The Aeroplane Speaks by H. (Horatio) Barber
page 19 of 183 (10%)
page 19 of 183 (10%)
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gathered together and were awaiting the arrival of Efficiency
who, as usual, was rather late in making an appearance. The crowd was larger than ever, and among the newcomers some of the most important were the three Stabilities, named Directional, Longitudinal, and Lateral, with their assistants, the Rudder, Elevator, and Ailerons. There was Centrifugal Force, too, who would not sit still and created a most unfavourable impression, and Keel-Surface, the Dihedral Angle, and several other lesser fry. ``Well,'' said Centrifugal Force, ``I wish this Efficiency I've heard so much about would get a move on. Sitting still doesn't agree with me at all. Motion I believe in. There's nothing like motion--the more the better.'' ``We are entirely opposed to that,'' objected the three Stabilities, all in a breath. ``Unless it's in a perfectly straight line or a perfect circle. Nothing but perfectly straight lines or, upon occasion, perfect circles satisfy us, and we are strongly suspicious of your tendencies.'' ``Well, we shall see what we shall see,'' said the Force darkly. ``But who in the name of blue sky is this?'' And in tripped Efficiency, in a beautifully ``doped'' dress of the latest fashionable shade of khaki-coloured fabric, a perfectly stream-lined bonnet, and a bewitching little Morane parasol,[[4]] smiling as usual, and airily exclaiming, ``I'm so sorry I'm late, but you see the Designer's |
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