Doing Europe
Sirs:
Like the words of our copatriot Aimee McPherson: "To err is human,"1 I made a slight error and my dear Uncle Sam invited me to spend a short time in Leavenworth.
Once I had too much "time" and now that I have become acquainted with another kind, I am not satisfied with it coming along once a week.
Seventeen companions in crime read my copy, including the famous Dr. Cook of North Pole fame, the Yellow Kid, whose mysterious ways gained him millions, S. E. J. Cox of oil world fame and Big Tim Murphy liked to read it.
I am a poor struggling banker with but an A. B. and B. S. degree and a post-graduate of University of Grenoble in France, and I am looking for some thing to beat TIME and cannot find it.
TIME has brought me closer to the outside life than any of the other 17 periodicals I take.
The thing that interests you the most is the two dollars I owe you.2 I have recently, within the week, written my banker to send a remittance to cover my needs until I gain my freedom on Oct. 27. As soon as it arrives, TIME will be reimbursed.
I have not the ability to express how TIME has helped me in my incarceration.
Please never print my name or number. I am supposedly "doing Europe."
- -
No. -3
Leavenworth, Kan.
Ohio's Coal Bin
Sirs:
Ohio can't be proud of the "gang," of course, but it's going pretty strong for a West Virginian [Newsstand Buyer Sands, TIME, Feb. 21] to get uppitty. What's West Virginia but Ohio's coal bin? Just a dirty, disheveled stretch of mine dumps and scraggly mountains, filled with a bunch of ignorants that only know enough to swing picks and drink moonshine. That's one reason you can't spend anything but Sunday on Sunday in West Virginia. Everybody's drunk or sleeping it off down there on Sunday. . . . What President did West Virginia ever produce? The nearest she came was John T. Davis4 and he moved out soon as he grew up. He goes back there to vote, sure. Why not spend a little carfare for the sake of lining up several thousand votes out of sheer sentiment? But what big men has West Virgina got? Senator So-and-so, I suppose, and Senator Whozis. I never heard of them. They can't stack up against Fess and Willis. I live only 50 miles from the Ohio River (you notice it's called Ohio River) and often see copies of the Charleston Gazette. They're hardly literate even on their newspapers. . . .
GEORGE ZWEIGER
Chillicothe, Ohio
Satisfied
Sirs:
Renewing her subscription, a charter subscriber wants at the same time to express her belief that TIME has fulfilled its promises and her expectations of four years ago, in every particular. She would hate giving up Atlantic and Harper's monthly magazines, Christian Century, Saturday Review of Literature, or the daily New York Times, but rather than to do without TIME, she believes herself willing to forego almost any two of the others in its favor, finding it pre-eminently the Newsmagazine.
There are two criticisms she would like to make. The first possibly founded on prejudice, being her objection to a department headed WOMEN. Your news regarding women in previous issues, and especially in TIME Jan. 17, before such a department was named, has always seemed most satisfactory to her. Why label a column WOMEN ? One other stricture. Your sarcasm seems needlessly severe sometimes. She has no personal interest in Bainbridge Colby, nor Mrs. Colby, but the article involving them two weeks ago, seemed almost cruel in its severity, and serves as an example of what she means.
Your brilliancy of writing sometimes makes the meaning a trifle cryptic, but she enjoys discovering it in her own fashion and finds no objection to it on the score of its not being obvious. She expects to remain a constant reader and admirer as in the past.
ELIZA WALTON WARD
Vineyard Haven, Mass.
Has a Date
Sirs:
Today I had eaten lunch and, in preparation for drawing out my wallet and paying my check at the cashier's window, I laid my copy of TIME on the counter. The very flapperish-looking girl behind the bars took up the copy and when I went to hand her my money, she smiled and said, "It's a marvelous magazine, don't you think?" We conversed for some minutes, and I have a date with her. From now on I shall use TIME to help me pick up my dates.
MYRON LUSTIG*
Editor, The Commercial Reporter.
New York, N. Y.
30 Minutes Late
Sirs: Last Thursday morning I called on the owner of a chain of stores and secured an appointment for 11 o'clock. Then I stopped at a newsstand, bought the latest number of TIME, sat down in the hotel lobby and started reading.
When I "came to" it was "20 minutes past"--and a good five minutes' walk to the chain-store owner's office.
When I was admitted--then 30 minutes late--I said to the prospect "Sorry, Mr. Blank, that I am 30 minutes late, and here is the reason."
With that I presented him my copy of TIME and suggested that he look it over at his leisure. . . .
JAMES P. KENNERLY
Albuquerque, N. M.
Wise & Weiss & Houdini
Sirs:
About two months ago I was embarrassed by offering news which I read in TIME, for the enlightenment of several very critical friends.
TIME stated that the late Houdini was the son of Rabbi Weiss. When I ventured forth with this information I was ridiculed.
I searched high and low thru all my back numbers of TIME and could not find the article which I am certain I read. As I desire to vindicate myself and also defend the veracity of TIME, please send me the copy or a clipping which contains this statement.
J. G. NOLL
Leonia, N. J.
The late Harry Houdini was indeed born to the name of Weiss. The father was a scholarly rabbi (TIME, Nov. 24, 1924). But let not scholarly Rabbi Weiss be confused with famed Rabbi Stephen S. Wise of Manhattan.--ED.
(Continued on p. 4)
Rasputin Eclipsed
Sirs:
. . . I noticed some time ago your statement that the Monk Rasputin obtained his influence over the late Tsar and Tsarina by his mysterious healing of the Tsars young son (TIME, Dec. 6). I would like to call your attention to the fact that there are many healers in this country, among the followers of "New Thought,' who can do just as seemingly mysterious things. If you will get a copy of Nautilus published at Holyoke, Mass., you will find many instances of equally mysterious healings. I myself have done as great or even greater healings than that of the Monk Rasputin, instances of which you will find given in the inclosed testimonials.
BERTHA GRIERSON COPE
Champaign, Ill.
Professor Abused
Sirs:
In TIME of Jan. 3, mention was made of current collegiate slang, credited to Professor George W. Knight of the Ohio State University. The account, widely copied and commented upon, should have been credited to Professor George H. McKnight of the English Department here, an authority on words, and not to Professor George W. Knight, who for more than 40 years, has been head of the History Department here. Professor Knight has been subjected to considerable embarrassment and even some abuse, because of the mistake in names.
J. E. POLLARD
Director
The Ohio State University News Bureau Columbus, Ohio
Detrick Flayed
Sirs:
May I offer a criticism of Arthur Detrick's communication (TIME, Feb. 7) ? His condemnation of the "vulgar sensational stories" printed in TIME is analagous to the tale told of Dr. Johnson: when complimented by a lady for omitting from his dictionary words of questionable repute, he replied "so you have been looking for them, Madam."
F. D. FROST
Cambridge, Mass.
Weigh His Merits
Sirs: I thought you would be interested in the enclosed.
I believe you will agree with me that McReynolds is the type of man who should be President. Then, why not call the public's attention to him and let it weigh his merits and give thought to his qualifications?
R. L. BURCH
Chicago, Ill.
Subscriber Burch enclosed a copy of letter written by him to the New York Times. After listing a score of Democratic aspirants to the Presidency, he says:
Let us consider James Clark McReynolds, who for three years was legal adviser of the Wilson Administration and was then appointed by President Wilson to his present position as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
In the twelve years he has occupied this post of honor and responsibility he has shown a complete understanding of the essentials of our Government and has rendered some notable and far-reaching decisions. He believes in the liberty of the individual, understanding that liberty to mean his inherent right to enjoy what he has acquired by the fruit of his labor, and holds that the roadway to the development of a great people lies in letting each citizen progress as far as his energy and merit will carry him. . . .
Having been removed by his position on the bench from political activity, he is free from factional party entanglements, and would have the support of a militant and united party. Born in Kentucky, educated in Tennessee and Virginia, a citizen of Tennessee for many years before coming to the East, he was invited by President Roosevelt to come to Washington as assistant to Mr. Bonaparte, then Attorney General, to apply his genius for the law to the work of dissolving the trusts. . .
Draft McReynolds and he will lead to victory the historic Democratic Party, that ancient guardian of the people's faith in free government.
(Signed) R. L. BURCH
Not Interested
Sirs:
. . . Why not confine your letters published to criticisms of your paper, corrections of news items, etc. and leave out letters such as those of Mary Elizabeth Robinn in TIME, Feb. 7? What average reader cares a "hoot" about this doubtless estimable lady's "virginity" or whether she's married or not? What readers like is NEWS, not personalities. . . .
HENRY S. DOWST
Winthrop, Me.
FROM WGY
From WGY, Schenectady, N. Y., at 10:30 p. m. Eastern Standard Time, each Thursday night are broadcast fifteen question based on news of the week and specially prepared for WGY by TIME. Also are broadcast the fifteen answers. The U. S. public is invited to "play the game"--i. e. to cry out the correct answers before the broadcaster does. There follow comments from members of the U. S. public.
Never Heard of It
Sirs:
I did not succeed in winning the game. I scored five out of eleven. In question number four, it would be interesting to know where the bootblack obtained the whiskey and other stimulants, in case we ever visit the Senate and have need of them. I would appreciate very much a copy of TIME, as I have never heard of it until tonight.
EDWARD GADWOOD
Walton, N. Y.
Coffee Souffle
Would you kindly send me a copy of coffee souffle by Mrs. Calvin Coolidge. We do enjoy your programmes so much. Also a copy of TIME.
MRS. J. F. CUFF
Utica, N. Y.
Mrs, Coolidge makes coffee souffle as follows:
"Mix one and one-half cups coffee, one tablespoon gelatine, one-third cup granulated sugar and one-half cup milk.
"Heat in a double boiler, add yolks of three eggs slightly beaten and mix with one-third cup granulated sugar and one-fourth teaspoon salt. Cook until it thickens.
"Add the whites of the eygs, beaten stiff and one-half teaspoon vanilla. Mold, chill and serve with whipped cream."
Over the radio the above given receipt was broadcast. Then came the question: "What dish is that, then? What is the name of the dish just described?" To make it easier, listeners-in were warned, a few minutes before the receipt was given, to despatch one of their number to the kitchen and fetch the cook. It was felt that an able cook could cry out: "Coffee souffle!" after hearing it described.--ED.
1But written previously by Poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744).--ED. 2For a 30 weeks' introductory subscription.--ED. 3TIME omits Prisoner-Subscriber-- --'s name and number.--ED. 4There is a John T. Davis, a potent lawyer of Elkins, W. Va. and Washington, D. C. But he was never President nor presidential nominee. Newsstand-Buyer Zweiger doubtless means John William Davis, born at Clarksburg, W. Va., Democratic candidate in 1924. John William Davis has a handsome home at Glen Cove, Long Island. He voted in Clarksburg to escape political identification with his opulent Long Island neighbors (J. P. Morgan, etc., etc.).--ED.
* Translated into English. Editor Lustig's surname means "Merry," "Gay."--ED.