Hogs Always Raise Hell
Sir:
Farmers who keep pigs must detect a familiar note in many of the objections to the food saving plan [TIME, Oct. 20]. Hogs always raise hell when you push them away from the trough.
MAX G. COOPER
Vermillion, S. Dak.
Sir:
. . . Having been in the Army, and overseas, during our wartime rationing period, I didn't have to stand in line for scarce items, or figure out how many red points I'd need for a piece of meat, or frequent the black market. I got my "C" rations as regularly as could be expected, and figured that the few I missed was little enough to give up, since the people here were limited, too.
[Now] my patience is being sorely taxed . . . when I see people who lament high prices and openly declare . . . that rationing of any kind is not for them. Maybe they did get their dander up about rationing once before, but that was forced. This time it is voluntary, and the people who should know say that it will reduce the fat prices we have to pay now. . . . What in hell is wrong with our people that they won't cooperate, when it is to their own benefit to do so?
S/SGT. LEWIS KENNERLY
F.W.A.A.F., Ft. Worth, Tex.
Sir:
. . . An amusing incident happened in our own home which, I believe, just about sums up the whole nation's attitude toward meatless Tuesday.
Last Tuesday, I told my husband that my mother was observing meatless day. She was having macaroni & cheese, deviled eggs, baked potatoes, coffee and dessert.
"That's a wonderful idea," my husband said. "If everyone did that, we wouldn't have rationing. Your mother has the right attitude."
In that case, I told him, we would also have no meat. In fact, we would have the same menu as mother's for the evening meal.
Hubby looked shocked and hurt. "You mean to tell me WE aren't going to have meat either?" . . .
MRS. FRANCIS RUBLEE
Seward, Neb.
Hammerstein Impressions
Sir:
. . . I was impressed . . . by the manner in which the details of my career were gleaned from all parts of the country in a few weeks' time and then so effectively pressed into a capsule of four pages [TIME, Oct. 20]. The next time I want to cut a show, I'll call you all in. . .
OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN 2ND
New York City
Sir:
While most of the covers drawn by your staff artists are masterpieces of a sort ... in the case of Oscar Hammerstein it might have been interesting to present him as he appears on the walls of Sardi's in one of Card's caricatures. After all, being done by Card for Sardi's is the epitome of theatrical fame on Broadway to most show people. . . .
SAMUEL STEINMAN
Millburn, N.J.
S.O.P.
Sir:
In order to erase any ambiguity arising from your account of the playing of Harvard's Negro tackle, Chester Pierce, in the University of Virginia's Scott Stadium [TIME, Oct. 20], I should like to add that the numerous Confederate flags were not displayed to commemorate this precedent-shattering event. It is virtually standard operating procedure to unfold the flag of the gallant old Confederacy whenever this university plays a "Yankee" eleven here or in the North--so was it last year with Princeton and so will it be with Pennsylvania in Franklin Field this year. . . .
J. WARREN STEPHENS
University, Va.
Muscle Rumbles
Sir:
In TIME, Oct. 20, you state: "It was the first time human ears had ever heard the sounds of human muscles."
Since the discovery of the stethoscope by Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laennec in 1816 (published 1819), physicians all over the world have been bothered by muscle sounds interfering with breath, heart, and other sounds that they wished to hear through the stethoscope.
J. WILLIAM ROSENTHAL, M.D.
Fayetteville, Ark.
Sir:
. . . It doesn't take any earphones, at least for most people, to hear the tiny muscles of the ear cavity when they contract. All that you have to do is to squeeze the eyes shut or clench your jaws,* covering the ears if outside noises interfere. The faint rumble sounds something like a distant subway train. . . .
CLARENCE W. OLSEN, M.D.
Beverly Hills, Calif.
P: That snoring noise was TIME nodding.--ED.
Ultimate Test
Sir:
Re: Capp at Bat [TIME, Oct. 20].
Reader M. Whitney Lee, in his virtuous haste, has missed the entire point, which is that the democratic system which permits (but does not force) him to praise his legislators, also impartially allows Al Capp to poke fun at them.
The ultimate test of the character of an individual or an institution or a government is: Can it stand being laughed at? Hitler couldn't, nor Mussolini. It is doubtful if Stalin could long survive under a system which permitted Capp and his ilk to have their say. . . .
Although an occasional pat on the back is a good thing for those of our representatives who are trying to do the right thing, yet there is nothing like a little incisive satire (of which Capp is an accomplished master) for keeping the blatant demagogues under control. Senator Jack S. Phogbound is a type not peculiar to the U.S.A. We are all acquainted with a few Jack S.s, and in some cases a glance in the mirror may reveal the existence of a wholly unsuspected addition to the number.
A. R. EDDIE
Winnipeg, Canada
V. A. Hospital Care
Sir:
In the Oct. 13 issue of TIME I noticed a statement which, to me at least, was startling . . .: "Congress awarded all veterans, under certain conditions, free hospital care for the rest of their lives for any ailment whatsoever. . . ." Most veterans I talked with had never heard of these benefits.
Louis BAILLY JR.
San Antonio, Tex.
P: Every veteran is entitled to as much free V.A. medical care as he needs, providing he signs a statement that he cannot afford medical care elsewhere and providing there is a bed available for him. Only 33.2% of all present V.A. hospital patients are being treated for an injury or illness resulting from service.--ED.
Firm Hand, Bold Front
Sir:
That the Russians best understand and appreciate the firm hand and bold front in diplomacy is illustrated by the following passage from Pepys' diary (Sept. 5, 1662) regarding the strategy of the British Ambassador in 1583 when he faced Ivan the Terrible :
And among other pretty discourse, some was of Sir Jerome Bowes, Ambassador from Queen Elizabeth to the Emperor of Russia; who, because some of the noblemen there would go up the stairs to the Emperor before him, he would not go up till the Emperor had ordered those two men to be dragged downstairs, with their heads knocking upon every stair till they were killed. And when he was come up, they demanded his sword of him before he entered the room. He told them, if they would have his sword, they should have his boots too. And so caused his boots to be pulled off, and his nightgown and nightcap and slippers to be sent for; and made the Emperor stay till he could go in his nightdress, since he might not go as a soldier. And lastly, when the Emperor in contempt, to show his command of his subjects, did command one to leap from the window down and broke his neck in the sight of our Ambassador, he replied that his mistress did set more by, and did make better use of the necks of her subjects: but said that, to show what her subjects would do for her, he would, and did, fling down his gauntlet before the Emperor; and challenged all the nobility there to take it up, in defense of the Emperor against his Queen: for which, at this very day, the name of Sir Jerome Bowes is famous and honoured there.
EUGENE B. VEST
Dixon, ILL.
Love, Not Hate
Sir:
MORE POWER TO YOU FOR PRINTING YEHUDI MENUHIN'S SPEECH AT DUEPPEL CENTER [TIME, OCT. 27]. ALL POWER TO HIM FOR HIS REFUSING TO CAPITALIZE ON RACIAL EXCLUSIVENESS AND HIS DEMAND ART AND MUSIC BE FREE FROM THE CAUSE OF HATE. YOU CANNOT BUILD JERUSALEM WITH GUNMEN. MENUHIN SHOWS THE WAY IT CAN BE DONE AND ONLY THEN WILL THE LAW GO FORTH FROM ZION, FOR AS HE SAYS "LOVE AND NOT HATE WILL HEAL THE WORLD."
ROWLAND SPENCER
New York City
Frederik IX
Sir:
Reference--TIME, Oct. 27, PEOPLE:
My mother-in-law claims it's Frederik of Denmark instead of Frederik of Norway.
Do YOU dare argue?
LYLE SIVERSON
Brawley, Calif.
P: No.-- ED.
Sir:
Shame on TIME for incorrectly referring to King Frederik IX of Denmark as "Frederik of Norway" on one page, getting him correctly located on the following. . . .
JOHN G. BARRETT
Houston, Tex.
P: Yes.-- ED.
Sir:
The Danes claim that a Norwegian is a Dane with his brains knocked out!
Who has had his brains knocked out -- King Frederik of Denmark or the Editor of TIME?
JESS F. TILLIER
Los Angeles
P: ED.--ED.
*Because the nerve supply of these muscles is the same as that of the eyelids and the jaws.
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