Ws, Rooms, Ambasehdor of Good, Wi When Will Rogers died unexpected ty, in an aeroplane crash on August 13, tes, Americ Tost one of its best known ind loved figurera man who, though his fame encircled the globe, tron estentay American in his work, Ite and even indi death. wat Because he hod become the champion American_aviation that he was Suing ext to "Wiley Post on that fateful evening when Potts plane frauhea othe tundra in alaria few mites from the lest outpost of Sviuzation in North Amesiea Both and Post were" instantly" kil, the world knows, and with Rogers death, was sled. the voice of one tio had been for many years the Jester"to a Nation and its Sambar: isdor of Good. Wu."
'What Mr. O'Brien, hes attempted Inthe preseat booke10 compress the ory' of Wit oners" ite oto the omparaively small space of 250 Pagersis no light task when one Considers the imeresing and clive existence that was Rogers, his pro-fine pony he wit, hie gift for making friends wth Americas great, and the tremendous) legend tat gradually few up about him, He was actor, fow-bay, " philowpher, journalist Sporizmcn, aviation enthuse, radio beaker poli al comments, and Philantiopist—all none. He was sccompllshed ater-dinner speaker tin own coy way, he was a ready rit (though His" buimour wat never Malicious ahd! he was "a eurited {lend and counselor to all" those within "his own large circle who ceded his help.
Wilt Rogers was born in the old Indian 'Terrdory which is now the Slate of Oklahoma, and his parents oth hed Cherowee 'Blood in their ems "Ile ued to. say" sometimes, when "confronted with "haughty Jdecendonts of New England Pigs trid Purlans: "Sly ancestors dirt Some' aver inthe. Mayfome=—they feet" the boot" "Apart. from the Sboviginal strain, he was Inch and Scottish by descent. i early years the" West naturally were! Spent Irgely onthe open range, end could Tide a horse at ihe age and was a first-class cow-hand and roper' at fourteen. His parents' Stiempt to provide him with a sound [education having failed, he returned "Edward 10 the cattle country, then went to Argentina, where he worked for some time as a gaucho. His next move was to South Africa, where he wanted to take part in the war with the Boers. but he arrived too late to joniist. Instead he joined a travelling "Wild West" show. at Johannesburg and worked his way with the show fo. New Zealand and Australia, Tu Australia "he found employment in the service of another travelling, circus, went to Japan and China and thenea "across the Pacific to San Francisco. From. California tramped back to Oklahoma and the family hearth, having been "on the road" for three years,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.