Tschaikowsky, Heflin

Sirs:

In a pertinent discussion of Mr. Walter Damrosch's career, TIME, Dec. 21, utters this surprising pronouncement: "the greatest Symphony since Beethoven, the Tschaikowsky 'Pathetique.' "

If TIME were to speak quite casually and parenthetically of "an address by Sen. James Thomas Heflin, the greatest statesman since Lincoln," its error would be no more astounding. . . .

WILLIAM GIRDNER Takoma Park Washington, D. C.

Nine Bigger

Sirs: I agree with Newsstand-Buyer Pope (TIME, Jan. 3) as to only one of his "ten biggest" U. S. citizens -- namely Chief Justice Taft. The other nine should be: "Big Bill" Edwards Irvin S. Cobb "Fatty"; Arbuckle Senator Heflin "Pudge" Heffelfinger--* "Phonzo the Fat Man" "Beppo the Big Boy" Elisabeth Marbury, The Doorman at Connie's Inn

MAX HAFFLIN New York, N. Y.

*Famed onetime Yale football luminary.

Biggest Charles

Sirs : I mention the fact in all humility because my given name is "Charles" and I am not a great man; but have you noticed how many very great Americans bear this name? The ten "biggest Charles" are worthy, I am sure, to stand beside the "ten biggest" Americans suggested by Mr. Pope (TIME, Jan. 31).

Charles E. Hughes Charles G. Dawes Charles M. Schwab Charles Curtis Charles S. Chaplin Charles H. Mayo Charles B. Dillingham Charles ("Chick") Evans Charles Ross Charles G.Norris+-

I think that my one perhaps doubtfu-- choice, "Charlie" Ross, is at least as famous as any American who ever lived. He's still "missing," and so I assume him to be alive and eligible for my list. (He is no relative of mine.)

CHARLES P. Ross Chicago, Ill.

+-Novelist.

Ideal Place

Sirs:

As there seems to have been a considerable amount of uncertainty and disquietude expressed recently in your department devoted to letters from readers as to my name and present venue, I am enclosing you separately copy of my Annual Report on this institution which may help to establish the facts, and also will, I am sure, prove interesting to you as a penological document.

With best regards, believe me JOHN W. SNOOK Warden United States Penitentiary Atlanta, Ga.

All thanks to able Warden Snook for enclosing with his report the Christmas copy of Good Words, a magazine published monthly at his penitentiary "with the approval of the Department of Justice." Excerpts:

"Charlie, the head butcher, has turned executioner. He went out to the farm and assassinated a flock of hogs.

" ". . . The many residents of our 'little city within walls' who are fistically in- clined enjoyed on the afternoon of Thanksgiving Day one of the best boxing shows witnessed hereabouts in recent years. . . . The initial bout brought together two fast and talented colored boys, Jackson and Lawrence. . . . Addison and Madison, two colored welters, followed and swapped punches through four lively rounds. . . . This is an ideal place for men to refit morally and physically for the battle of life and go home brimful of health and vitality."

"Poor E. F. P. He's wondering if that flame of his is still waiting."

"Chaplain Ladlow talked on 'Religion in Strange Places,' based on the story of Rahab the harlot. Music was furnished . .. by 'Woody,' a member of the orchestra, who gave saxophone solos--and was discharged from the prison on the following day.

" " 'Happy' Murdock is giving nightly lectures on Evolution, Science and what have you, and invites his friends to come hear his discourses. Music is furnished free, but bring your own sugar and crackers."

"In the departure during November and early December of Dillon and O'Shea the Commodore Tigers lost two of their best players and genuine regrets are felt by the entire squad because of the losses thus sustained. At the same time, quite naturally, the gridiron roster in its entirety were mighty glad of the good fortune of their departing friends and, as they left heaped all sorts of good wishes upon them."

" 'Big Jim' Elliott has been transferred from Mr. Boyle's office to the Hospital, as clerk and he is delivering the goods, in his pleasing and smilling way. More power to you 'Big Boy.' "

"Visualize, if you will, a grove of stately trees on the northerly slope of a steep plateau, enfolded in the mighty arms of the Alleghany Mountains, and you have before your eyes the site of the Alderson Federal 'Road Camp. The Camp is now complete, with its mess hall, showers, barber shop, laundry and official quarters--all except the Club House, plans for which are now ready. This work will be rushed through Shortly. It is much like a real logging camp in Maine, Quebec or the Far West, save that here is found scrupulous sanitation and order.

"Upon arrival here men are immediately quartered in whatever bunks are empty in OnS or More of the camps. Hot supper te served to every newcomer, and then a shower bath and bed for a good night's rest in warmth and comfort, after the long ride from Atlanta. With the morning comes a revelation in breakfasts, and everyone goes to work with pick and shovel making roads. On the other hand, no man is asked or expected to work beyond his capacity or to injure himself by overdoing things, but he wants to work there. With wise forethought those in charge have provided a full stock of heavy clothing, blankets and comforters against the coming winter weather. The town of Alderson, nestling at the foot of the mountain, is 15 minutes' walk for the boys going to the movies on Saturday afternoon."--ED.

Plain, Common, White

Sirs:

If the Negro is so detestable as to be undeserving of the common title Mr., Mrs. or Miss, the courtesy accorded all other races, I wonder if W. C. Poynter and other Southern gentlemen of his ilk can without a blush of shame, stand in the presence of their wives and daughters and explain to the world just why, in so far as physical appearance is concerned, the color line is so rapidly vanishing. Surely even Poynter himself must know that if the stranger in certain sections of the South relies solely on color he is decidedly unable in many instances to distinguish a white man from a Negro, notwithstanding the well-known fact that intermarriage between the races is strictly forbidden by Southern laws! May we ask Poynter who is to blame? Certainly not the despised

"nigger men" and even more most certainly not the cowered and much outraged white women. . . . Maybe I am wrong, but it seems to me that if in spite of Ku Kluxes and Jim Crow laws, "niggers" are good enough to be made the sons, daughters, aunties, uncles, cousins, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law and concubines of the high-and- mighty Southern gentlemen of Poynter's ilk there should be little room for complaint from them when a few humble but learned magazine editors and managers persist on "putting themselves down on equality with Negroes." . . .

This letter is written by a plain common white man who does not feel like establishing a shrine in his own honor because he is white but who does really thank God that he is a College Product and not an ignoramus.

H. KIRBY Houston, Tex.

Australianism

Sirs: In reference to the controversy in TIME, [Dec. 13, Nov. 22], regarding the appellation "gobs" please be advised that both Admiral Irwin and the party who thinks the Admiral is wrong are correct to some extent. But the real truth of the matter is that one sailor may call another a "gob," but since the return of the Fleet from the wonderful cruise to Australia he is more liable to use the Australian word and pronunciation and call his shipmate "Silor" with the "i" pronounced "eye." This entire matter should hardly merit all this discussion as it is our knowledge that it is rarely necessary to call the sailor at all--just the sounding of "mess gear" or "pay call" on the bugle being sufficient. At any rate--we never call each other "bluejackets."

LEO RICHMAN Editor, The Mountaineer U. S. S. West Virginia (very much an enlisted man) San Pedro, Calif.

The

Sirs:

You will probably have been informed already that press reports led you into error in regard to the name of one of the recipients of a Nobel award [TIME, Dec. 20]. Dr. Svedberg's name is The and not, as the press assumed, Theodore. The error was very widespread, and I am writing this not as a complaint, but merely for your future information. It is not surprising that a name such as The should be assumed to be an abbreviation of Theodore,

S. C. BROOKS Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N. J.

The Swedish Who's Who gives Dr. Svedberg's Christian name as "Theodor (The)." Dr. Svedberg received the 1926 Nobel prize for Chemistry.--ED.

Ireland's Cardinal

Sirs:

TIME, Dec. 20, errs in stating that Ireland is without a Cardinal.

Cardinal [Patrick] O'Donnell, Primate of all Ireland, was invested with the red hat a year ago, and was a visitor to the United States last summer during the Eucharist Congress.

REV. G. EDGAR GALLANT

St. John's Rectory Chicago, Ill.

Experiments

Sirs:

In TIME, dated June 28, 1926 on p. 22, in the SCIENCE section you published an article about an experiment to be tried at the Pasteur Institute of Kindia, French West Africa.

I am interested in the outcome of this experiment and I think many other people are also. I will be greatly pleased if you can give me more news about this subject.

JOHN JACKSON Wilkes Barre, Pa.

The Kindia experiments, in cross-breeding apes and humans by arti- ficial fecundation--gorillas with Negroes, orang-outangs with Ori- entals, chimpanzees with whites-- were reported to be under the direction of Professor Elie Ivanoff of Moscow, by whom no subsequent details beyond the bare announcement have been issued. Leading scientists scout the experiments as futile, citing recent research in the chromosomes of species. Perhaps Lawyer Rowland S. England of 13573 Wark St., Detroit, who last June gave out a statement on Professor Ivanoff's plans, has further news.--ED.

Handy Table

Sirs:

"TIME Creates Thinkers."

The thought prompting the above is due to the fact that visiting the officials of the bigger industrial concerns of the country, one usually finds upon the desk or handy table, an issue of TIME. . . .

J. CLIFFORD FRANZ Pittsburgh, Pa.

Too . . . Too . . . Too. ...

Sirs:

Allow me to agree with you that TIME is curt--too curt; clear-- ;too clearly offensive ; and conceited, not concise. Your sneering attitude on questions necessitating personal opinion cannot endear you to any reader, no matter how cynical. Kindly send no more copies.

JOHN R. KASTL Omaha, Neb.

Grouch

Sirs:

More than a year ago I wrote to you, venting my wrath against the LETTERS department and requesting you to discontinue it. You replied that the LETTERS department was an experiment which you hoped, and believed, would be a success. . . , Is LETTERS a success ? Hardly, I have changed my mind, I must admit, to the extent that I believe that LETTERS would be a very interesting and valuable part of TIME if the letters printed were all--as they are supposed to be--relevant to the news. But, for goodness' sake, please bar those inconsequential letters written by those irate subscribers who have a grudge against the world and have to vent it upon somebody. Frankly, they give me a pain. I generally read the LETTERS first, and I get in such a mood that even the brilliant and excellent columns of TIME can scarcely charm away my grouch.

E. KREUTZWEISER Saskatoon, Sask. Canada

Subscriber Kreutzweiser is requested to write a sample letter relevant to the news.--ED.