Herewith are excerpts from letters come to the desks of the editors during the past week. They are selected primarily for the information they contain either supplementary to or corrective of news previously published in TIME.

Suggestion

Sirs: A suggestion--merely a suggestion : TIME'S style is piquant, ticklesome, unique. Of an evening, bored and sleepy, I pick it up for the sheer intellectual pins-and-needles it jabs into me--spurring to action ("Write that letter!"), inspiring to wisecrack with my wife ("Do drop 'Thanks for the buggy ride,' George!") See? TIME'S informatory value being "as every one knows," taken for granted--accurate, complete, swift. . . . But, my dear Sirs, isn't that an absurd paragraph I have just composed? It is a tyro's effort to paraphrase TIME style. It chokes with adjectives. It halts and confuses and baffles even me, who wrote it. And it reminds me very much--including its possibilities--of the advertisements of TIME that have lately been appearing in TIME'S own pages (inside of back cover, July 26). This is my suggestion: that, good though those advertisements are, they are plainly written by some one that has not quite caught TIME style, though that has been his effort. They sound (to me) jerky and adjective-ridden and might gain force if smoothed out as your reading text is smooth. . . . GEORGE BUNBURY

New York, N.Y.

Good Point

Sirs:

In your news of France can you not give the title of men mentioned in your articles, instead of referring to them by the mere title of M. (Monsieur) ? In mentioning members of the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate, or any other governmental body, I like to see their title used. This means of designation helps one to read with more understanding, especially in the case of lesser known persons whose record is not familiar to the general public.

VICTOR C. SWEARINGEN

Detroit, Mich.

A good point, well taken.--Ed. Speed

Sirs: Your July 12 issue was delivered by the Mexican postman at 4 p.m. on July 14, to this address. This is pretty good going--is it not? TERRELL CROFT

Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

Will Rogers

Sirs:

No one who reads TIME can deny its worth, but there is no augmentation to TIME'S value or TIME'S friends by deprecating where no deprecation is due.

Will Rogers is a credit to the American stage putting clean mind, brains, humor into a profession badly lacking such virtues. In 15 years I have never known him to be vulgar, insulting. Would I could say the same of TIME for three years.

ELLSWORTH B. BUCK

Staten Island, N.Y.

TIME did not say that Mr. Rogers is vulgar, insulting. Said TIME: "His under lip protrudes like the point of a vulgar joke."--Ed. "Governess"

Sirs: In your July 26 number, you refer to Mrs. Ferguson as "Governess." Mr. Webster says: "governess--a lady who trains and instructs children, or an instructress." He makes no reference to a lady charged with the duties of a governor. Neither does the constitution of any state provide for the office of "Governess." SAM B. MANES

Plumerville, Ark.

No ladies were functioning as governors at the time Mr. Webster compiled his book. Possibly U.S. dictionaries, U.S. state constitutions will one day make provision for the new-style "Governess."-- ED. Words

Sirs:

In the last few issues of TIME, these words, which I cannot find in my Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, have been used. By the context of sentences, I can guess at their meanings. Will you kindly define them, either by letter, or in TIME, or refer me to the dictionary used in your editorial rooms ?

I shall be most grateful for any hints. These are the words: Stramash. jimp, musnud, kudos.

J. H. CREIGHTON

Lansing, Michigan

All four words are to be found in Webster's New International Dictionary. "Stramash," meaning "disturbance, ruction, broil," was applied to chronic political contentions in France. "Jimp," which has five meanings, among them (adjectively) "neat, spruce, trim," was applied to the leg of the original of Mark Twain's "Becky Thatcher." "Musnud" is the pillow or cushioned seat sat upon by an oriental potentate; was employed by TIME,--somewhat pedantically-- to a university or seat-of-learning. "Kudos," of Greek derivation, means "praise, glory," was used in reference to honorary college degrees.--ED. Hibbard Flayed

Sirs:

Referring to Mr. Angus Hibbard's letter (TIME, July 12), I cast my vote unreservedly in favor of the continuance of your editorial notes. Where's the bad taste ?

While on this subject of notes and comments, may I express the hope that TIME finds its way to more and more schools ? Your "arraignment" of the theatre in the issue of June 28 was thoroughly enlightening to me, living as I do in the country, possibly to Mitchell Bingham (TIME, July 12) and, I hope, will give some food for thought to his brother (if he reads TIME), who will be with us next year as a master.

It all depends upon the point of view. With TIME I am confident.

F. B. RIGGS

Headmaster Indian Mountain School Lakeville, Conn.

Sirs:

In the general run of newspapers such a thing as footnotes is never thought of. ...

Plenty of newspapers so called are glad to get rid of their subject even though their readers don't understand a word they print.

There was never a footnote in TIME but was intended to elucidate its text, and for me you can give us all the footnotes you like.

Norfolk, Neb.

BOB D. HOLADAY

P. S. Mr. Hibbard [TIME, July 12, LETTERS] should allow people to have a right to all they can get.

Sirs:

Apropos your caption "Footnotes" in your issue of July 12, p. 2, permit the undersigned, as one who directly or indirectly has secured at least ten subscribers (and more readers) for TIME, to voice his emphatic approval of your use of the footnote.

To the careful reader, desirous of obtaining a more intensive knowledge ot the subject, no less than the eager student, the footnote is a boon.

D. ARTHUR BOWMAN

Bowman & Co. Investment Securities St. Louis, Mo.

Sirs:

I greatly favor the footnotes in TIME. They are always interesting and often provide a diverting fillip, as well as information on side lights that could not be incorporated in the article proper without awkwardness. For instance, I was very glad to see in TIME, June 14, p. 7, the clear description of poker, which previously had been principally a name only, to me.

The more footnotes, the better!

O. O. WILLIAMSON

Greenville, Miss.