'Now Listen, Youse Guys"

Sirs:

As a commentary on the proceedings of the National Council of Teachers of English (TIME, Tov. 14), allow me to submit the enclosed account of the meeting, written by one who was lot there. Any slight deviations from accuracy in the report will, of course, be interpreted as icing strictly in keeping with the spirit of the S. C. T. E., which, one infers from TIME'S account, positively wallows in error.

HUGH KING WRIGHT

Lawrenceville, N. J.

THE "REPORT" :

HOW ENGLISH HAD OUGHT TO BE TAUGHT

The teachers assembled, they're 6,000 strong, Were there to determine the right from the wrong; The wrong from the wronger, perhaps we should say; I'll tell you, dear friends, all that happened that day. The cause for debate was what words should be used In their themes every week by the youth--much abused-- Of the nation, who labor beneath a great load, For they're forced to write English too much a la mode. And what shall we do?" those great-hearted souls cried To help these poor students; it's so hard they've tried! "If we don't fix on something, they surely won't pass, "And then if they don't, why the teacher's an ass! "We don't want to teach grammar, and what-shall we do If we don't take good care that these dunces get through? " Look here," says the chairman, and beams through his beard, I've got the idea;" through his glasses he seared All dissenters. "Hey! Silence! Now listen, youse guys, "Pay attention a minute; don't try to be wise! "It's simple, so simple; when they make a break, "All that you do is say, 'Why, that's not a mistake!' "Let them say 'It is me' to replace 'It is I'; "At 'Who are you looking for?' don't bat an eye; " 'Try and get well' let them write, and 'Walk slow'; "Surely let them get by with 'If that wasn't so--' "Let us write a nice list of mistakes they can use, "And publish a broadside 'gainst those who enthuse "About writing correctly; we simply can't bother. "But for all unmistakable errors--well, rather! "We'll cross and recross with red ink all of those, "And for those kind the students will pay through the nose! "Better middle-class English we'll teach in our schools, "And correct composition we'll leave to the fools "Who are picayune, narrow, and nasty enough "To insist that their pupils must master such stuff. " ...

Progress Magazines

Sirs:

We noticed on p. 26 of Dec. 5 issue that you report on Progress Magazine as published by Street & Smith.

On the appearance of their magazine a few days ago we wrote them with reference to using the same name as our magazine which has been published since last January.

The matter is now under discussion with them, at this time.

A sample copy of our Progress Magazine is being mailed to you today.

There is no similarity in the contents of the two magazines as ours is edited to help people get on in the world through articles that are written to help people meet various problems in life. Yet we do not wish for any occasion for confusion and would appreciate a brief note in your valuable publication about our Progress magazine also.

J. A. WORSHAM Business Manager

Schnepp & Barnes

Springfield, Ill.

Monument Architects

Sirs: Architects everywhere will appreciate TIME'S description of the monument on Kill Devil Hill at Kitty Hawk, commemorating the first aeroplane flight; for TIME thoughtfully mentioned the architects--Rodgers and Poor (TIME, Nov. 28). Newspapers and magazines rarely give architects and sculptors credit for their creations, albeit painters invariably rate a good story with their names featured in every caption. Incidentally, gifted Architect Robert Perry Rodgers is brother of the late and famed Commander John Rodgers, U. S. N., D. S. M., pioneer in naval aeronautics, mine-removing hero of the North Sea Barrage, trans-pacific flyer. And, curiously enough, the material used for the Kitty Hawk monument is likewise linked to the air--for the stone is North Carolina's beautiful White Mount Airy granite.

ERNEST S. LELAND

Presbrey-Leland Studios

New York City

Thomson & Quartz Disk

Sirs:

I notice in your issue of Sept. 19, p. 23, under the title "Other New Observatories," you have made a statement in which I am made to say that I do not see my way clear toward making the necessary fused quartz disk (meaning the 200-in. disk), etc. I am sorry that you did not consult me before making a statement which is not in accordance with actual fact. It imposes a burden upon me which I did not seek, of correcting inquiries. I have all along held that from the work which we have done in fused quartz in spraying, it is undoubtedly possible to make the size of disk required, the limitation being, of course, time and expense, as those who know fully realize.

ELIHU THOMSON

Director

Thomson Research Laboratory, General Electric Co. Lynn. Mass.

Miss Bankhead's Doctor

Sirs:

TIME errs, and TIME-believer Flushing's Morris Myers, M.D. errs (TIME, Nov. 21) if believing: "In the picture Faithless that 'she has become a prostitute to get money for the doctor.' " The writer, screenplaywright of Faithless, and his late great & good friend, Producer Paul Bern, made sure of factual deference to known and admitted medical ethics, caused the discussed situation to hinge on only the Bankhead-spoken lines, "The doctor didn't say where I was to get the money for these things?"--a definite implication of satisfactory medical attention--and the Bankhead return with a drugstorish package. Does it interest TIME and M.D. Myers to know that the Faithless situation was founded on late Paul Bern's own description of his contact--while on his usual relentless pursuit of deserving helplessness--with a "real life" case wherein a young M.D. wished he could purchase medicines for an ethical "free" case--except that he had--because of these times--already used his every available penny for similar deserving cases. Sometimes moviemakers use actualities because they are more interesting and dramatic than invention or conjecture.

CAREY WILSON

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios

Culver City, Calif.

182-Pounder

Sirs: If I had the "ungovernable temper" which you ascribe to me, I would -- * in your editor's ear as a quid pro quo for the way you libel me in your issue of Dec. 5; instead, I'll give you the facts to take the place of your misrepresentations and let you suffer the chagrin that the truth would have made a more romantic story than your fiction.

I was never a waiter, singing or otherwise, in Heidelberg or any other place. I sang in the Kuripes there, never for money but because singing is a natural accompaniment of good beer and because my colleagues were enamored of the Negro Spirituals which I sang. The particular point here is that until that time the Negro Spirituals had never been heard in Europe and since then have become decidedly the most respected of American contributions to art.

I started the Foundation exactly ten years ago and every member of the staff, with one exception, who started with us is still active in the same capacity. The exception is the man who went to the Cleveland Museum of Art at a salary three times what we were paying him. My relations with him are still cordial and in his books he states that a good part of his well-known success he owes to me.

But your misrepresentation which pained me most, in fact desolates me to the extent that I am unfit for work, is your statement that I weigh 200 Ib. My most egregious vanity is that I now weigh 182 Ib. which is exactly 4 Ib. more than I weighed 30 years ago when I played baseball and boxed in the light heavyweight class. Finally, especially if you ever deal with me again, for --'s/- sake get a new photograph of me. The Bain News Service, No. 255 Canal Street, New York City took a pretty good one of me when I got back from Europe a couple of months ago.

ALBERT C. BARNES

Merion, Pa.

Babies & Rabies

Sirs:

My brief paragraph on babies v. dogs provoked a broadside from lovers of canines in your issue of Dec. 5. I was glad to hear from them and hope many more will express their views and give facts in support thereof, as I would consider the question from every angle in a book on the subject. If you cannot publish all the letters received, please forward them to me, and also invite your readers, pro or con. to write me direct. No matter how hard they hit. I shall appreciate their honest opinions, as a member for many years of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. . . .

WILLIAM MILL BUTLER

Beachwood, N. J.

Sirs: Reading your inimitable TIME of Nov. 28 avidly I ran across the interesting and touching "Don't you bite, Bing" on p. 22 stating the shepherd dog was found rabid, foaming at the mouth and putting the boy owners in grave personal danger. I just finished Albert Payson Terhune's article "Queer Things About Your Dog," which states, on his long experience as a breeder of prize collies, that a dog foaming at the mouth is not rabid--that a dog foams at the mouth from a number of causes, and that a rabid dog is too sick and dazed to hurt anyone. . .

HUGH H. HOFFMAN

Dayton, Ohio

Foaming at the mouth in dogs is not an invariable or even frequent symptom of rabies. It may be caused by a nervous disturbance, local inflammation, convulsions or running fits. But the rabies virus is transmitted by saliva and abundant salivation accompanies rabies, especially in the "dumb" phase when the lower jaw becomes paralyzed. Rabies is a much rarer disease than commonly supposed. Immunity to it is high in dogs and humans. The Pasteur treatment within five days of being bitten is highly effective protection. Detection of rabies in its early stages is difficult. The rabid dog is infectious a week before any symptoms appear. As its illness (always fatal to the dog) comes on, it will first seem melancholy, extra affectionate, sexually excited, or uneasy and inclined to seek solitude. It is apt to gather up straw, thread, bits of wood and trash. It will lick cold objects and other animals, but not be disposed to bite. There is no dread of water at any time. "Hydro-phobia" is a misnomer. The dog will drink as long as it can, until constriction of the throat sets in. The second stage of rabies is mania or nervous excitement. The dog may jump in the air, snap at invisible objects. A peculiar, unmistakeable howling begins, not so fast and frequent as the yapping and whining of running fits. The dog is still unlikely to bite persons it knows but will soon begin to "run mad." first at any dog it sees, later in a set course (unlike the aimless circling of running fits), snapping silently at anything in its path. Some mad dogs snap so hard they break their teeth and jaws. The final stage is paralysis, coma, death. The normal course of rabies: one week. Best procedure with a dog suspected early: isolate, feed lightly, do not touch. --ED.

* Obscenity deleted --ED.

/- Profanity deleted.--ED.

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