Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1917 — Birth of Flying Idea. [ARTICLE]

Birth of Flying Idea.

The idea of flying by aid of the balloon was conceived by Stephen Montgolfier while watching a wet shirt, drying before a fire, swell and rise under the influence of the hot air. On August 27,1783, at Paris, the Montgolfiers sent up a balloon 12 feet In diameter before 300.000 spectators. On September 19th, at Versailles, before Louis XVI and his court, a balloon was sent up to which was attached a basket in which were placed a sheep, a cock, and a duck. These nameless heroes were, the first to prove that animals, and, hence, man could live high up in the air. On November 21st, the same year, De Rofiaer made the first flight ever made by man, remaining In the air 20 minutes* 1