Prisoner Daniell: Sirs: . . . My situation is this. I am held prisoner charged with two felonies, growing out of the tear gas bombing of the New York Stock Exchange. Although entirely innocent of any crime, the Press, and even TIME, has represented me as a sort of cross between a radical and an anarchist. The only foundation for this is a single statement of mine to the effect that I approve of the act of which I am accused.
I resent such a classification for the simple reason that my political opinions come from the teachings of Christ, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, rather than from any cesspool of radical fanaticism. . . .
My approval of the so-called bombing is based first, on the 13th, 14th, null and 16th verses of the 2nd Chapter of the Gospel according to St. John.* Secondly it was as effective as an act of violence yet caused the destruction of neither life nor property. In this respect it is superior to the justly praised Boston Tea Party. Finally, by being subject to a mild wave of tear gas, I believe those in and about the Stock Exchange may begin to realize the tremendous amount of bitterness which is constantly growing in our midst as the result of industrial strikes, and agricultural strife. . . .
As to my political views, I believe, as did Jefferson, that we must annul certain privileges "and instead of an aristocracy of wealth, of more harm and danger than benefit to society to make way for an aristocracy of virtue and talent." . . . EUGENE S. DANIELL JR.
Tombs' Prison
New York City
*. . . and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
And when lie had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple and the sheep, and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overthrew the tables;
And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; and make not of my Father's house an house of merchandise.
There is no record of the New York Stock Exchange Building ever having been a holy temple.-ED.
Unused Posters
Sirs:
May I suggest to the "Brain Trust" a possible use for unused NRA posters four years come Michaelmas? Why not "Nominate Roosevelt Again"?
WILLIAM LYNCH VALLEE
New York Citv
Unpaid Cantor
Sirs:
REGARDING YOUR ARTICLE IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE STATING I HAD SETTLED THE GOLDMAN SACHS SUIT PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT I AM NOT RECEIVING ONE CENT STOP I HAVE JUST BEEN INFORMED THAT THE ONLY DISTRIBUTION OF MONEY WILL BE TO THE LAWYERS AS USUAL STOP CONTRARY TO YOUR STORY I AM PREPARING TO BEGIN SUITS
AGAINST EACH INDIVIDUAL DIRECTOR OF THE GOLDMAN SACHS CORPORATION-STOP MANY STOCKHOLDERS ARE NOW UNDER IMPRESSION THAT I HAVE BENEFITED FINANCIALLY ACCORDING TO YOUR STORY AND IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT I WOULD DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOUR PRINTING MY DENIAL THANKS
EDDIE CANTOR
Los Angeles, Calif.
Cremation of Care
Sirs:
In the Aug. 14 issue of TIME, an error was made in the article regarding the Annual High Jinks of San Francisco's Bohemian Club at Bohemian Grove. TIME reported the holding of the "Burial of Care." Bohemians, world over, will recognize this as an error.
The highly dramatic ceremony, symbolizing the opening of the Grove each year, is known as the "Cremation of Care." It symbolizes the destruction of the arch-enemy "care," who has beset many men these days.
Bohemia has built a beautiful lake in its Grove. Sculptor Haig Patigian designed the altar at one extremity of this lake, which is an heroically shaped Owl--the Club's insignia ("Weaving spiders come not here"). Here the captured effigy of care is oared from across the lake in a medieval barge, and laid on a funeral pyre, where amidst much colorful ritual, he is cremated, to bother man no more--until next year. He is not buried.
C. ELLSWORTH WYLIE
Los Angeles, Calif.
So secretive is the Bohemian Club about its Grove and the doings there, small wonder if errors crept into TIME'S account. -ED. Hiawatha Department
Sirs:
(Hiawatha department):
"When U. S. brewers were dusting off their plants for beer's return, they were convinced that draught beer would be banned. Bottles they bought by the trainload, but kegs they neglected to order. . . "
-TIME, Aug. 21, p. 38.
Drawing apart from the scurry and bustle of TIME'S busy office.
A staff-writer sets himself down to survey the events of a fortnight,
Scanning the news of the world, and reviewing the progress of Commerce.
First at the top of the sheet he types the words "Business and Finance,"
Then shutting his eyes for a time, he contemplates Infinite Distance.
His subject is somewhat mundane, but under the hand of a master
Even an earthy thing glows; his words twine themselves into garlands
Meet for the lute of a minstrel, flowing in metrical cadence.
Hardly his hands touch the keys when there springs into beauteous being
A line that must live through the ages, unfading, mellifluous, golden:
"Bottles they bought by the trainload, but kegs they neglected to order."
DOUGLAS G. McPHEE
Berkeley, Calif.
Operatic Indian
Sirs:
In your interesting article a few weeks ago about Oils and Opera referring to the opera A'ida that was produced in Tulsa, the most interesting part was left out. Mr. Carlo Edwards, it is true, directed the Opera A'ida, but the first opera produced by the Tulsa Civic Opera was La Boheme, directed by an Indian woman. This woman, a Chickasaw, Daisy Maud Underwood, is a real Indian princess, her name being Princess Pakanli. She, with the aid of Hugh Sandidge, ,veteran operatic tenor of Memphis, Tenn., worked for two years under the most adverse conditions to get opera started in Oklahoma. She is a graduate of the New England Conservatory with a great voice and wonderful ability as a musician. I think that this makes the production of opera Oklahoma more remarkable, its being produced the first time by a native Indian. This is due her as she struggled so long to get it started.
HOWARD LAWSON
Kansas City, Mo.
750DEG Below Zero Sirs: Then there is the story of the old farmer, who, when the family clock by some disarrangement struck 13, remarked that he had never known it to be so late before. It will be new to our physicists that the surface temperature of Saturn is about 750DEG below zero Centigrade, so far below the accepted determination of the absolute zero at 273DEG (TIME, Aug. 21, p. 34).
JOHN A. WHITE
New York City
The typographically correct temperature of Saturn: minus 150DEG C.--ED.
Divine Believers
Sirs:
Re Article about Father Divine--Aug. 7 TIME:
Father Divine is God and anyone who opposes God cuts himself off from Life, for He is Life.
Have been a constant reader of TIME, and am amazed beyond words that anyone so utterly ignorant of facts should be permitted to write an article for general circulation. The statements are both untrue and misleading.
Father's followers are now numbered by the million and comprise nearly as many of the so-called "white"' race as the so-called "black" race.
... I happen to be of the "white" race but I am glad that I have been sufficiently meek and lowly to recognize my God, even in this humble form which all must recognize eventually.
You may immediately jump to the conclusion that I am crazy but I believe that a million or so more of His followers will also have something to say to TIME about this article, and they can't all be wrong.
ANNA WHEELER
Seattle, Wash.
Sirs:
... It might interest you to know that insofar as this particular appeal to decency is concerned you are not dealing merely with an insignificant little colored man and his colored followers or "blackamoors" as you choose to refer to them, and as Father Divine and His followers might appear to you, but rather this is addressed to you from and on behalf of those of your fellowmen who are considered as "white," and who believe incidentally that no man is a credit to any so-called race or color until he is first a gentleman. . . .
By way of assuring you that this letter does not come from a crank merely, but that it is written in all sincerity by one who means to see the issue through to a conclusion, I will say that it has been my privilege to deliver Father Divine's message to thousands in the Pacific Northwest since December of last year. During December I visited Father Divine personally and ascertained by observation and experience the exact nature of the work He is doing; and by co-operation with Him and the Principle advocated by Him I have been able to witness the duplication in some measure of His wonderful works in the form of apparently miraculous healing of all manner of physical disease as well as the more remarkable moral and spiritual reformation and regeneration in the hearts and minds and bodies and lives of those who have received the Message in this part of the country. . . .
If your apology is not forthcoming by Sept. 1 next a delegation of Father Divine's followers from this section of the country will be en route to New York with the intention of calling upon you, or whoever may be responsible for this misrepresentation. The Western people like to deal with their fellowmen face to face anyhow, especially when a question of honor is involved . . . . ROSS HUMBLE
Everett, Wash.
Sirs:
. . . Mr. & Mrs. M. J. Divine are highly respected by tens of thousands and may I inform you that something like seven million people have come under his influence. . . .
It may be true that when you were investigating this man you found what appeared to be excitement and apparent confusion, but this is a rather common thing among people of that color, and it is quite possible they are a bit noisy in their acclaim of the one who brought about their deliverance from a life of shame, "in many cases." I say that such an influence in any community is a mighty good thing, and even though a bit noisy, it should be tolerated with a great degree of sympathy. . .
Father Divine refuses all money in every way. People by the thousands have tried to give him money, for the benefits they have received by and from his teaching and his wonderful ministry of love, yet he positively refuses all money. . . .
I belong as a race to the "white" and still in God there is no color, and in Father Divine's meetings, you will discover that wonderful spirit of love and tolerance and color is never spoken of....
J. CARLTON HOLLENBECK
The United Society of Truth Students San Francisco, Calif.
Sirs:
. . . Meetings continue at all local Kingdoms, even at School Street in Newark. In the last two years his movement has become active in many States and foreign countries. . . .
All of Father Divine's adherents, including the Manhattan cooks referred to, believe implicitly and specifically that he manifests all the money he needs for his personal uses and for whomever he chooses to help from the invisible dimension, and that he manifests it in his pocket instantaneously as he chooses. . . .
. . . You will find Father Divine and his disciples sincere and intellectually honest and not he alone but a number of his followers have testified that they personally had manifested money as Father Divine does. It is truly wonderful!
CARNEGIE W. PULLEN
Co-worker New York City
Sirs:
... I have followed his addresses printed in a Seattle paper, for over a year, and have only found the purest Truth contained in them; urging his people, and all people toward a clean, righteous life. The audience there may be a bit noisy sometimes, in their fervor but that is not criminal, and in time will quiet down. . . .
E. A. DREXLER
San Francisco, Calif.
Sirs: . . . It works. MRS. GOLDA WILSON
New York City
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