In Necaragua

In Nicaragua

Sirs:

I am in a mountain pueblo named Boaco, in the department of Chontales, Nicaragua. This Central American stronghold is where General Jose Maria Moncada, chief of the Liberal forces, delivered his arms to my marines on May 13. In wet weather it is reached by horse or pack-mule only. Occasionally an aeroplane drops mail to us. However the mail reaches us, the periodical which I first open is TIME, short, snappy, to the point, a mental feast. Critics to the contrary notwithstanding. I still persist in reading TIME from p. 1 to the bitter end. Please do not permit our great friend and diplomat, C. D. H. G. D-Dowse, to cause you to go out of print. He was merely endeavoring to get some of our free American publicity, poor soul. For everyone of his type, I know 50 good eggs from the British army and navy.

Louis ESTELL FAGAN Captain, United States Marines Boaco, Chontales, Nicaragua

'For Men Only"

Sirs:

When a little whippersnapping "boy scout" writes to TIME [Aug. 1] and objects to the printing of a "Boy Scout" story under your "Army & Navy" head, I think it is time for an old soldier and campaigner to state his views.

Personally I should prefer that the word "Army" should never occur on the same page with "Boy Scout." Youngsters who charge up a "good deed" to themselves every day (or is it three times a day?) are, in my estimation, little prigs.

Your correspondent, "Scout" Kingsley B.

Leeds of Germantown, Pa., writes in an especially priggish view. I can visualize little Leeds happy at the thought that writing you was a "good deed" (or is their phrase "good turn"?). At any rate let us hear from little Leeds as to whether he charged up his letter as a "turn."

No doubt little Leeds has been brought up in the "Christian" doctrine of "Too Proud to Fight." Still perhaps I am too hard on him. I have known "scouts" who later became manly men; but as "scouts" they certainly do not belong under "Army."

That glorious old word is "for men only."

CUSTIS KNAPP (retired) New York, N. Y.

Doles

Sirs:

TIME, July 18, 1927, p. 11, first column, first and second lines from top. James D. Dole is not the son of Hawaii's first president.

Sanford B. Dole had no children. The father of James D. Dole is "one" Rev. Charles Dole, a resident of one of the environs of Boston, perhaps Newton.

M. GERTRUDE WORRALL

Hillburn, N. Y.

To TIME'S genealogical researcher a reprimand. James Drummond Dole is a son of the Rev. Charles Fletcher Dole, for 40 years pastor of the First Congregational (Unitarian) Church at Jamaica Plain, Boston. Rev. Dole has been pastor emeritus since 1916.--ED.

Happy & Glad

Sirs:

You have made me happy and glad indeed by your story about Sinclair Lewis and how he wept over the bodies of the poor people killed in Austria [TiME, Aug. 1].

To me those tears are precious, for they show that the grace of God and the tenderness of Jesus have at last wormed their way even into the hard, flint-like heart of a scorner and a scoffer.

I have read each of Mr. Lewis's novels, and after each one my heart has ached, and I have prayed that some great crisis or act of the Lord might turn him into the Right Way.

I see him weeping, and I feel that his proud, selfish spirit must have melted, and that his next novel will be a good and great book. Considering the harm that his works have done among people here in America, I know that the death of those poor Austrians was not in vain but by the will of those On High. Let us say only "Amen."

HESTER A. SIBBLES, B. A.

Kansas City, Mo.

Lay Down?

Sirs:

They all lay down sooner or later!

First Ford, now Lewis!

Henry Ford tried to twist the Jews' noses; but he won't try that again!

Now I see in TIME [Aug. 1] that Sinclair Lewis has sat down and blubbered over some foreigners.

Then he gets up and writes about "romance" and other typical Main Street guff!

I tell you, TIME, they all lay down sooner or later!

MORRIS ("AL") EPSTEIN JR.

Brooklyn, N. Y.

Genuine Gusto

Sirs:

It has often been my desire, following the example set by other subscribers, to state to you my personal opinion of your newsmagazine, but, unfortunately, my many duties have prevented me from doing so up to the present time, when, taking this opportunity of remitting to you my subscription, I wish to congratulate you particularly regarding the section of TIME devoted to MEDICINE. Practically all of the articles that have appeared therein, are to be commended upon. Their clear and concise style is easily comprehensive to the average reader, yet at the same time, they can be read and enjoyed with genuine gusto, by members of the medical profession. This is something which cannot be said of the average medical news appearing in the daily press or other lay magazines.

Your article on the anatomy of the Brain, published some time ago [TIME, March 22, 1926] was indeed written in masterly fashion. . . .

The ignorance of the public at large regarding their bodies is at times appalling. I have met persons, who would have such erroneous conceptions relative to the anatomy of the human body, as to believe that we have two livers, a right and left, etc., etc., etc. Cancer, a most malignant disease, a most destructive scourge, today, as statistics indicate, is on the increase and it refuses in the most obstinate manner to divulge its secrets to the laborious and painstaking efforts of a multitude of brilliant investigators. The only sure means that we have today of combating it with some success, is by its early recognition and immediate summary removal. It is of paramount importance that the patient should know that.

The public, then, since it does not read medical literature, depends on magazines such as yours for enlightenment. Therefore continue your good work. It is highly instructive. We need more of it.

N. S. CHECKOS, M. D.

Portland, Ore.

Dr. Cadman

Sirs:

Surely you do not correctly report Dr. Cadman (TIME, July 25). I think he could not say, "I read the Bible like I eat fish."

EZRA A. HEALY

Los Angeles, Calif.

London despatches quoted Dr. S. Parkes Cadman as saying in St. Martin's Church, London: ". . . As for fundamentalism, I read the Bible like I eat fish--leave the bones and eat the flesh." Substituting "like" for "as" as a conjunction is a provincialism deprecated in good grammatical usage.--ED.

Poem

Sirs: I note in TIME, July 18 a letter from Miss Justine Agnes Clementine La Vie extolling the talent of Miss Florence Mills. Miss La Vie in her letter mentions enclosing a poem on the subject of her admiration--a poem which your footnote declares was top long to print. I should be very happy if you would send me a copy of Miss La Vie's poem as I think I could find use for it in the pages of our magazine.

COUNTEE CULLEN Assistant Editor Opportunity Journal of Negro Life New York, N. Y.

Let TIME readers watch for the appearance of Miss Justine Agnes Clementine La Vie's poem in Opportunity.--ED.

Spanish Paolino

Sirs:

I am usually in accordance with what TIME says concerning topics of general information but I certainly do protest when I encounter a magazine like TIME stating things which are misleading. I am referring to what you state concerning Paolino Uzcudun, the well-known pugilist. (This appeared in your number of July 25.)

One reading your description of him would infer without any doubt or hesitation that he is of French nationality whereas he was born not on the northern side of the Pyrenees but on the southern. I am aware of the fact that he speaks French and also, by the way, the Basque tongue for I have heard him conversing in those languages, but he does not come from the Basque region of southern France but from the corresponding section of northern Spain. In view of this there is no doubt as to his being Spanish and at the same time a Basque.

I want to stress again the fact that you committed a very grave error in geography when you defined as the Basque country the southwest part of France. You failed to mention those Basques residing in Spanish territory from time immemorial, and who before Premier-Dictator Primo de Ribera came into power had many special powers and privileges which are called in Spanish "fueros." The Basques in Spain occupy quite a large territory called "las provincias vascon English, the Basque provinces, is one of these Basques.

When speaking of the latter again it would be much more appropriate to call him Sr. (Senor) Paolino Uzcudun and not M. Uzcudun.

MORRIS SUSSMAN

President

Spanish Students Club Elizabeth, New Jersey

Coolidge Defended

Sirs:

I have just read in TIME, July 25, B. M. Manly's criticism of President Coolidge. The criticism from any standpoint is unfair, unjust and partisan. The writer excels in a few outdoor and manly arts, but would no more undertake to ride a "bucking bronco" than he would to choke a bear by poking his fist down his throat. The writer would, however, undertake to try conclusions with any ordinary amateur boxer or wrestler, would gamble on his ability as a fisherman, and if actually necessary take a hand in a free-for-all fight. He would not, however, be a contender in a tennis match, golf game or cross country run, for the reason that he has had no taste or training for the latter trinity. The President knows he is not a bronco buster, and further knows that he is needed as President of the United States. While I am a Democrat I have always admired Coolidge's Democracy (not political) and think he has made a wonderful President. Honest in everything. Self-seeking in nothing, perhaps a bit slow in making up his mind, which is not a bad fault. It makes the ordinary citizen rather tired to find people gunning for Coolidge when "Canivora" like big Bill Thompson are running at large. One a builder and a conservator, the other an obstructionist and destructionist.

J. R. R.

Birmingham, Ala.

Lions

Sirs:

In your columns I have noticed some discussions recently of the Rotary Club [TIME, June 6, 20] and Optimist International [TIME, July 18] but I failed to find anything respecting the convention of the Lions International at Miami, June 15 to 18.

If any mention of it was made, will you kindly tell me in what issue and on what page?

H. W. MATTISON

Minneapolis, Minn.

No mention of Lions International was made.--ED. Mark of Distinction

Sirs: In any club, office, home, library, dining-car, trolley or limousine--in fact, anywhere--TIME is a mark of distinction. One feels peculiarly allied to fellow TIME-readers in that one knows something of the personality of the other by the mere fact that they are both readers of TIME. In this TIME is unique--to the readers of no other magazine is this equally true. . . . TIME readers know that they are not impetuous and magnifying. TIME readers know that the American people are rather conceitedly bigoted and consequently they at once assume an "international mind"--a "worldwide understanding"--which the reading of TIME gives quite naturally--quite without notice. TIME should not despair that such as Mrs. Barger, (TIME. July 25), Miss Hollis (TIME, July 18), Mr. Downing, (TIME, July 11), should cancel their subscriptions--the majority of TIME readers are proud of TIME--are proud that they are TIME readers. Especially, commend the Foreign News Department and the Chinaman. I have made a detailed study of China and of course, it is flattering to me to see a previous personal opinion expressed in TIME. I should like to correspond with your Chinaman--to know him better. Allow me to second all that Subscriber Sternhart (TIME, July 25), has said. He has, figuratively, taken the words from my mouth. , CHARLES HAMILTON

Published weekly by TIME, Inc., at The Penton Building, Lakeside Ave. and West Third St., Cleveland, Ohio. Subscriptions $5 a year. Entered as second-class matter Aug. 25, 1925 at the postoffice, Cleveland, Ohio under the act of March 3, 1879.