Events & Discoveries

Why is this plastic boat named for a perfume? Because Edouard L. Cournand, an American businessman of French origin, gave help and encouragement of many kinds. "Without him," says M. Filloux, "there would be no boat, no expedition, nothing." M. Cournand is President of Lanvin Parfums Inc.

That's why it was Mme. Cournand who christened the boat, and that's why she did it with perfume. A crane which had brought the Arp�ge from the shed in which it was built dangled it over the water's edge while Mme. Cournand smacked it with a flagon of scent, perfuming the town of Havre de Grace. But the lady wasn't taking any chances or defying any traditions. She wanted to be sure that all went well with the Arp�ge so, just before the crane lowered the boat into the Susquehanna, she smacked it again, this time with a bottle of champagne—the French kind, natch.