My Father Was The Most Rational And

Quite Likely The Twentieth Century Is Destined To See The Natural Forces Which Will Enable Us To Fly From Continent To Continent With A Speed Far Exceeding That Of A Bird.

Though Born In Nova Scotia, I Am Of Almost Pure New England Descent.

In 1858 I Received The Degree Of D. S. From The Lawrence Scientific School, And Thereafter Remained On The Rolls Of The University As A Resident Graduate.

I Was Taught The Alphabet By My Aunts Before I Was Four Years Old, And I Was Reading The Bible In Class And Beginning Geography When I Was Six.

The Demonstration That No Possible Combination Of Known Substances, Known Forms Of Machinery And Known Forms Of Force, Can Be United In A Practical Machine By Which Men Shall Fly Along Distances Through The Air, Seems To The Writer As Complete As It Is Possible For The Demonstration To Be.