“Is that all that has impressed you?” inquired His Majesty of England.
“Well,” replied Carlos, “the boiled beef is not so bad.”
§ 153 Pretty Pol!
It will be recalled that it was necessary for the Wright brothers to go abroad in order to secure proper recognition for their first aeronautic inventions. The French government welcomed them and gave them proper opportunity to demonstrate what they had done; but as a group, the French aeronauts were disposed to show jealousy for the two Yankees.
Following the successful proof by the Wrights of their ability actually to fly and, what was more important, to guide their machine along a given course, a banquet at Paris was arranged in their honor.
Naturally, there was a deal of speech-making. The chief orator was a distinguished Frenchman who devoted most of his remarks to claiming that France had led the world in the new field of endeavor—or so he insisted—and to proclaiming that future developments ever would find Frenchmen at the forefront. Curiously enough, he had very little to say in compliment of the two chief guests of honor.
Wilbur Wright was next called upon by the toastmaster. Slowly he rose to his feet.
“I am no hand at public speaking,” he said, “and on this occasion must content myself with a few words. As I sat here listening to the speaker who preceded me I have heard comparisons made to the eagle, to the swallow and to the hawk as typifying skill and speed in the mastery of the air; but, somehow or other, I could not keep from thinking of the bird which, of all the ornithological kingdom, is the poorest flier and the best talker. I refer to the parrot.”
And down he sat amid tremendous applause from the Americans present.