Curtis Not Used
Sirs:
Your article in the June 15 issue of TIME appearing on p. 13 under the title "The Cabinet" inferred that the officials of the American Bond & Mortgage Co. had been trying to use Vice-President Curtis for political protection. Such inference is entirely unfounded for no one of the officers of the American Bond & Mortgage Co. knows Vice President Curtis, or even met him. Furthermore, the inference that the American Bond & Mortgage Co., or any of its officials had acquired properties financed by the company to the detriment of the bondholders, is likewise without justification, for the American Bond & Mortgage Co. took over properties only when the owners were unable to meet the obligations to the bondholders and it then invested its own money in the properties for the purpose of protecting the bondholders. . . .
HAROLD A. MOORE
Vice President
American Bond & Mortgage Co. Inc.
New York City
Where Mellon Sleeps
Sirs:
REPORT CURRENT IN OKLAHOMA MELLON SLEEPS IN TREASURY VAULT WHEN IN UNITED STATES STOP PLEASE VERIFY
L. D. MELTON
Stillwater, Okla.
Oklahoma's report is fantastic. Not even sleep experimenters at the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research in Pittsburgh have tried bank vaults. Mr. Mellon's comfortable bed in Washington is at his commodious fifth floor apartment, 1785 Massachusetts Ave.--ED.
Cities Service Accounting
Sirs:
I KNOW YOU DONT WANT TO DO ME ANY INJUSTICE IN REPORTING WHAT HAPPENS IN CONNECTION WITH MY CONTROVERSY WITH THE KANSAS CITY STAR AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE FAIR TREATMENT I HAVE RECEIVED IN EVERY WAY EXCEPT THAT YOUR FOOTNOTE IN THE JULY TWENTY-SEVEN EDITION IS APT TO GIVE THE READER A WRONG INTERPRETATION OF THE FACTS STOP HE WOULD READ IT AS MEANING THAT THE STATEMENTS OF OUR COMPANIES ARE NOT AUDITED STOP I THINK YOU MEANT TO SAY THAT OUR STATEMENTS ARE NOT AUDITED BY OUTSIDE AUDITORS AT THE TIME THEY ARE CURRENTLY ISSUED STOP . . . FEW COMPANIES HAVE THEIR STATEMENTS AUDITED BY OUTSIDE PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS MORE THAN ONCE A YEAR AND MANY LESS FREQUENTLY STOP OUR COMPANIES IN ADDITION IN MOST CASES OF MAKING PERIODIC REPORTS TO THE STATE AUTHORITIES MAINTAIN A MOST CAPABLE AND A MOST EXTENSIVE AUDITING DEPARTMENT AND OUR STATEMENTS ARE ALSO AUDITED AT IRREGULAR INTERVALS BY PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS STOP . . . IN MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS OF THESE AUDITS NO FIRM OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS HAS EVER DISAGREED WITH THE WORK OF OUR OWN AUDITORS EXCEPT ON TRIVIAL AND MINOR MATTERS AND I WOULD SAY IN AT LEAST NINETEEN CASES OUT OF EVERY TWENTY WE HAVE PROVED TO THEM THAT WE WERE RIGHT AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO THIS STOP AS FOR DEPRECIATION WE COMPLY WITH THE RULES LAID DOWN BY THE DIFFERENT PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONS IN THE DIFFERENT STATES STOP ON THE PARENT COMPANY WE USE THE METHOD WE DO BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT IS THE BEST AND ESPECIALLY IN OUR PARTICULAR CASE STOP EXCEPT FOR THE EFFECT OF TWENTY-FIVE CENT WHEAT AND OTHER SIMILAR THINGS ON THE DEPRECIATION OF PROPERTIES IN GENERAL AND EXCEPT FOR THE FIVE CENT OIL WE FEEL WE HAVE ALWAYS CHARGED OFF TO DEPRECIATION AND RESERVES MORE THAN WE SHOULD STOP WE HOPE TWENTY-FIVE CENT WHEAT AND OTHER DEMORALIZED PRICES IN GENERAL AND FIVE CENT OIL IS A TEMPORARY MATTER STOP . . .
HENRY L. DOHERTY
Miami, Fla.
Passing of Cuspidors
Sirs:
Being a cover-to-cover TIME enthusiast & a near original subscriber I have failed to see mentioned a "milestone" in American culture.
I understand that within a comparatively short time the Pullman Co. has issued orders to omit the customary cuspidor from the berth section of their sleeping cars.
From pamphlets issued by the Pullman Co. giving pictures of the early attempts to teach the American public how to use such an unaccustomed luxury as a clean bed on wheels, their greatest trouble was to keep people from going to bed with their shoes on.
Gradually we have been emerging from these early conditions & the relegating of the cuspidors to the smoking compartments seems to me should not go by unnoticed providing my information is correct.
EDWIN PUGSLEY
New Haven, Conn.
It is seven years since Pullman Co. removed cuspidors from the berth sections of its sleeping cars. But when groups of men charter whole cars (e.g. baseball teams, conventioners), cuspidors are cheerfully supplied.--ED.
Hog on Ice
Sirs:
In TIME, July 20, p. 55, col. 1, "Hatter's Castle," is the locution "independent as a hog on ice."
No one who was raised on a farm in a cold climate would use such a simile. Far from being independent, a hog "on ice" is the most helpless of creatures.
Frequently these animals go down to their accustomed drinking places and break the thin ice at the edge to get a drink--occasionally one will get beyond the sure footing of the bank to a very smooth place where his sharp hoofs get no purchase. Then the boys have to get a rope to help him out, or scatter straw or leaves so he can help himself. It has happened that his struggles have carried him further and further from land; thoroughly exhausted by his labors, he is found frozen to death.
JOHN S. STEWART
Springfield, Ill.
The hog TIME had in mind was dead.--ED.
Staunton v. Culver
Sirs:
In TIME [July 13] there is a statement to the effect that "Culver Military Academy is twice as large as any other U. S. private military school."
The above statement is untrue. The Staunton Military Academy, Staunton, Va., had an enrollment of 547.
I would also like to add that General MacArthur and Major General Sladen have commented on the excellent military achievement of the school.
DAVID T. CARTER JR.
Ocean City, Md.
Staunton's present enrolment: 646. Culver's: 685. TIME accepted a statement in Culver's catalog: ". . . 677 cadets, over double the number receiving military instruction in any other private school in the U. S." The catalog has not been brought up-to-date.--ED.
"Associates of the Dance"
Sirs:
Your article concerning the "gigolos" which the Ambassador Hotel of Hollywood has on its staff is incorrect concerning their official title. Appearance was in TIME, July 20.
Enclosed is a clipping from the Los Angeles Times of July 13, giving the truth of the matter.
It certainly isn't fair in the light of the matter to have called these gentlemen the title of "gigolos."
RICHARD TEMPLE
Los Angeles, Calif.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Ambassador's employes were wondering what to call themselves. "We dance because we like to. We thought of calling ourselves cavaliers. . . . In Paris now they're calling dancers like us 'dancing doctors.' And, of course, they have gigolos over there, but we are not gigolos." (No tipping is allowed.) Said Dancer Ernesto Piedra, whose father General Manuel Piedra is Cuba's minister to China: "I think we should call ourselves 'associates of the dance. . . .' ''--ED.
Sound Penney
Sirs:
In the July 20 issue of TIME, p. 26, col. 3, there appeared a statement regarding Chainstore-man James Cash Penney which undoubtedly refers to our Mr. Penney.
Some time ago, a news article appeared in the metropolitan dailies stating that Mr. J. C. Penney had been seized with acute appendicitis on his ranch and had signalled an aeroplane to his rescue. This, of course, was not our Mr. Penney and undoubtedly one of your editors has confused the news article about the ranchman in California with Mr. James Cash Penney, head of the J. C. Penney Co. chain of department stores.
Since your issue of last week other news articles have appeared in the press in which they have picked up your statement. Our Mr. Penney is in perfect health and is now on an extended tour through the Northwest. . . .
I. G. RICHARDSON
Assistant Director of Public Relations
J. C. Penney Co. Inc.
New York City
Garfield's Gallon Trip
Sirs:
The issue of July 13 has a paragraph on "Heroes--1881 Man." One sentence regarding President Garfield's journey is historically incorrect. He was leaving Washington for Gallon, Ohio, where he was to be the speaker the following day, at a "Soldiers and Sailors Reunion." I was a 16-year-old girl, assisting my mother to prepare for guests for the following day. Governor Foster ("Calico Charlie") was to be one of my father's guests. The impression is indelible of my father coming from his office, and as I put it, "staggering down the hall," with the news for mother and me, "Garfield is shot." All that summer, the news of his condition was followed by us in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati papers. It was a very real tragedy to a young girl.
CORA CARHART LARKIN
San Marino, Calif.
Cora Carhart Larkin's memory is vivid. Nevertheless, President Garfield's plan was to go by train to Jersey City, board a yacht, cruise up the Hudson, proceed by train two days later to Williamstown, thence go to Maine as the guest of James G. Blaine.--ED.
God's Letter
Sirs:
In your July 27 issue of TIME, I came across an interesting paragraph in the "Miscellany" column. It dealt with a small child addressing a plea for money on a letter, to God, City of Detroit. Obviously this letter was opened--but what I would like to know is, Who opened it? A very presumptuous person, if a clergyman. But as a matter of curiosity, would you please clear this for me?
ANGUS GRAY DUNCAN
New York City
The letter to God, from a ten-year-old named Louise, asking for $20 ("I need it badly") was opened by Miss Elva Forncrook of Detroit's Associated Charities.--ED.
Boston for Brooklyn
Sirs:
THE SHARKEY WALKER FIGHT [TIME, Aug. 3] TOOK PLACE AT EBBETS FIELD BROOKLYN
DAVE TOUFF
New York City
Sirs:
Page 22, col. 2, in "Big v. Little.'' Since when was the Sharkey-Walker fight in Boston?
A. T. STEVENS
New York City
Sirs:
In "Big v. Little" . . . something is radically wrong. Fight was held in Brooklyn.
ABRAHAM GURVITZ
Boston, Mass.
To hot-weather proofreading, no publication is immune. On the same botched page, Country Club Magazine became Country Life Magazine.--ED.
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