Mr. Davis has very kindly sent us an account of the kite represented in our No. 9. We take great pleasure in publishing his statement. He says:
"I will tell you about Mr. William A. Eddy's kite, or rather about Mr. Hargrave's, whose invention was the kite represented in your late issue.
"Mr. Lawrence Hargrave, of Australia, began in 1892 some experiments in kite flying. His first attempt was with cylindrical surfaces. Not succeeding as well as he had expected, he changed his plans, and in 1893 perfected the kite as represented in your issue. He sent photographs to the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, where Mr. Eddy saw them. On his return to Bayonne, Mr. Eddy made several kites from the photographic pattern, and flew them a few days afterward. These undoubtedly were the first Hargrave kites flown outside of Australia. This is a powerful kite, but it requires a very strong wind to raise it.
"Mr. Eddy's kites are of a nearly plane surface, slightly convex in front, and without tails. His experiments with them are revealing wonderful facts regarding atmospheric electricity."
Dear Mr. Editor:
The Great Round World is very interesting, I think, when you commence it. I think as another little girl thinks, that the inventions made nowadays are wonderful; indeed, if I could I would like to talk to the people up in Mars, if there are any to talk to. My teacher's name is Miss Davis, and she reads The Great Round World to us.
Yours truly,
Laura Van C.
Troy, Ohio, February 13, 1897.
Dear Mr. Editor:
I have a book by the name of "In Mythland." I like it so much that I thought I would write and tell you about it, so as other children seven years old like me would know of it, and could read it. Mother reads The Great Round World to me every week, and I like it very much. Mother is reading me a book called "Hans Brinker; or, The Silver Skates." A story of life in Holland. By Mary Mapes Dodge. My book has many pictures of Holland in it.
Yours truly,
Theodore S.K.
321 West 82d Street, February 15, 1897.