I very soon ceased to hear the roar of the
wind and engines--unless, indeed, some cylinders missed, when I became
acutely aware of that. Within the rigid spread of the powerful planes,
so strangely motionless I had sometimes the illusion of sitting as if by
enchantment in a block of suspended marble. Even while looking over at
the aeroplane's shadow running prettily over land and sea, I had the
impression of extreme slowness. I imagine that had she suddenly nose-
dived out of control, I would have gone to the final smash without a
single additional heartbeat. I am sure I would not have known. It is
doubtless otherwise with the man in control.
But there was no dive, and I returned to earth (after an hour and twenty
minutes) without having felt "bored" for a single second. I descended
(by the ladder) thinking that I would never go flying again. No, never
any more--lest its mysterious fascination, whose invisible wing had
brushed my heart up there, should change to unavailing regret in a man
too old for its glory.
SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE LOSS OF THE TITANIC--1912
It is with a certain bitterness that one must admit to oneself that the
late _S.
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