Heroic Oldster
Sirs:
You will long ago have discovered that the photograph (credited to Keystone) you printed on p. 21, TIME, Dec. 9, was not that of General Sung Cheh-yuan, as labeled. Difficult to corner with a camera, General Sung is much younger, larger, bigger-boned. Current dealings with Major General Kenji Doihara leave him no time for such books as that carried by the real man in the picture. The book happens to be a Bible, and the man himself deserves a greater place in U. S. hearts than Warlord Sung. He is Yao Chen-yuan, 80-year-old Chinese Christian, sole known survivor of the four native messengers who got through (and the dozen who didn't) with messages to Tientsin asking relief for the besieged legations in Peking during the Boxer Rebellion. Disguised as a beggar, Yao made the 90-mile trip on foot through country overrun with Boxers who were killing every Christian--Chinese or foreign--they could find. Captured many times, Yao always talked himself out. For his heroism Yao was offered a copper medal and later a reward of 1,000 taels. An ardent Christian, he thought that figure too high, gladly accepted the medal and 500 taels. From the income of this invested reward he still lives happily here on a few dollars a month, spends most of his time with his pet meadow lark, the rest in looking up the few friends left who remember, and in preaching on street corners whenever a crowd will gather. He asks no favors, but this genuine Chinese hero would hardly be complimented to know that his likeness had been mistaken for one of China's most questionable characters. J. D. WHITE
Peiping Bureau
The Associated Press of America
Peiping
All thanks to Associated Pressman White for putting Christian Yao Chen-yuan back on his pious pedestal.--ED. Reviewing General
Sirs:
For your information, I enclose the most recent photo of General Sung Cheh-yuan which I took yesterday at the general's review of his troops. Also for your information--a number of people who know something about North China and its personages have transferred the "goatbeard" of your General Sung Cheh-yuan (TIME, Dec. 9) to the chin of your Foreign News editor. . . . NORMAN T. H. SOONG
The Peiping Chronicle Peiping
To Photographer Soong, for cornering difficult General Sung Cheh-yuan with a camera, all credit.--ED. Interesting Day Sirs:
I think "Mrs. Driscoll's Day" [TIME, Jan. 27] the most interesting letter I have read in your Letters department in some time. I think she should have a divorce. J. R. HUTCHESON Judge Superior Courts, Tallapoosa Circuit Douglasville, Ga. Sirs: My hat's off to Mrs. Driscoll! "Her Day" is sure interesting reading but where would she get a publisher to tell it to the world? . . . What's in a name? Just a matter of a few thousand dollars--depending on what the name happens to be. ... (MRS.) AUGUSTA F. MOSTIN
Providence, R. I.
Swing to Swing
Sirs: All congratulations for your definitive account of The Music Goes 'Round and Around [TIME, Jan. 20]. Especially astute was your perception of something missed, so far as I know, by all other commentators--the subtle connection existing between the success of that song and the incipient major trend in American music: the swing to "Swing.". . . PRESTON JUSTICE
New York City
Sirs: Congratulations to TIME on what, to my knowledge, was the most intelligently written article on swing music to appear in a lay publication. . . . Greater stress might have been attached to the emotional appeal of swing music. Swing fans, when listening to real swing music, work up a sort of satisfied glow that in especially meaningful passages reaches a climax of nerve stimulation--a "kick.". . . CHARLIE EMGE
Editor Tempo Los Angeles, Calif.
Sirs:
. . . Anyone who read the article entitled "Whoa-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho" in the Jan. 20 issue of TIME, could scarce help carrying away the impression that: 1) Benny Goodman caused the present mild interest in swinging. 2) That Benny has the best swing band in the world. 3) That Louis Armstrong was passe. . . .
None of these implications is true. Much as we white swing men would like to take credit for the renaissance of swinging, justice compels us to pass it along to a very black musician, Jimmie Lunceford. . . .
TED SMILEY
Windsor, Conn.
Sirs:
. . . When it comes to individual "swing" men, why did you fail to mention other idols of the modern musician, such as the Dorsey Brothers, "Miff" Mole, "Red" Nichols, Vic Burton (drums), "Saxey" Mansfield (tenor sax), Joe Venuti (violin), Irving Brodsky (piano) and Dick McDonough (guitar). . . .
ART CANNON
Clinton, Mass.
Sirs:
Why not credit where credit is due? Glen Gray & orchestra, not so much Benny Goodman, are responsible for the present ''swing" craze. . . .
JOHN W. BRAXTA
Buffalo, N. Y.
TIME attempted no catalogish list of "swing" musicians, left swing addicts free to enjoy their favorites.--ED.
Corn
Sirs: I appreciated immensely "Whoa-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho," and have found ample opportunity to quote the impressions of "Swing." However, there is another term that eludes definition--''Corn." Being a pseudo-musician, I have glibly and authoritatively used it without a quaver. But at last one malicious person demanded a translation, and I was pretty well stopped. . . . STEVE HARRISON
Claremont, Calif.
When a musician who is not "hot" tries to play as if he were, his music is "corn." --ED.
Junk at Goodwin
Sirs:
This week The March of Time reported to its listeners that American Airlines had disposed of the wreckage of the airplane near Goodwin, Ark. for junk and souvenirs. An entirely erroneous impression has been created in the minds of some concerning our efforts at Goodwin. . . .
The wreckage was roped off and guarded, day and night, by the Sheriff of St. Francis County, his deputies and by members of the Arkansas State Ranger forces. In spite of their good efforts we were unsuccessful in preventing some small parts of the airplane from being removed.
At the conclusion of the investigation by the Department of Commerce and by American Airlines at the scene of the crash more than 20 men were employed to rake the entire swamp area and to assemble in one place any and all parts of the airplane discovered.
Barrels of kerosene and fuel oil were sledded in, in the absence of roads, and as nearly as possible the remains of the airplane were entirely destroyed by fire. At the conclusion of the fire nothing was left of the airplane except one lump of melted metal. . . .
A contract was made with a Forrest City salvage dealer that he would speedily remove the metal from the scene of the accident and that he would dispose of it for junk, not souvenirs. . . . The small amount realized from the lump of melted metal was given as a donation to the American Red Cross. . . .
C. R. SMITH
President
American Airlines, Inc. Chicago, Ill.
To American Airlines' President Smith, TIME'S thanks for setting the record straight. The burned remains of The Southerner were bought by one Hubert Hurt for $65, now lie in front of his farm outside Goodwin.--ED.
King's Death Bed
Sirs:
May I take this means of extending to you my appreciation for the thoughtful and delicate way in which you handled the deathbed scene of the late King George V in your [March of Time] broadcast? . . .
It reaches here at 7:30 p. m. My wife was in the other room, but when your speaker reached that incident of the broadcast, his hushed voice drew Mrs. Hinman to the radio, and I heard a sob. Mrs. Hinman was born in Yorkshire, England. I was born, and, for more than forty years, lived under the British flag, and we felt we had lost a friend.
W. PLATT HINMAN
Huntington Park, Calif.
High Geese
Sirs:
Re: comment of Readers Joseph and Hazeltine, and of Ed., as to the alleged condition (it "hangs high'') of the goose of H. Selassie, TIME, Jan. 27, p. 10.
Oldtime Englishmen hung up their meat ... to tenderize, and when it gave off a slight aroma it was said to be "high." A goose in this delectable condition was ready for the fall and winter feasting and festivals and, from the anticipation thereof, arose the foregoing connotation. . . .
L. L. KELLS
Attorney at Law Sauk Centre, Minn.
Canadians Regret
Sirs:
Canadians generally will regret that TIME chose to publish the diatribe directed against the U. S. by one James C. Barton of Vancouver, B. C. [TIME, Jan. 27], especially at this time when all Canadians sincerely appreciate the warm expressions of condolence communicated with such dignity by the American people through Press, radio and in person to us upon the death of the late King. Americanadian friendship is touching a new high. . . .
W. D. HUMPHREY
Sherbrooke, Quebec Sirs: It is with genuine regret that I read James C. Barton's letter in TIME, Jan. 27--rotten taste and damned rude. Let me assure you that some of us Britishers do not have ''so strong a sense of humor." For shame, Mister Barton! J. RICHARDS PETRIE Fredericton, N. B.
Sirs:
I deplore the vituperation of Reader Barton of Vancouver, B. C. . . . Please forgive him.
CHARLES MCLEAN, D. D. S.
Toronto, Out.
Apology for Barton Sirs:
As a loyal English woman, I am writing to apologize to you, and all your readers, for Mr. James C. Barton's letter in TIME.
I am dreadfully sorry that one of us should have been guilty of such atrociously bad taste.
Please do not allow your fine people to believe that we are all like that. . . .
DORIS M. WINCKLER
Winnetka, Ill.
Sirs:
As a former subject of the empire that the sun never sets on, permit me to apologize for a fellow Britisher. That letter of uninhibited Canadian Reader Barton plainly reveals that the poor devil's condition is congenital.
ROBERT ELDER
Palo Alto, Calif.
May we apologize for Good-Britisher Barton? We are ashamed.
HARRY S. FERNS
Kingston, Ont.
TIME is glad to learn that James Barton does not represent Canadians in his abuse of the U. S.. accepts on behalf of U. S. readers the apologies offered for him.-- ED.
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