Knew Not

Sirs:

I thoroughly enjoy TIME, but I do not read every paragraph in the magazine from cover to cover. That may account for my singular ignorance which other readers of TIME may not possess.

But while I may be ignorant I kind of hate to have It rubbed in.

I refer to your issue of Aug. 30, wherein you preface various remarks by stating "As everyone knows." These words slapped me in the face four different times while reading your magazine last night.

I did not know that the White House icebox was a primitive one of shaggy lumber.

I did not know that the Diskonto Gesellschaft is one of the four great "D Banks" of Germany.

I did not know that Prince Chichibu of Japan has wintered and disported himself in Switzerland, and that he has survived an ankle strained while skating and ensuing measles.

I did not know that Gregory Zinoviev was expelled during the summer from the potent Communist Political Bureau.

It may be that there are a few other readers who did not know these great universal facts, and who dislike being singled out as the only one who was ignorant of them.

You need not cancel my subscription, however.

HENRY W. DUNN

Long Beach, Calif.

Twisters

Sirs:

I am much interested in the inclosed piece of information [relative to cyclones] from TIME, Aug. 30. It does not however go far enough. What happens when a waterspout crosses the equator? Does it stop suddenly and start spinning in the opposite direction ? Or does it die of convulsions? Or What? I shall be obliged if you will inform me. . . .

W. H. HARKNESS

Glen Cove, L. I.

TIME stated that cyclones spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere, clockwise in the southern, due to twist imparted to enveloping air currents by Earth's axial motion (Ferrel's law). No record is discoverable of the hypothetical case posed by Subscriber Harkness. From the nature of its spin and of prevailing air currents, a cyclone usually travels away from the Equator. Should one chance to be translated across the Line it would theoretically be retarded, dissipated, replaced by a fresh one of reverse spin.--ED.

Sirs:

The writer, a recent subscriber to TIME, looks forward each week to the receipt of your periodical, primarily for the wide scope of news it disseminates, its brevity and accuracy. Imagine my surprise when reading your Aug. 30 issue I found a mistake in nomenclature quite prevalent among our country's press, that is, terming tornadoes, cyclones." . . .

Under "Meteorology" in Volume XVIII [Encyclopaedia Brittanica], page 284, at the end of the second column in referring to cyclones, I find: "The term cyclone among meteorologists . . . is equivalent to the older usage of whirlwind, and it is unfortunate that misunderstandings often arise because local usages in America apply the word cyclone to what has for centuries been called a tornado."

The above is sent in a kind spirit.

I shall look forward to receiving your future issues and recommend it to my friends.

BRADNER W. LEE JR.

Los Angeles, Calif.

Subscriber Lee's researches have enlightened his own perplexity: TIME employed "cyclone" in its familiar U.S. usage, the distinction between tornado and cyclone being of degree, not nature.--ED.

Address

Sirs:

In the Aug. 16 issue of TIME, under the heading SCIENCE, there is a most interesting article concerning Dr. Voronoff and the manner of his grafting sex organs, etc.

I would indeed deem it a favor should you inform me the mailing address of Dr. Voronoff, as I would very much like to ask him a question in reference to the above.

M. E. GOODWIN

Rochester, N. Y.

Dr. Avenue Bugeaud, Voronoff's Paris. -- address ED. is 40, Meaning

Sirs:

In the issue of TIME, Aug. 16, under heading, Hygienic, Moral, the following: "At the city of Mantua, famed citadel of sturdy Etruscans, the local Fascist Prefect issued a well pondered order last week: 'For the remainder of the present summer all males in the Province of Mantua are forbidden to dance in public. This order has been promulgated for hygiene and moral reasons.'

If not asking too much, will you please give me your idea of the meaning of this order and why they restricted males from dancing ?

GEORGE H. BROOKS

The Mutual Building and Loan Association Baton Rouge, La.

The decree is understood to form part of the Mantua Fascist campaign for the conservation of vital energy.--ED.

"Hinky-Dink"

Sirs:

In TIME, Aug. 23, your review of Edna Ferber's Show Boat.

Miss Ferber appears not to have included "Hinky Dink" McKenna with "Bath House" John Coughlin in the stage-setting of Chicago under Mayor Carter Harrison, an omission that should not be allowed to pass without notice.

For TIME'S information and possible future use in its very interesting and unique presentation of news, . . . you should know that Coughlin and McKenna were contemporary political bosses, keepers of large saloons of the lowest type where one quart schooners of beer or drinks of low grade whiskey were obtainable for 5-c-, together with a bountiful free lunch. They were equally famed characters in the Chicago of 1890-1900. To a resident of the Windy City in those days a reference to "Bath House John" without mention of "Hinky Dink" is most incomplete.

WALLACE D. CHACE

United States Fleet Base Force, Train Squadron One U.S.S. Antares, Flag Ship Navy Yard, Norfolk, Va.

Recalls

Sirs:

.... During the past year, I recall with special satisfaction among other things your treatment of the Scope's Trial, your weekly resume of the complicated political situation in France, your account of the Ferguson campaign in Texas, the Frank (killer) Norris episode and your fictitious, but essentially truthlike and delightful Helen Wills' Diary.

W. F. BARBER

President

The American National Bank Lawton, Okla.

Did Not Lie

Sirs:

Replying to the letter of Alfred Cottle [TIME, Aug. 30] concerning lies, I wish to state that as far as I know, TIME did not lie when speaking of Fords as "road bugs."

Where I come from, and all Southern Ohio, Fords are called "road lice." Now, if a "louse" is not a "bug," I wish that someone would kindly tell me what it is.

When TIME arrives at our house everything stops until it is read from cover to cover. By all means keep the footnotes.

H. H. MINISTER

Chauncey, Ohio

Kryptocyanine

Sirs:

The paragraph on "Smoke Photography" which appeared on p. 16 of the Aug. 30 issue is not quite accurate. The film, which is sensitive to infra-red rays, which penetrate haze (scarcely smoke), is sensitized with "kryptocyanine." This dye is not a secret in spite of its name; it was discovered by Adams and Haller at the color laboratory of the Bureau of Chemistry in 1919 and is made in our laboratories by Dr. H. T. Clarke. After many attempts we have succeeded in using it for sensitizing film.

W. K. MEES

Director, Research Laboratory Eastman Kodak Co. Rochester, N. Y.