Begoggled Playboys

Sirs:

For a publication of unusual virility your article reporting the American Legion Convention was startlingly sterile (TIME, Oct. 20). Either none of your staff actually saw the orgy or they are all legionaries. Does it strike no spark from your terse sense of humor that tin-capped, be-goggled, middle-aged ''playboys of the western world" swarmed deliriously toward Boston to formally record in a solemn moment that they regretted the actions of local hoodlums? Coming here with one vibrant purpose, they fulfilled that purpose gloriously, overwhelmingly, only to then graciously hand all credit for the stunning victory to a ragged handful of humble native imitators.

HENRY LIVINGSTON HEYL

Boston, Mass.

The American Legion stands for a national characteristic indispensable in time of war. When in time of peace that characteristic was expressed by part of the Legion in puerile, rowdy horseplay, TIME reported the fact literally, letting those who would find humor in it. Besides: the City of Boston Hotel Association last fortnight reported to the Detroit Hotel Association, in whose premises the 1931 Legion convention will be held, that indoor damages at Boston totaled less than $500, bad checks only $300.--ED. Traveling Salesman

Sirs: . . . Our many great railroads are complaining of poor business. They claim poor passenger business is due to the auto etc. If you would take time to investigate, I think you might find that owing to the very heavy cost of traveling a salesman, since the Great War, many jobbers, and also manufacturers, have their men use autos. However, it has been proven that a salesman, traveling in a car--especially one making long jumps--is in no condition to give his best attention to his work. It also is true that the general cost of a car to the average traveler exceeds the cost of travel on train. That is, exceeds the cost before the Great War. We used to have a coupon ticket, which was purchased for $40 and good for 2,000 miles and interchangeable. This has been gone years. We now pay from 3-c- to 5-c- a mile. We also have the burden of the surtax on sleepers. All of this, dear sir, has helped to cut down travel, by train, by the salesman of today. I wager that if the railroads were to go back as in 1912 and allow traveling salesmen a 2,000-or 1,000-mile coupon ticket again based on 2-c- a mile, and eliminate this very wrong surcharge on sleepers, also allowing the salesman to carry 300 Ib. of baggage on his ticket, you would see an increase of 50% in salesmen that would use the railroads rather than a car. . . . I left New York July 1 this year. I traveled | from New York to the Pacific Coast and back. I carried 700 Ib. of baggage. I worked on a commission of 12 1/2%. Did I make anything on this trip? Not a cent, and still I sold as much merchandise as it was possible to sell of the line I had. I sold into the thousands and still was in the hole on my return to my home. And why? The railroads took it. They also received the benefit of my sales in freight and express. For eight months' work this year I drew over $5,000 and nearly $3,300 was spent on rail-fares, sleepers, and the worst of all, excess baggage. My factory made a little money but it was too close for them to travel but one man. If they were able to travel a man on a decent figure, they would have had four men cover territory I had to try and cover.

Something should be done to help out the commercial traveler. But who is there who will start something? Our Dear President has all these facts and still he has never made a move for the changing or trying to change conditions. I hope my letter will do some good. I was advised to write to TIME.

G. ALEX SMITH

Chicago, Ill.

Ivy's James

Sirs:

I have just seen the article in the recent issue of TIME on the subject of Mr. Lintott's picture of James (TIME, Oct. 27). . . .

The picture was accepted by the governors and by the Club at the dinner in New York last spring. The only reason that it has not yet been hung in the building is because the individual governor who had this in charge lives in Philadelphia and has had no opportunity to pick out a frame. At the Governors' Meeting, on October 15, however, I was asked to attend to this matter myself, and the frame was selected early last week and the picture ordered delivered.

The question of the propriety of the cocktail shaker had nothing to do with the delay. . . .

JARVIS CROMWELL New York City

Chug v. Chuff

Sirs:

Regarding Atterbury's withdrawal of support from Nominee Pinchot (TIME, Oct. 20) may I suggest that the Pennsylvania Railroad probably chugged over to Democratic nominee Hemphill instead of chuffed as TIME put it.

What dictionary does TIME use to get such accurate and complete meanings of the words it uses? My F. & W. gives no meaning of "chuffed" which fits TIME'S use of it.

JEROME E. HEQUEMBOURG

Caldwell, N. J.

TIME uses Webster's International, retaining editorial license. To the TIME ear it seems that a steam locomotive says "chuff" when it starts up, not "chug," the sound of antique motorcycles and fishermen's power boats.--ED. Sister of M. L. S. Sirs:

A friend sent a page from your magazine of Oct. 6 relating to Edgar Allen Toe. I was much interested in it. My sister Marie Louise Sherr, was the "M. L. S." of Poe's poem, also his poem to "Marie Louise."

I am writing this note asking if you will kindly give me the post office address of Dr. Thomas O. Mabbott of Hunter College, who as I see by the article is an authority on Poe and his handwriting. I am past 81 years of age and have recently sold a pair of Sheffield plate candelabra to the Poe Shrine at Richmond, Va. (Miss) ELVA P. BARNEY

Henderson, N. Y.

Dr. Mabbott's address: c/o Hunter College, Park Avenue & 68th Street, New York City.--ED. Humble Bishop Sirs:

While naturally I feel that the tribute of Rabbi Samuel S. Mayerberg, ' as set forth in the enclosed clipping, was undeserved, it has occasioned such favorable comment in Kansas City that I thought it might be deemed of news worth by TIME. But perhaps it is usual for Rabbies to praise Bishops. Dr. Mayerberg is Rabbi of the leading Temple here. When my Church was visited by fire during Holy Week two years ago, Rabbi Mayerberg offered Temple B'nai Jehudah to our Christian congregation.

ROBERT NELSON SPENCER

(Bishop of the West Missouri Diocese, Protestant Episcopal Church.) Kansas City, Mo.

Said the Rabbi of the Bishop: "He needs no praise, for he is a courageous leader of men. He is alive, vital and dynamic. He has a power that cannot be acquired--that received from his mother. She gave him her love, which cannot be gotten from an institution. Bishop Spencer received in his home the courageous attitude that great men have. "Furthermore, he is not a victim of theological training. His knowledge and philosophy are wide. He is an advocate of truth and the truth he preaches he practices. He has created a spiritual world that time cannot obliterate. . . . "There is not a vestige of hate in Bishop Spencer, and if he were here tonight there would not be a more humble or embarrassed man in the congregation. But humbleness in strength is power and he will be a vital force in his community."--ED. Major Result Sirs:

A major result of the 18th Amendment is complete loss of the art of stroking one's whiskers. Should we turn Bolshevik? How can we handle the problem?

JAMES CALLAN

Menard, Tex.

"Harvard of the South"

Sirs:

On p. 34 of your Oct. 27 issue you speak of "little Duke." Duke University is one of the outstanding schools in the country today. This institution, if you will recall, was old Trinity College. In 1924, Mr. James B. Duke endowed the school with upwards of $40,000,000. This year marks the opening of new Duke with its 5,000 campus. The old campus is occupied entirely by women students who number around 500. There are over 1,800 men students.

I would like to prove to you that our university is by no means "little." There are six distinct schools which include Medicine, Law, Arts and Sciences, Education, Engineering and Religion. The Medical Building with the exception of the Chapel is one of the most outstanding buildings on the new campus. It covers 21 acres, has 1,100 rooms, and cost $7,000,000. The Chapel has not been completed but will be inside the next two years. Its cost is estimated at $2,000,000. The Chapel tower will be 210 feet high with a carillon audible for twelve miles. It will seat 1,700 people. The library is one of remarkable proportions. It houses a collection of 400,000 volumes. The Union building is the centre of all student life. It comprises a dining hall, a coffee shop, a drugstore, a postoffice, and different departments of extracurricular activity. I think that these buildings are of particular note. The style of architecture is Gothic.

The Duke stadium is immense. Its seating (Continued on p. 12) capacity is 35,000. It is in the shape of a horseshoe but can easily be made into a bowl.

We have visitors every day from all parts of the country. We are proud of our Alma Mater. She is growing year by year. In ten years, Duke University will be the "Harvard of the South." I hope you will receive this letter with due consideration. Always for a bigger and better Duke. FRANK E. BRIDGES JR.

RALPH EDWARD THOMAS

Duke University Durham, N. C.

To loyal Students Bridges and Thomas, thanks for their inventory. No more will TIME call Duke "little." And when Duke's fame matches Duke's possessions, TIME will call it "great."--ED. Du Font's Lowestoft Sirs:

Regarding your reference to the Anderson Galleries, on p. 64 of TIME for Nov. 3:

"Wilmington. Henry F. du Pont bought another Lowestoft service (decorated with ships) last winter, found it spurious, returned it to the Anderson Galleries, Manhattan." I have to inform you that this statement is entirely erroneous.

1) There were no Anderson Galleries last year, as, at the commencement of Oct., 1929, the Anderson Galleries merged with the American Art Association, the organization being thereafter known as the American Art Association Anderson Galleries, Inc.

2) Henry F. du Pont bought no Lowestoft service decorated with ships from the American Art Association Anderson Galleries, Inc., and,

3) The records do not disclose that Mr. du Pont returned, at any time, any Lowestoft ship service to the American Art Association, the Anderson Galleries, or the American Art Association Anderson Galleries, Inc. . . .

AMERICAN ART ASSOCIATION ANDERSON GALLERIES, INC. New York City TIME regrets having reproduced an error issued from Boston by a national news reporting agency.--ED. Courier's Figure Sirs:

. . . The writer is asking that TIME do the Pittsburgh Courier the justice of publishing its correct circulation, because for years we have had our circulation audited every year and it is not necessary for anyone to guess at our circulation. We are enclosing you herewith a photostat copy of our last audit, and we are asking that you do us the favor to correct our circulation inasmuch as the figures given by you (TIME, Oct. 27), if seen by our advertisers, will subject us to rebate. . . .

R. L. WARREN

Editor

The Pittsburgh Courier, Pittsburgh, Pa.

The Courier's net circulation, certified by a local accountant as of May I was 49,034, and not 38.760 as reported by TIME. Source of TIME'S figure was N. W. Ayer's Newspaper Directory, 1930 edition.

--ED.

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