Hammer on the Moon

Sir: To see Dave Scott drop the hammer and feather and watch them drift slowly down and touch the moon at the same instant was worth more than all the science classes in the world [Aug. 16]. Of all the people that have ever lived, we saw it first. No doubt Galileo would be pretty proud of himself now! As for "unnecessary voyages," maybe Columbus should have been stopped.

CINDY THEALL Newport, N.H.

Sir: It might not be poetry, but it would be very acceptable prose if the crew of Apollo 16 placed a plaque beside the American flag saying DEDICATED TO THE TAXPAYERS OF AMERICA, WHO MADE ALL THESE FLIGHTS POSSIBLE. Then all of us could feel that our names are written on the moon.

HELENE THOMPSON Beaumont, Texas

Sir: The tremendous cut in appropriations suffered by NASA at the hands of Congress makes about as much sense to me as Queen Isabella sending Columbus to sea in a rowboat.

DAVE COUNTS Bristol, Tenn.

Sir: Why should the general public consent to support space exploration? As soon as there is any profit to be realized from the discoveries, the venture will be turned over to the private sector for exploitation. And as in the case of the communications satellites, you'll have just one more instance of subsidies and socialism for the rich.

RONALD B. ZEH Slingerlands, N.Y.

Sir: Your article on the flight of Apollo 15 stated that the moon is .6% as dense as the earth. The true figure is approximately 60%. A moon only .6% as dense as the earth would be like a giant puffball, into which astronauts, TV cameras and all would sink, never to return.

JOSEPH E. CAUDLE Arlington, Va.

The Service with Pride

Sir: When I was a young officer candidate at Quantico, we were taken to see the evening parade at Eighth and I [Aug. 9]. It was an awe-inspiring display of the tradition and discipline for which the Marine Corps is known. Had there been a first sergeant handy with the right papers, we would have signed up to a man for a 20-year hitch.

In this day of relaxation of military discipline, "Z-grams" and the like, it is heartening to know that one service, at least, still has pride.

GEORGE A. BRAKELEY III New Canaan, Conn.

A Lethal Earful

Sir: History has its parallels to your story [Aug. 2] about the young lady who got high when she took a dip in a reflecting pool with her hashish supply stowed in her ear.

Hamlet's father is the most famous case of someone who should have slept with his eyes open or his ears closed.

About half a century ago, a Baltimore pharmacologist performed animal experiments that showed that henbane, Hamlet's habenon, could be absorbed systemically when administered through the ear.

Incidentally, the Borgias were not to be caught napping. They also made use of the technique.

A.T. KNOPPERS, M.D. Summit, N.J.

Humble Acupuncturist

Sir: When my patients say, "It is miraculous how acupuncture cured me" [Aug. 9]. St. Augustine and I (humbly) reply, "There is nothing miraculous--only unknown laws."

In acupuncture some of these laws can be used, explained, substantiated and accepted.

IAN A. URQUHART Doctor of Acupuncture Tokyo

Prize Paper

Sir: TIME's report on the Chicago newspaper scene [Aug. 9] said: "In sum, the [Chicago Daily] News is no longer the paper that regularly won Pulitzer Prizes."

This statement will come as a surprise to the Pulitzer jurors who have awarded the Chicago Daily News two Pulitzer Prizes in the past three years. Our last previous Pulitzer was in 1963. Thus in this period the Daily News has won three Pulitzers, a feat equaled by only three other newspapers and exceeded by two. During that same period of time, the Daily News has won four major Sigma

Delta Chi awards, three major Overseas Press Club awards, the Broun award and the Hillman award. All of those who earned those awards for the Daily News are still with us, as are two earlier Pulitzer prizewinners.

DARYLE M. FELDMEIR Editor Chicago Daily News

The George and Ed Show

Sir: In pretending to confuse the New York Times and the Washington Post with Pravda [Aug. 9], George Jessel has once again exposed his ignorance. Jessel seems to equate the right of questioning the American Government and its military with anti-Americanism. He has a right to voice his opinions. But to dress up and play soldier and to brand and label is uncalled for. Edwin Newman handled the situation with tact, and rather than let Mr. Jessel pretend to march, he took away his toy drum.

KATHY HENDRICKSON Ann Arbor, Mich.

Sir: Edwin Newman's treatment of George Jessel points up the news media's self-adulation and application of double standards. A business that thrives on criticism of people, that uses stolen materials, and that is selective in its news is ridiculous being offended by a Jessel poking fun or an Agnew making some legitimate criticism.

As for Mr. Newman, I've not only never seen him smile, I've never seen that halo he wears either.

DONALD T. WILFORD Morris Plains, N.J.

America's Past Master

Sir: In your article on the great American chess player Bobby Fischer [Aug. 2], you state in discussing the world championship that "no American has ever won the title." Is it not true that Paul Morphy of New Orleans held the title from 1858 to 1860?

JIM WOOD Mobile, Ala.

> Paul Morphy, one of the great chess masters, sailed for Europe after winning the U.S. championship in 1857 at age 20. In a year and a half of playing he won or drew 273 out of 315 games, defeating the greatest European masters. His specialty was blindfold play, always with eight opponents. However, the official world championship title, never yet won by an American, dates from 1866.

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