"The Balloonatics."

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 99

"The Balloonatics."

The experiences of an aeronaut are sometimes more amusing than dangerous. On one occasion (we are told in The Record of an Aeronaut, newly published by Mr John Lane), the Rev. J. M. Bacon — the aeronaut in question — and his party landed unexpectedly outside of the Claybury Lunatic Asylum. Tea was hospitably given them by the doctor, and afterwards, "A fly was 6ent for to drive the aeronauts to the nearest station. Their departure was from the front of the building, where, owing to their novel method of arrival, they had not before been seen, and, as they might have expected, a somewhat astonished porter stopped them at the lodge. " 'Where are you going to?' commenced the {-atechism. '" 'To the station.' " 'And where have you com© from?' " 'From the asylum. We have been the^e to tea.' "The Dorter's face darkened and stiffened. 'But I never ©aw you arrive. How did you come?' " 'Oh, we came in a balloon,' was Ba§on'e innocent and airy answer. But it proved altogether the wrong reply, for the .janitor, very stern by now, remarked 1 that it was just what he had expected, that he

had heard that tale before, and other icy witticisms of a like nature. Until due explanations had cleared the air, the aeronauts could not but feel that those facetious friends who dubbed them 'balloonatics' were nearer the mark than, they supposed."