108 PROCEEDINGS OF REGENTS. 



This conclusion was not warranted by the facts; and to me and to 

 others who have examined the apparatus, it seems to be a perfectly 

 good flying machine — excellently constructed and the fruit of years 

 of labor. It was simply never launched into the air, and so has never 

 had the opportunity of showing what it could do. Who can say 

 what a third trial might have demonstrated ? The general ridicule, 

 however, with which the first two failures were received prevented 

 any further allotment of money to give it another trial. 



CONCLUSION. 



Langley never recovered from his disappointment. He was humil- 

 iated by the ridicule with which his efforts had been received, and 

 had, shortly afterwards, a stroke of paralysis. Within a few months 

 a second stroke came and deprived him of life. 



He had some consolation, however, at the end. Upon his death- 

 bed he received the resolution of the newly formed "Aero Club of 

 America," conveying the sympathy of the members and their high 

 appreciation of his work. 



Langley 's faith never wavered, but he never saw a man-carrying 

 aerodrome in the air. 



His greatest achievements in practical aerodromics consisted in the 

 successful construction of power-driven models which actually flew. 

 With their construction he thought that he had finished his work; 

 and, in 1901, in announcing the supposed conclusion of his labors he 

 said : 



I have brought to a close the portion of the work which seemed to be specially 

 mine — the demonstration of the practicability of mechanical flight — and for the next 

 stage, which is the commercial and practical development of the idea, it is probable 

 that the world may look to others. 



He was right, and the others have appeared. The aerodrome has 

 reached the commercial and practical stage; and chief among those 

 who are developing this field are the brothers Wilbur and Orville 

 Wright. They are eminently deserving of the highest honor from 

 us for their great achievements. 



I wish to express my admiration for their work and believe that 

 they have justly merited the award of the Langley medal by their 

 magnificent demonstrations of mechanical flight. 



PRESENTATION ADDRESS BY SENATOR HENRY CABOT LODGE. 



Senator Lodge said : 



Mr. Chancellor, founded for the increase and diffusion of knowledge 

 among men, the Smithsonian Institution has always considered that 

 one way in which it could most appropriately fulfill the purposes of 

 its founder was by the recognition of great achievements in science. 



