Grossly Unfair
Sirs:
My subscription to TIME recently ran out. I do not wish to continue receiving your magazine.
Your treatment of the Democratic side of the present political campaign is to my mind grossly unfair. All Democratic leaders are referred to as bosses, and that elevated and altruistic gentleman, William S. Vare, is respectfully designated Senator. . . .
Further you seem to have a religious complex. The fact that Mrs. Nicholas F. Brady is a Roman Catholic has little or nothing to do with her qualifications as head of the Girl Scouts of the Nation. . . .
JOHN M. FLYNN, 2nd.
Philadelphia, Pa.
"Yes"
Sirs:
In TIME of July 16, a correspondent from Ohio says: "I wonder if Hoover has always held to the teachings of his Quaker fathers during all these years with the British." Yes.
During his enforced residence abroad he was first and foremost a stalwart American. He was honest, intelligent, fearless. His home life was an example.
It was my privilege to enter his service in August 1914, to continue that work in England and in France for a number of years; perhaps as long an association as any American woman.
He was exacting, in that he expected and demanded results. If one could produce them he never forgot it.
Is this not the same calibre of man that inspired his Quaker fathers to build their monuments?
Thousands of my fellow countrywomen at home, and in France could not have accomplished our work had it not been for Mr. Hoover's advice. It is with great pleasure that I can now offer him my thanks.
ISABEL STEVENS LATHROP
President of the American Fund for
French Wounded, 1915-1920
London
Coward?
Sirs:
While I am not a subscriber to your magazine, which I find very interesting except when it becomes flippant with religion, I often buy it at newsstands and have been impressed with your "inside" information. For this reason perhaps you can answer a question that has perplexed me for some time. Unless my memory has failed me, it is ten or fifteen years since the Rev. William ("Billy") Sunday, the famous evangelist, has been in New York. Now I think this would be a fine time for him to come to New York, because of the prohibition raids on "night clubs" and the presidential campaign. Can it be that he is afraid to come to New York, as I have heard? I do not like to think that "Billy" Sunday would be afraid to meet the devil in his stamping-ground, New York, and yet it has been so long since he has been here that I would like to know the reason he has stayed away. It would be a good idea to have him debate with Al Smith and if he said he would, he would, not like Dr. John Roach Straton whom I previously admired. . . .
I will appreciate your answer to this question.
CARL V. WILLIS
New York City
Evangelist Sunday last visited Manhattan two days after the U. S. declared war on Germany (April 6, 1917). At the Tabernacle, hastily-built auditorium on Broadway at 168th Street, he sermonized on patriotism, second coming of Jesus Christ, the growth of Christianity, motherhood. Let Newsstand-Buyer Willis entrain for Ocean Grove, N. J., where Evangelist Sunday was expected the last week of August; let him quiz Evangelist Sunday on his avoidance of Manhattan.--ED.
No Longer Serves
Sirs:
May I, as public relations counsel to the House of Worth, be permitted to congratulate you upon the vivid and truthful picture of the Haute Couture you presented in your issue of August 13.
At the same time, may I point out an inaccuracy which may cause embarrassment to those of your distinguished readers, who, having read this article, should expect to see the late Jean Philippe Worth when they visit the House of Worth on the Rue de la Paix.
You state in your article that M. Jean Philippe Worth still comes to serve the most exalted personages. M. Jean Philippe died two years ago.
Jacques Worth and Jean Charles Worth are active as well as nominal heads of the House of Worth.
EDWARD L. BERNAYS
New York City
So recently was M. Jean Philippe a familiar figure in the House of Worth that TIME erred, failed to realize he no longer can serve distinguished patrons, however exalted they may be. But to MM. Jacques and Jean Charles, TIME gave due credit for active management.--ED.
Gum Chewers
Sirs:
I have noticed in recent issues of TIME that moving picture followers are referred to as "the gum-chewing public" and "gum chewers."
This may be a very witty expression and evidently is intended to convey that those who patronize picture shows are an uncouth or blatant lot. It has been my observation that all classes attend the "movies" and that many of these theaters provide an entertainment which can well be enjoyed by a person of at least the average intelligence. It may be that even your wisecracking theatrical writer is not so much above the average.
R. L. LYONS
Omaha, Neb.
Never did TIME say that all cinemaddicts are gum chewers.--ED.
"Pigs!"
Sirs:
I just received a letter which purports to throw some light on Belgrad's murder of Stefan Radic and his comrades. ... All eyewitnesses agree that S. Radic was very quiet that day and has not called "pigs!" the Government Deputies. . . .
The letter goes on to show that the report brought by "A. P." was sent out by newsagency. "Avala" which is supported by Belgrad government. Avala had to send what was ordered. . . . They featured Radic as provocateur so that his fame and justness of his cause may be demolished in the eyes of the world. I have every reason to believe that the contents of my letter are true.
Why do I write to you?
I've been following TIME for the last four years and feel certain that TIME enjoys bringing true reports. . . .
PETER SPRAJCAN
McKeesport, Pa.
Avala reported Stefan Raditch to have provoked Government Deputies by shouting at them: "You are not men! YOU ARE SWINE!" That his remark does not constitute provocation for murder, among Jugoslavs, was indicated by TIME's comment that, " 'swine' is almost the favorite epithet bandied in Balkan parliaments."--ED.
African Tigers
Sirs:
In your issue of Aug. 8, on p. 17, under the subheading "Ooze," writing of the Congo valley, you say "lions, tigers, etc." Kindly inform me if the species of tiger inhabiting the Congo valley is in any way related to the blind-tigers which infest all valleys in America? Query: Are there any tigers to be found in Africa, outside of zoological gardens and menageries?
WALTER MURPHY
House of Representatives,
State of North Carolina,
Raleigh, N. C.
Small tigers (not blind) abound in the dry uplands of the Belgian Congo, Africa. But perhaps Representative Murphy has in mind the largest species of tiger, the felis tigris, which is indigenous to Asia. Subscriber Murphy would be meticulously correct if he should state that the felis tigris is to be found in Africa only behind zoo bars.--ED.
Again, Wanamaker's
Sirs:
In reference to Mr. Townsend's letter in TIME for August 6, I should like to tell the story as I have always heard it--which is that when Mr. Wanamaker was a young man some old friend lent him a certain sum of money to help him start in business on condition that no playing cards should ever be sold in his store.
There was no specification as to dice, poker chips etc.--possibly the dear old friend did not know that one could gamble with anything but cards.
MARION CLOTHIER
Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Rural Digest
Sirs:
TIME may like to know that intelligent farmers read and respect its contents.
TIME (August 13) kindly noticed first publication of The Rural Digest. Since and to date (August 15) forty-one readers of TIME have written The Rural Digest either to subscribe or to request specimen copies. These are the type of readers to whom The Rural Digest is addressed and whom it seeks as subscribers.
Knowing the usual average of replies to any sort of publicity, we feel that this is a most unusual response and highly indicative of that factor in a publication that the advertising men call "reader confidence."
We thank TIME very sincerely for its courtesy in reviewing the advent of The Rural Digest, and compliment it upon this display of "pulling power."
Should TIME desire it we shall be glad to compile and report more complete returns from this bit of helpful publicity.
JAMES H. THOMPSON,
Editor
The Rural Digest Rochester, N. Y.
Let Editor Thompson report on Oct. 1, how many TIME readers exhibited interest in The Rural Digest.--ED.