Letters

McKelvie Boomed

Sirs:

On reading your article "McKelvie v. Lowden" I wondered whether there was any significance behind that title. . . . . A few months ago one of the leading bank presidents of the country, at a conference of influential men of the Great Central West, I am informed, introduced ex-governor McKelvie [of Nebraska] as the next president. Doesn't it seem reasonable to surmise from these circumstances that have arisen during the past few months -- McKelvie's conference with the President at Washington; the first overnight guest of the President at his summer home; the recipient of the only visit made by the President on a private individual while at his summer home; and, as you say, the spokesman of the President in regard to the Farm legislature and one who is apparently pleasing to the financial interests of the country; -- that here is a man who is proposed to fill the bill of the Republican Convention next year?

Mr. McKelvie was a splendid executive as Governor of the State of Nebraska, publisher of an influential Farm paper and has been a most successful business man. His varied interests in civic and state activities have always been felt in the right direction. He is held in the highest respect by every citizen in Nebraska.

J. E. M. THOMPSON, M. D.

Lincoln, Neb.

Manner v. Manor

Sirs:

TIME, page 21, Sept. 5,' 1927, under "Death of Strachey," says, "Mr. Strachey was, to use an old English expression, 'to the manner born.'"

The old English expression is, properly, "to the manor born" -- implying a natural inherited talent for the particular accomplishment under discussion. It is most frequently employed to connote social grace or charm.

S. D. HOFHEIMER Philadelphia, Pa.

Webster authorizes that it be spelled either way. -- ED.

"Atlantic" Flayed

Sirs:

. . . Your reports of the Sacco-Vanzetti case have been fair and most informatory. Would I could say the same of the Atlantic. Monthly which, by publishing the partisan brief of "one" Felix Frankfurter, has forfeited its position as a leader of public opinion.

FRANKLIN KING

Falmouth, Mass.

Porto Rican News

Sirs:

I have been disappointed with omniscient TIME. In vain I have looked for news about Puerto Rico for the last six months.

Why have you not mentioned the several notable events that have taken place concerning this island from all angles of view: political, artistic, sport, etc. ?

For instance: (1) Two Porto Rican young men, brothers, whose surname is Figulroa, who won the Sarasate award, that is, the first prize in violin and piano, at the Royal Conservatory of Music, at Madrid, Spain.

(2) The Porto Rican young men who started on a 24,000 mile trip on foot from New York to South America.

(3) The Victory obtained in chess by Rafael Cintron, a Porto Rican, over several American expert Players.

(4) The Nationalist Campaign being carried on by Sr. Albizu Campos, Porto Rican, whose object it is to raise moral power in Latin American republics in behalf of the independence of Porto Rico. He has begun a series of conferences in behalf of our cause, and has established committees with that purpose.

Do you, omniscient TIME, know that Puerto Rico exists at all ?

E. VER'A

Guayama, Puerto Rico.

Dislikes Hearst

Sirs:

I have just started .on an essay on Governor Smith, having completed one on Woodrow Wilson a fortnight or so ago.

When I am at my writing I have no time or thought for anything else but to that work and arrange for plenty of paper, pens and ink and good lighting. Think of it, so busy in my 88th year.

There are two people whom I think utterly unworthy to appear in the columns or on the cover of TIME. Fatty Arbuckle especially disgusting and William Randolph Hearst a poor creature to have the use of so much wealth for specially wrong purposes.

I once thought him a regular Bayard without fear and without reproach and I wrote a campaign song for him to no purpose but -- oh he is worse than a rattlesnake.

Please accept my check for a six months' renewal for I prize TIME as a news me dium.

FRANCES E. FRYATT

Gayhead, N. Y.

Bowling Defended

Sirs:

I have read your magazine with great interest from cover to cover ever since the first issue, and with the one exception of your article some time ago on Great Lakes Shipping, I have never been tempted to do anything other than praise what I have read in the magazine.

However, your article in TIME, Aug. 29, SPORT, headed "Bowling on the Green" will certainly cause many ardent admirers of the game of Bowling or Ten-Pins to express their resentment pretty forcibly. I refer of course to the words in that article "bowling or ten-pins played now in indoor alleys by bar-flies and roustabouts." This really is pretty bad because it implies that the game is only played by bar-flies and roustabouts which is of course an absurdity. For example, the International Bowling League will hold its annual tournament in this city next winter and there will be 16,000 people attending. Surely they are not all roustabouts and bar-flies.

While on the subject of this article, I cannot help but remark that it would have been much more interesting if the really important feature of the game of Bowling on the Green had been mentioned. What makes it a real game, and a scientific one, is the fact that the balls are not perfectly round and in addition, I believe, are weighted so that it is possible to make them roll on the green with a curve either from left to right, or right to left, exactly as is done with curling stones in the game of curling, although of course in the latter game the ability to curve the stones does not come from the fact that the stones are not round, but because the stone slides on the edges of the cup-shaped depression on the bottom of the stone which gives it a certain traction on the ice when turned one way or another. However, the two games are exactly alike in principle and as that principle is the one thing that makes each of them a fascinating and scientific game, your article seems rather pointless when it is left out.

I do not play either Bowling on the Green or Bowling.

M. W. GRIGGS

St. Paul, Minn.

To TIME'S Sport Editor a thorough-going rebuke. To the International Bowling League a well-merited apology. Upon the occasion of the League's winter tourney in St. Paul, Bowling-in-the-Alley will be accurately described. -- ED.

Epstein Queried

Sirs:

Subscriber Epstein wishes it known [TIME, Sept. 5] that he "bowls in an alley". Does he, perchance, live in one?

L. R. CRAIG

Springfield, Mass.

Children Upheld

Sirs:

I was delighted with your reference to the word "kiddies," so frequently used, as "insulting." In Sayings of a Septuagenarian circulated among friends a year ago the enclosed lines were printed.

C. B. BURR

Flint, Mich.

Time (Sept. 5) said of "kiddies": "That portion of the population sometimes insultingly termed 'kiddies' has a new toy. . . ."

Said Septuagenarian-Subscriber Burr in his Sayings: "To apply to them the name of a domestic animal, distinguished for butting and objectionable odor, cheapens children." -- ED.

Sussman's Reply

Sirs:

One of the great fundamental beliefs that I have had has just been changed. I always was of the opinion that only the opposite sex was curious but thanks to NichQlas Cuyler Bleecker [TIME. Sept. 5], a complete metamorphosis has taken place within me.

Since I am an Hispanist (I have been so called by the Spanish daily, La Prensa, for my activities as a sympathizer and well-wisher of the Spanish-speaking nations of the world), any article relating to Spanish-speaking peoples interests me particularly and it is one of my hobbies to correct any erroneous conceptions formed of the aforesaid peoples and their countries. If Mr. Bleecker will observe more closely my letter, he will notice that I attached more importance to explaining about the Basque country than I did to Paolino's nationality. This statement answers, I trust, the question of Nicholas Cuyler Bleecker.

Now concerning Paolino Uzcudun, whom I am personally acquainted with, I resent very much the statement made by Mr. Bleecker in which he calls the former a "pug." I do not doubt Mr. Bleecker's right to describe the Spanish pugilist as he sees fit but he certainly does not know Senor Uzcudun in using the epithet "pug." Mr. Paulino Uzcudun is a gentleman and a man of culture and refinement, as different in his manners from our common American fighters as night and day. The American public does not know the Spanish fighter. They are guided in their opinions by such types of individuals as Mr. Nicholas Cuyler Bleecker who evidently can not understand why I should spend my time in writing about Paolino.

May I reiterate that my principal motive in sending my letter to TIME was to correct an obviously over-looked error.

I hope that I have satisfactorily answered Mr. Bleecker.

MORRIS SUSSMAN

President Spanish Students Club Elizabeth, N. J.

In a letter published in TIME, Nicholas Cuyler Bleecker said: "... I must ask why a person named Morris Sussman should excite himself as to whether this 'pug' [Paolino Uzcudun] was born north or south of the Pyrenees. ... I shall welcome 'one' Sussman's reply to my questions if TIME will publish this letter." -- ED.

Extreme

Sirs:

I still favor saving TIME rather than space.

Recently, I wrote you a letter objecting to your use of "&" instead of "and" and referring to such couplets as "hands & feet," "room & board," "John Doe & wife." I note your reply in the current issue that you use this grotesque abbreviation to conserve space.

More space might be saved by using the figure 1 for "one," Sen. for Senator, Pres. for President. A good example: "Pres. & Mrs. Coolidge & Sen. Norbeck & wife were entertained by 1 Mr. Smith."

Surely space is not so dear in TIME that it must be saved at the expense of propriety.

PAUL S. FISHER

Dodge City, Mo. Subscriber Fisher is extreme. -- ED.

Third Correction

Sirs:

Once more a correction. The first one was concerning the location of residence of Luther Burbank in California [TIME, April 19, 1926]. The second regarding Carry Nation [TIME, May 23].

This time; issue of Aug. 29, 1927: Page 23, column 2, Article "Presbyterian Count."

You say "The Presbyterian Church of the U. S. suspends its members," etc.

You should have said, "The Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. suspends," etc. Also in -- not of.

It all turns on the letter "A". There is a Presbyterian Church in the U. S. -- usually known as the Southern Presbyterian Church. The only difference in the name of the two denominations is the "A", which of course, is abbreviation of America.

I am beginning to recommend TIME to my friends as the most useful and informing magazine, of which I know.

H. H. MILLER

Pastor Presbyterian Church Gridley, Calif.