No Coward
Sirs:
I am of the age which some people call ''elderly," and I put on glasses when I read TIME. Nonetheless I am no coward, and will not decline the challenge of Subscribess Catherine M. Whitsitt who writes to you (TIME, April 30) that she wants to give me "a poke in the nose," because I suggested to you (TIME, April 9) that President Calvin Coolidge ought to make a flight with Charles Augustus Lindbergh.
By all means let the lady poke my nose, and I will poke hers--if it will further the development of aviation.
However, no amount of nose poking will disprove the plain fact, set forth in my original letter to you, that Coolidge ought to fly with Lindbergh. I repeat also that Roosevelt would have flown with Lindy like a shot, the day Lindbergh got home from Paris!
In closing, permit me to chuckle over the typical sportswomanship of Subscribess Whitsitt when she offers to "bet" that I have not "taken an air trip over to Paris more than 50 times." Clearly the good lady fancies she would be betting on a sure thing, so I shall not inform her how many times I have "taken an air trip over to Paris"--from London.
Let her paste that on a wooden Indian's nose and poke it!
SIDNEY HENDERSON
Chicago, 111.
Satin Dress, Ermine Coat Sirs:
TIME in its issue of April 23, printed a letter from J. F. Bassett of Boston in which he writes it would not be fitting for President Coolidge to humiliate himself by flying with Lindbergh in "those brown overalls that aviators wear."
May I inform Mr. Bassett that I have just completed a 2,285 rnile hop from San Diego to Minneapolis clad in my seal and ermine coat, satin dress, white hat and corsage of roses, for I made the trip in a Ryan monoplane--brougham type, sistership to the one Lindbergh now owns.
Let President Coolidge don his frock coat, silk hat and cane and fly with Lindbergh.
Suggest that Correspondent Bassett obtain some back copies of Aviation and learn what is going on in the world outside of Boston.
MARGARET DAVIES YARNELL (MRS. C. S. YARNELL)
Minneapolis, Minn.
Pile of Hot Air
Sirs:
In the April 23 issue of TIME I came across some pieces of news about Persia . . . (manifesting) pitiable prejudice against that country, a prejudice which amounts to a pile of hot air pumped into the respected editor of TIME by British interests.
Reza Shah Pahlevi has never been a bandit. . . . It is we and our national assembly that has given him the Crown. . . .
So please, next time when you intend to write any thing about Persia, watch your step and write facts or nothing at all; otherwise effective steps will be taken that the personal integrity of Pahlevi shall not be molested by such people that sell their honor and personality, their integrity and what not to the British money. . . .
A. K. DASHTI New York, N. Y.
Reza Pahlevi has indeed had his present status as Shah of Persia constitution-alized by Parliament, but his seizure of power was essentially a coup d'etat, staged by an officer who had frequently foraged supplies for his itinerant Cossack troops in the manner of a bandit.--ED.
Tomcats
Sirs:
. . . Is TIME timely? Does TIME "bring all things"?
Until the recent National High School Basket Ball Tournament at Chicago, I would have answered both of the above in the positive. But now I am inclined to believe negatively--How on earth could the conductor of your Sport Column overlook the wonderful victory won by the "Tomcats" of Ashland, Kentucky? How does their "clean play" record of going through the entire tournament without a single personal foul compare in "reader interest" with your recent story (under "Records") about the fat man from Hamburg who swam the sea lion to sleep?
What per cent of TIME'S great circulation do you suppose was directly interested in the Tournament at Chicago where forty-two teams, from various parts of the United States, so gallantly fought for the championship? . . .
I think it would be a "good stunt" for TIME to publish the line-up of the All American High School Basket Ball Team for 1928. Here you will again find Ashland, Kentucky, well represented, with Ellis Johnson who is called the "greatest high school basket ball general" being the unanimously elected captain. . . .
EVERETT B. GEVEDON
Ashland, Ky.
Incumbent
Sirs:
My ecclesiastical brother-in-law of New York, the Rev. Arthur B. Churchman, gave me a year of TIME for Christmas, thus showing rare good judgment. I enjoy it almost as much as chicken giblets. Until now. Under twin standing picture of Mrs. Longworth and Mrs. McCormick in fur coats which make them look like poor girls who work in stores, issue of April 23, p. 12, re Chicago Congressmen, you refer to "the two present incumbents." . . .
Please look up "incumbent" and promise not to do it again.
HENRY EDWARD WARNER
Annapolis, Md.
Reader Warner is right. A present incumbent is as redundant as an old antique or a cup of demi-tasse.--ED.
Hates & Fears
Sirs:
Your constant repetition of "who mortally hates and fears the Roman Pope," in connection with Senator Heflin, is childlike, and boring in the extreme.
There is an old adage, that comes to my mind, which was taught me, while still very young: "He, who knows not, and knows that he knows not is simple; teach him. He, who knows not. and knows not that he knows not is a fool; avoid him."
Your policy of hunting up some witty and clever (maybe) phrase, and, then repeating it, until repulsive, is extracting criticism from others, I notice, including one R. W. Graham, in TIME, April 23. It cannot now be truthfully said that you know not.
Remember--the Iris, beautiful as it is, may very easily become a nasty weed, if thick, and utterly spoil a beautiful lawn. Take heed--Do not allow yourselves to become so everlastingly tiresome. It may be disastrous.
Perhaps I am not one to criticize--being merely a 16-year-old Andover student, but even my young mind can see utter folly, and endeavor to help. I read TIME consistently, both while at home and at school.
ROBERT G. MELENDY
Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass.
Sirs:
. . . Don't pay any attention to R. W. Graham of Philadelphia who does not like the phrase you always use with Heflin's name. Keep it up. I do not believe Graham, because I think that Heflin mortally hates and fears the Roman Pope more than anybody in the whole world.
F. T. MUDD
Falls City, Neb.
Sirs:
The residents of Philadelphia who live near R. W. Graham were probably startled by two screams in quick succession when he read his copy of TIME, April 23. And I can scarcely blame him! He is probably not the only one of your readers who is a little weary of the phrase which invariably accompanies any mention of the name of Senator Heflin. . . .
FLORENCE M. HOLT Newport News, Va.
Sirs:
I read the pukings of R. W. Graham's bilious brain in regard to the "Roman Pope."
Graham is going to "scream," and also "burst." That's good news. However, this won't create a ripple; where there is nothing, nothing can burst. An acrid stench extinguished, whose space could be used for an eighth of a bag of phosphate.
The trouble making whimperings of the Grahams and Heflins should be in Life magazine not TIME for they create great mirth.
Any event, what Graham thinks about the Pope doesn't bother the Pope, the Holy church he represents, nor the millions of loyal Catholics.
But speaking about bursting Graham, a good Irish fist is a great buster. And the Irish are accommodating.
W. J. WALSH Newark, N. Y.
Sirs:
I wish to congratulate you on your unchangeable policy regarding the phrase "who mortally hates and fears the Roman Pope" following Senator Heflin's name.
Despite several protests I note (with much pleasure) that you do not quibble but continue to use the phrase. It is the absolute truth so why should TIME discontinue writing it?
Week by week my admiration for TIME increases. May it live long and prosper.
HOWARD W. SIEGER Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sirs:
Your article Races (TIME, April 23, p. 9) you quote, probably the 57th time, "Tom-Tom Heflin who mortally hates and fears the Roman Pope." Senator Heflin is no coward and "fears" no one, unless it be some cowardly assassin, a religious fanatic. Heflin is to be congratulated in having the "Guts" to stand up and swat the "Monster," the enemy of real Americanism. Of course our yellow, lying, subsidized sheets and journalistic prostitutes will jibe and howl when Heflin makes a speech. We need several more like him in our U. S. Senate.
J. H. O'NEILL, M. D. Morgan City, La.
Sirs:
R. W. Graham, Philadelphia, complains in TIME, April 23, that he wants a variation of the time honored phrase. "Who mortally hates and fears the Roman Pope," after the name of Senator Heflin.
I'm with him there.
Don't drop the usage to which we have become so accustomed, however, but merely create some additional designation. You might reverse the allegation, and write something like this, each time you refer to the Roman Pope: "Achille Ambroglio Damiano Ratti, Pope Pius XI, who is mortally hated and feared by U. S. Senator James Thomas ("Tom-Tom") Heflin. . . ."
This will serve to please Senator Heflin, and probably worry the Pope.
J. H. CREIGHTON
Lansing, Mich.
Sirs:
Aside from the general excellence of TIME news, I note as well a marked improvement in the LETTERS, those in the issue of April 23 being especially noted by intelligence and common sense on the part of several writers, Francis A. Thompson, John C. Wright, J. F. Bassett, particularly one by Thomas O. Marvin. I agree in the main with R. W. Graham, but the most effective way to deal with Heflin is to apply Irvin Cobb's "The Thunders of Silence," thus removing him from the pages of every newspaper of consequence. By ignoring him you obliterate him, to the relief of the nation.
CHAS. R. BARKER
Anniston. Ala.
Suggestions
Sirs:
... At a meeting of the National Association of Commercial Organization Secretaries last fall, I had an opportunity to speak to a great many of the secretaries concerning magazines they read and the great majority I talked with were enthusiastic about TIME.
I would like to make the suggestion that you devote at least one column each week to the activities of various Chambers of Commerce throughout the nation. . . .
W. N. BLANTON
Manager,
East Texas Chamber of Commerce Longview, Tex.
Sirs:
I wish to make a suggestion to you--and in all seriousness.
Please leave out a picture on the front cover of TIME soon and substitute therefor an APOLOGY to your readers for having disgraced that space in the issue of April 9 with a reproduction of a likeness of SINCLAIR--corruptionist De Luxe. . . .
R. R. STOGSDALL
Calumet, Mich.
Sirs:
I dislike TIME. As a matter of fact, there is no magazine that I read which has such bad taste--the Heflin article--or such smart-alecky style. Your "inside stuff" is commendable, but Variety has far more than you, and is also amusing. . . .
You may be assured that I will not renew it until either you change your style, or start a phonograph record department, both classical and modernistic, as some one suggested in your columns a year or so ago. Records in the classical field, notably in America--Victor and Columbia--and particularly in the modernistic field--Okeft--have improved tremendously, and I'm sure that quite a few of your subscribers would be interested in such a department.
Why don't you put it up to your readers?
JOHN H. HAMMOND JR.
The Hotchkiss School Lakeville, Conn.
Sirs:
I am an economist and attorney at law. Since the first day I read a copy of TIME about a year ago, I have been intending to write about it. For a busy man, interested to some extent in everything, it is the best publication of this age. . . .
I am one of the best free press agents you have. Personally, if I could find time to read only one weekly publication, it would be yours. Keep it up. I love the style and satiric frankness.
I still take the Digest for its "Topics of the Day," "Fun from the Press" and "Summary of Domestic and Foreign News." It takes only a few minutes to read these.
Put a page of good-natured humor, humorous satire, and one sentence summaries of world events in TIME, and I will quit the Digest. There are others who will do likewise. It would be in the interest of economy.
CAMPBELL OSBORN
Tulsa, Okla.