adds to the spectacular as because it insures by own safety. 
 "As a pastime flying is the greatest sport ever. Going straight ahead up in the clouds is good sport, but the most delightful feature of the sport, to me at least, is volplaning. I like to go away, away up, shut off the motor and then let the machine glide back to the earth. How far do I mean by away, away up? Well I have been up 4000 feet and some of those interested in aviation have told me that is 'some' distance."
 According to those who have taken an active interest in Miss law's career she is one of very few women now flying who have the mechanical ability to set up a machine. She uses a biplane and although an expert mechanic is employed for the purpose, she invariably supervises the work and frequently puts much of the machine together herself.
 She is more familiar with the working parts of the motor than the average housewife is with that of an egg beater and the slightest change in the sound of the whirring propellers instantly warns her of danger. She makes it a rule to thoroughly inspect the aeroplane before leaving the ground and pays strict attention not only to the working parts but also to the tension of the rods and braces which bind the planes together. No part of the machine is ever altered until she has been consulted and it is to care taken in this direction that she attributes her success.

CHILDREN WATCH MISS LAW SOAR AT KINGSTON FAIR
____
Daring Woman Aviator Pleases Thousands of Little Ones at Final Day of Annual Washington County Agricultural Society Exhibition.
____
 This was the last day of the Kingston Fair—the annual "children's day"—and thousands of children took advantage of the fact to go to the grounds and see the sights.
 Miss Ruth Bancroft Law, the aviator, flew about the place during the morning of the delighted "o-o-ohs" and "a-a-ahs" of the little ones, her flights being successful in every way.
 When the gates were opened at 9 there was an immediate influx of small folk, all of those under the age of 15 being admitted free. They swarmed into the grounds and made hurried trips through the big buildings and then went directly to the tent where the aeroplane was housed. Here they took their stand, waiting to see the machine go up.
 Miss Law was on hand early and she was bombarded with questions about how to operate the machine, what the different parts were for, and how they were made. Laughing at the volley of inquiries, she replied good-naturedly to all that she could answer, although she was forced to admit several times that the children had asked her something she knew nothing about.
 Judging from the number of boys that hung about and made sketches of the machine, one of the officials of the fair declared that he guessed next year it would be necessary to have a department for home-made aeroplanes.
 The final events on the horse-race programme were run of in the afternoon and the last day of the exhibits were inspected by the judges and prizes awarded.

YESTERDAY'S PROGRAMME.
 Governor's Day yesterday broke practically every record of the Washington County Agricultural Society, and it is conservatively estimated that more than 15,000 persons moved about the grounds, mingling with the politicians who always attend on that day, and following the special features on the elaborate programme.
 For the politicians, the day was an annual reunion, but unlike some years, many Democrats were in evidence in addition to practically all the Republican workers and two or three members of the Progressive party. The political attendance was probably as large as on any previous Governor's Day in recent years.
 Senator R. Livingston Beeckman was a prominent figure among the Republicans. He discussed the gubernatorial situation with many members of the Assembly and the other party men, and appeared to have many supporters who found ample opportunity to mention his candidacy for the governorship.
 Democrats turned out in numbers, among the most prominent being National Committeeman George W. Greene, John J. Fitzgerald, David J. Barry, Representatives Thomas J. Matthews, Frank A. Mulvaney and John B. Sullivan and Senators Addison P. Munroe and Thomas F. Galvin. Democratic workers were also seen and former Governor L. F. C. Garvin appeared to be the only Progressive leader on the grounds.

FLYING AND RACES SEEN.
 Miss Law, the aviator who flew at the recent Narragansett Park exhibition, gave a successful demonstration of flying over the field in the middle of the afternoon, and several exciting horse races were run off. These, with the other features, made up a programme which filled the entire day with activity.
 The weather could not have been more suitable for a fair. The sky, cloudy in the early forenoon, cleared up by 11 o'clock and from then on the rays of the sun were uninterrupted. It was not too warm, yet those who had coats found it more enjoyable to carry them on their arms [[guess]].
 From the time that gates of the fair were opened at 8 o'clock crowds poured inside and at 10 o'clock, when the vaudeville performance was commenced on a platform in front of the grandstand, the grounds were swarming with people. Half an hour later the "grand cavalcade" of all the premium horses and cattle took place, the animals being escorted about the half-mile track for the benefit of the spectators. 
 President Edwards of the Rhode Island State College spoke briefly at the annual exercises, telling of the work the college is doing in general, and touching upon agricultural subjects.
 Congressman Utter spoke also, his talk being mainly on the feeling of unrest which he said was spreading about the country. He said that this unrest was a social unrest rather than a political one.
 "This unrest," said the Congressman, "is not political. It is the result of a social change, and it must be met individually. It may be termed progressive dyspepsia. The people of this country are suffering from too rich living."
 The speaker mentioned instances to prove his statemen, saying that things people now demanded were a few years ago rare luxuries. He said that now the American nation must soon, if not now, recognize that it is living too fast. This fast living, he said, caused the unrest for people, having spent their money in ways they did not closely study, wondered where it was gone afterward.
 Mr. Utter scored the automobile "road hog" at some length, saying that the people in rural communities were getting tired of having the motorists speeding along the roads, without taking into considerations the rights of anyone else.
 Congressman Utter also declared in favor of completing the Point Judith harbor of refuge, and spoke for a few minutes on the value of this to shipping.
 Among the politicians and State officials at the fair yesterday were Governor Pothier, Lieutenant Governor Bliss, Secretary of the State Parker, General Treasurer Read, John J. Fitzgerald, David G. Arnold, Robert F. Rodman, Peter J. Lannon, James F. Freeman, Representative Z. Herbert Gardner, Senator George T. Gorton, Harold B. Andrews, Senator Louis W. Arnold, Representative Arthur S. Vaughn, Senator Addison P. Munroe [[Guess]], David J. Barry, George W. Greene, J. Ellery Hudson, James D. Reilly, former Governor Garvin, former Governor D. Russell Brown, Senator Beeckman, Frank W. Tillinghast, Senator Milton F. Duckworth, James R. Cannon, Philip A. Money, Senator Oscar A. Bennett, Senator Edward Atchison, Representative Roswell B. Burchard, Representative Frank A. Mulvaney, Charles Potter, Senator Wilder, John S. Murdock, Michael J. Lynch, John W. Sweeny, John J. Dunn, Richard W. Jennings, Senator Thomas H. Gavin, Representative Charles G. Hill, Representative Frank F. Davis, Representative John. B. Sullivan, Edmund Walker, Representative Whipple, Percy W. Gardner, Representative Albert H. Langworthy, Charles Carroll, Senator Christopher E. Champlin, Representative Gideon Spencer, Charles C. Gray, John J. Rosenfeld, Senator Frank L. Caswell, Representative Cranston, Representative Horace N. Hassard, Robert S. Franklin, Senator Cole, Senator Frederick A. Jones, Fred H. Jones, Senator Ezra Dixon, Senator Walter A. Bowen and others.

FAIR'S ATTRACTIONS INTEREST CHILDREN
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Record-Breaking Crowd of Youngsters at Kingston Event.
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MISS LAW IN AN AIR FLIGHT
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Aeroplane Woman Declines John G. Cross as Passenger.—Field Sports for Boys Prove Exciting Events, While Spelling Matches and Prize Speaking Keep thers Busy.

 Children's Day at the Kingston Fair yesterday broke all records of attendance on the closing day of the Washington county annual exhibit.
 It was estimated by many of the officials that the influx of young people was nearly double that of any closing day in the history of the society. As on other days, the weather was ideal for the "holiday"—for it was a real holiday, the schools of the South county closing Thursday afternoon for the week to allow children to visit the fair.
 Bright . and early the young people were up and all roads led to the fair grounds. With the exception that Miss Ruth B. Law would make her flight about 11 o'clock as was planned, the youngsters were on hand at the opening of the gates at 8 o'clock and made a tour of the grounds for a starter.
 By 10 o'clock there was a big gathering; in fact, very few people came after that time, an unusual incident for the last day of the big show. The aeroplane, races for the young people on the race track in front of the grandstand, spelling matches and prize speaking contestants were among the attractions.
 Short before noon a stiff breeze sprung up and it was after 5 o'clock when Miss Law made her flight. Former Constable John G. Cross of Wakefield made application to Miss Law yesterday morning to be allowed to accompany her in her flight as a passenger. Friday, the 13th, had no terrors for Mr. Cross. He is, however, rather heavy for an aviator, tipping the scales at 180, and this, together with the conditions of the wind, compelled Miss Law to refuse his request.

GETS TO HIGH ALTITUDE

  Her flight yesterday excelled that of the previous day in speed and altitude. With her engine speeded higher she circled the grounds and went over the railroad station with greater speed than on Thursday. 
  The field sports were won by the following: 200-yard dash. boys under 12- Courtland Stanton, first; George Nichols, second; Lewish Easterbrooks, third. 200-yard dash, boys 12 to 15- Fred Adams, first; Seymour Stanton, second; Morris Quigley, third. Lace shoe race, boys under 15-Joseph Bray, first; James H. Gordon, second; Morris Quigley, third. Potato race- John Lassel, first; David Reid, second; Morris Quigley, third. Egg and spoon race-Joseph Bray, first; John [[hidden]]; Morris Quigley, third. [[Hidden]] Lyman Tourgee, first; Thomas [[hidden]]; John Griffin, third. [[Hidden]] President [[guess]] Brady of the South [[hidden]] school department presided [[hidden]] contest held in the hall. 
[[hidden]] M. McVay of Carolina was
[[hidden]] of the contest and Lawrence
[[hidden]] Kenyon was second.
[[hidden]] Agatha (?) Congdon of the South
[[hidden]] high school was the only con-
[[hidden]] prize speaking and she was
[[hidden]] honor of having her name en-
[[hidden]] the silver cup.

  

Transcription Notes:
Note that much of this page is the same as the last one so you may want to copy/paste some of it over. This page has more than the last one though, since the last page was cut off.