Lindberghs

Sirs:

Why, oh why, did TIME yield to the temptation to publish the "sneak" photograph and the write-up about Colonel & Mrs. Lindbergh? [TIME, Dec. 13] Many readers would have appreciated and applauded greater self-restraint.

AILEEN F. UPHAM

Waban, Mass.

TIME is not in the business of restraining itself from publishing legitimate news or news pictures.--ED.

"Amazing Coincidence"

Sirs:

Science and the occult have revealed many strange coincidences, some so unusual that they are pregnant with mysticism and also savor of the supernatural. Such a case appears in TIME. Imagine my amazement when I read in your issue of Dec. 13 a letter identical with mine which you printed Dec. 28, 1936, conceived word for word by another just as it had come to my mind, but exactly one year later--truly an amazing coincidence. . . .

My letter's this year's twin is signed, "Dr. Ernest A. Graupner," although I am not even acquainted with the gentleman. Frankly, I am in a dilemma. Should I turn this matter over to Ripley or to the District Attorney?

SIMON OTTINGER

New York City

To Ripley. Dr. Graupner explains that his letter was "jotted down" after a group conversation at a club, submitted "in the spirit of fun." He never expected it would appear.--ED.

Nitrous Oxide Defended

Sirs:

Your digest entitled "After Gas" (TIME, Nov. 1) includes statements and conclusions which we believe, after carefully reading the article quoted, are erroneous and unfortunate.

The impaired physical conditions observed in this instance are in reality due to the lack of oxygen rather than to the anesthetic. If the highly specialized cells of the brain are deprived of their essential oxygen too long, irreparable damage may result. Such after-effects are not confined to Nitrous Oxide-Oxygen, as they may and do follow the use of other anesthetic agents, for example, ether as mentioned in the report. Destruction of the brain cells may occur as a result of asphyxia without anesthesia.

It was unfair to single out Nitrous Oxide in this manner, when the same condition may result due to the lack of oxygen when any other general anesthetic is being administered. We feel that it is especially unfortunate that your reference gives the impression that damage to the brain as described is due to the anesthetic agent, rather than the attendant lack of oxygen.

Statistics generally show Nitrous Oxide-Oxygen to be the safest anesthetic we have. . . .

J. G. SHOLES

President Ohio Chemical & Manufacturing Co.

Cleveland, Ohio

Gossip

Sirs:

Walter Winchell says in his column: "At TIME'S luxurious offices, whenever they see an employe loafing, he is scolded: 'Take your hand out of the Boss' pocket!'" Does Walter Winchell lie?

G. N. ARTS

Columbus, Ohio

Lie is a strong word, but Gossip Winchell is wrong.--ED.

"Aha!"

Sirs:

I have been incensed by your flippant reference to the President's molar in your recent issues [TIME, Nov. 29 et seq.]. . . .

Furthermore I don't like your pictures, for the saucy captions below them induce me to take time from an already busy life to read the text. And I don't think the text is very dignified or edifying, either; it shows situations too starkly and photographically. Your covers are execrable, too. . . . Also, your magazine comes too often. By the time I can get it away from the rest of the family a new issue has come. . .

I demand that you cancel our subscription at once. But keep on sending the magazine for the rest of the family, and while they're squabbling over it maybe I can at least get the news from Lowell Thomas.

So. And aha! I've done my best to write a letter as nutty as any of those you print. I admire you for giving space to such damn fool stuff, and I like your sense of humor shown in doing so.

HENRY M. STEBBINS

Madison Heights, Va.

Water, Clear & Cold

Sirs:

Your translation of the remark in Swedish by the Finnish composer Sibelius (TIME, Dec. 6, p. 33) is good English but poor Swedish. As you have it: "Other composers may manufacture cocktails; I offer the public pure cold water." . . .

Here's a faithful, literal translation: "Here in a foreign country you manufacture cocktails in unlike colors; and now I come with clear, cold water."

A free translation might be: "Foreigners compose 'cocktails' in clashing colors; mine is water, clear and cold."

JAMES E. NELSON

Rochester, N. Y.

P. S. Let me say that the article on the Nordic giant is fine. As to his ancestry, Sibelius undoubtedly is more Swedish than Finnish.

Other authorities would make it ". . . and now I come with pure spring water."--ED.

Chinchillas

Sirs:

In the July 19 issue of TIME there was a very interesting article about two boys, Robert Urian Jr. and Charles Curry of St. Louis, who brought five live chinchillas from Chile and had them in an air-cooled garage in St. Louis.

What luck have they had with their chinchillas? Are they still alive? I would very much like to know. . . .

MRS. D. F. GRAHAM

Springdale, Utah

The Urian-Curry farm now has not five but eight chinchillas. The cubs, three months old, are housed in spick new cages.--ED.

"Monolingual Leatherneck"

Sirs:

During over 20 years' service in this outfit I have heard many descriptives applied to some of my brother officers, but never before did I hear one called a monolingual Leatherneck (col. 3, p. 18, issue of Dec. 13).

If your adjective means what it sounds like it should mean, there seems to be some error. Colonel Price speaks Spanish, German and French with equally conspicuous adeptness. He can also handle Mandarin Chinese better than most amateurs. . . .

What is a monolingual leatherneck anyway ?

[MAJOR] CAMPBELL H. BROWN

Huntingdon Valley, Pa.

Evidently not Colonel Price.--ED.

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