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Kite (Wind toy controlled)

a wind toy, controlled by a string. As a plaything the kite has been known since 400 в. c., and in its familar form of two crossed sticks covered with paper, and balanced with a tail of string, on which are tied bits of cloth or paper, is a common sight. Kites were first employed in aid of science in 1749, by Dr. Alexander Wilson and Thomas Mellville, 3 two mile 595 feet, th houre. ar Boston etandem eve kites, 8,740 feet above md sile on KITTATINNY MOUNTAINS of Scotland, who by means of a therattached to a kite were able to take temperatures above the earth's surface. face. Franklin's experiments with electricity by means of a kite and key are familiar to everyone. In more recent times kites are being made to serve, not only the peaceful ends of science, but the needs of modern warfare. The first imwas to make a tailless kite, and this was perfected by Mr. Eddy.

In 1895 Captain Baden-Powell, of England, weighing 150 pounds, was enabled to hoist himself 100 feet in the air by a tandem of five kites. Mr. Eddy has done much to develop tandem kite flying. In 1897 he made a tandem of nine Eddy- Malay kites on a cord two miles long with an elevation of 5,595 feet, the same long, being kept up for 15 hours. At Blue Hill Hill Observatory, near Boston, this , the tandem of seven Malay and two Hargrave kites, with an area of 170 feet, rising 8,740 feet above Blue Hill, or 9,375 feet above sea-level. wire has been found preferable to cord, having greater tensile strength and presenting less surface to the wind. In the United States weather bureau parakites are used for the purpose of recording the velocity of ing the velocity of the wind, and the high altitudes, by the meteorograph. The parakites may be put to several uses in time of war.

They can, by means of colored electric lights or lanterns controlled by the cord or electric wire, convey signals to the troops, or they may be made to substances on the heads of the enemy. Photographs may be taken by means of a camera fastened on the frame of a kite and operated by a cord.

They were not much employed in the World War, photographs made from airplanes being more accurate.