Realising how many lives have been given to its development, feeling that the aviator takes, as they call it, "his life in his hands," the crowd at a flying-meet feels with all its great and growing interest, an attraction in which figures not a little fear and distrust. The first time that an aeroplane saves a life as it can and will do many times it will have begun to conquer this public distrust. That is why the exploit of the hydroaeroplane already described, in coming first to the aid of the aviator in the water, had a value far greater than its apparent importance.[7] EXPLORING AND ESCAPE FROM DANGER The aeroplane will find one of its important uses not only in taking pictures of inaccessible spots, but also in crossing otherwise impassable places, especially in times of pressing need when fire, earthquake, volcanic eruptions that leave beds of molten lava, explosions, pestilences, floods, or other devastations occur, and quick assistance is necessary. In engineering and mining matters, the aeroplane may be of assistance in exploring the best places to locate the route for railroads through mountain passes and into such places as "Death Valley" where the salt deposits are located. TRAVEL An important field in the sporting world of aviation of course will be carrying passengers and initiating novices into the mysteries of the air lanes and into the pleasures of aerial touring. In this delightful method of travel the panorama below is equal to any of the magnificent landscapes which may be seen from high mountains and besides, the view is attended by most delicious thrills and sensations, and when a good pilot is in control of the machine the passenger is sure of a pastime absolutely unequalled for mere joy, aside from further use or benefit it may have. While travelling over torrid places like deserts and arid wastes, as well as burning prairies, the aviator can fly high where the air is cool and clear and escape the great humidity and the deadly alkali dust. As for mountain climbing, it will have lost its peculiar fascination when the aeroplane will be to mountains what the elevator is to high buildings. The landscape has a greater, far greater beauty; for an aviator can see a great distance over a level plane. At the height of one mile you can, theoretically, see ninety-six miles in every direction and as you ascend the distance to the horizon becomes greater. In hilly country, one hill hides another when you look from the ground, but when you are high up in the sky, like the eagle, the mountains all seem to lose their height and appear flat and naturally your view is unobstructed. At great altitudes the sky becomes very deep blue and if you kept going up you would reach a point finally where the sky became black and the sun appeared like a ball of fire all by itself as a candle flame does in the dark. FOR HEALTH