Postal Shock Troops
Sirs:
Postal workers view TIME'S try at painting the Roper lily (Letters, Aug. 28) as scarcely TiME-worthy. In no wise existing on "public money on which the taxpayer gets no tangible returns," the postal service renders as tangible and indispensable a service as that given by the telephone, telegraph, railway and express companies. And ''public money" is public money whether paid indirectly through the Postoffice Department or directly to a utility.
Postal salaries were thoroughly deflated during the World War. Having no part in the wage rises given the Government-controlled railway workers, letter carriers and postal clerks stuck to their jobs at wages one-half those paid to textile workers. Salaries were not equitably adjusted until 1925. And the classification act of that year was admittedly a compromise, a lower wage than was just being fixed, coupled with an assurance of decreased living costs. Now, in the face of assured inflation and soaring prices, postal salaries must once more be "deflated."
Can postal workers be blamed for wondering why they must always fill the role of shock troops? A Bilbo, clipping newspapers at a desk lor $6,000 a year, gets no applause from a sub carrier, trying to exist at $8-or less-a week.
CHESTER A. GRIFFIN
Franklin, N. H.
Fortunate Housekeeper
Sirs:
Alma Jacobsen, whose letter is printed in Aug. 21, TIME, must have been extremely unfortunate in her experiences; or the possessor of a "chip on the shoulder," which, quite naturally, brings misfortune in her wake. A few corrections should be made upon her letter.
Just why "persons seeking domestic employment are invariably in dire circumstances" is puzzling in the extreme. High wages have been the rule, rather than the exception, for many years.
If Miss Jacobsen will add the cost of a room and private bath, board, the use of the laundry and the telephone to her $15 per week "wages," the total amount may surprise her and possibly change her point of view. . . .
If there is a houseworker who begins her work at 6:30 a. m., as Miss Jacobsen asserts, I have failed to find or hear about her in 25 years of housekeeping. Inefficiency may account for the long hours of which Miss Jacobsen complains.
My own household has been adequately and pleasantly served, during these many years, with the changes of houseworker that the monotony of the work and other circumstances make inevitable. I recognize my good fortune, and further add my gratitude that no Miss Alma Jacobsen has crossed my path.
H. B. NESBITT
Scarsdale, N. Y.
Reader Alma Jacobsen in her letter--TIME, Aug. 2 wants all of us to take down our hair and weep over the sad state of affairs endured by America's domestic servants. These poor souls who work 24 hours per day for almost nothing, and are cast into the mustiness of the family cellar when not in use. are few and far between. High wages or low wages, the average domestic servant employed in the American home is about as belligerent, independent, and uncooperative as a "spoiled child." They do less and expect more out of life than does a college graduate with a Ph.D., and are far less appreciative. The majority lack foresightedness, hate work, and don't try to hold a job if they have one. If office girls (many right now are working for $50 per month out of which they must maintain themselves solely) came to work prepared to get spunky and independent every five minutes, there just wouldn't be any office girls. The trouble with the average domestic servant is that she has never been out in the business world, is unacquainted with conditions, doesn't know what it's all about, and therefore doesn't appreciate a good thing when she has it. And why oh why should the poor housewife raise her wages when she has to spend all of her husband's wages on replacing broken dishes and ruined electric stoves? It's time for America's domestic servants to mend their ways.
JEAN C. ACKERLEY
Minneapolis, Minn.
Sirs:
In TIME'S issue of Aug. 21, a person signing herself Alma Jacobsen has a tirade against employers of so-called help. Why doesn't the dis- gruntled lady go back to the old country where she might find things more to her liking? My experience with the last three maids I had was-- one of them proved a bad character--two of them were thieves--all of them were so filthy in their rooms, that they had to be painted, papered and cleaned after they left. I always have treated my help as I would wish to be treated were I in their place--but have always found them ready to take advantage of me at every turn. I now only employ help by the day, and find the great majority of them are untruthful and thieves.
I think Alma Jacobsen is not the only disgruntled one-for I could add a sequel to her 'good-sized volume" that would make her sit up and take notice.
ELIZABETH BROWN
Los Angeles, Calif.
Sirs:
A challenge to Alma Jacobsen's plea for protection covering those persons seeking domestic employment. So two-sided is every question that I can't but wonder if she may not be equally culpable in her report against the employer's lack of consideration! Perhaps it has been my good fortune to engage the unusual in the domestic staff since, but with a single exception, I've never had one that I for some reason or other was forced to give up, who did not want to return and with always her very gratifying "I shall never forget your kindness" (or words to that effect). It was always very convenient for me to be kind as mine have been invariably considerate of me even under the most trying cir- cumstances and with only normal wages.
E. M. DEXTER
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Prenatal Shock
Sirs:
I was greatly interested in the article "Facts of Birth" under the general heading Medicine in the current issue of TIME.
Modern medical knowledge to the contrary, it is my observation that the great majority of mothers firmly believe that a child may be deformed before birth by a physical or mental shock to the mother. I have heard this point argued a great many times and have heard of a great many examples where a child was deformed after the mother had received a severe physical or mental shock during pregnancy. Possibly the most convincing of these examples which have come under my observation is the following which I relate to you substantially as it occurred.
An expectant mother was living in a public boarding house in a small town in the western part of this state (North Carolina) several years ago. Her room was on the second floor of the house. There was only one bath on the second floor which was used by all those who occupied that floor. One afternoon this woman went to the bathroom to bathe. When she opened the door she saw a naked man in the tub. Three months later her baby was born without any clothes on.
PAUL R. ERVIN
Charlotte, N. C.
Polo Handicapping
Sirs:
Will you kindly explain to a poor ignorant cowhand just how a polo handicap works? If it means that Tommy Hitchcock, for instance, has to have ten goals before he can count one, I think I might be able to take him on next year.
G. W. HENDRICKS
San Francisco, Calif.
Polo handicaps are assigned to individuals by the U. S. Polo Association on a careful but inexact comparative basis, with ten goals the maximum, for ablest players. In handicap polo, individual handicaps are added and figured inversely to arrive at team handicaps. Thus: Poloist Hitchcock's handicap of ten goals is added to the handicaps of whatever three players he teams with. The difference between their total handicaps and the total of whatever team they play is taken as the weaker team's handicap, the number of given goals with which the weaker team enters the game to the other team's zero.-ED.
Scene of Death
Sirs:
Saw an interesting Paramount newsreel the other evening. Shots of the recent Cuban massacres. Picture of Jiminez, Chief of La Porrista, lying dead and very bloody, surrounded by many laughing natives.
Next shot was that of a lieutenant of Jiminez, on the second floor of his home, pleading for his life to a frenzied mob on the streets below. Two mobsters unheedingly climbed up a ladder held in place by the throng, long knives in their hands.
The three of them struggled for a while, and before the horrified eyes of many San Franciscans, accompanied by screams from a female portion of the audience, said lieutenant was stabbed to death, amid rousing cheers from the Cuban mob.
Now, I personally thought all this was very swell, and quite bloodthirsty. . . . But I have been under the impression that scenes of actual death were taboo in the movies.
Would TIME, solver of many "Things I Never Knew Till Now," (please explain. . . .
ROBERT E. COLMAN
San Francisco, Calif.
The Hays Code for the cinema industry does not apply to newsreels, contains no restrictions on scenes of death. Such scenes occur rarely not because they are taboo but because newsreel men, however alert, rarely have the luck to photograph them.--ED.
TIME & Shark
Sirs:
Doughty shark-hunters, we view disdainfully the "exciting experience" of Mr. Holzman of Cincinnati, who reports in these columns (TIME, Aug. 21) how he was roused from his absorption in TIME by the whirring sound of an unwinding reel and forgot all else as he "found and finally landed" a mere 3 1/2-lb. bass. I happened to be reading TIME and Mr. Holzman's letter during a shark-hunt off Lewes, Del., when I was roused by a shout from one of our party: "I got one!" He was Herluf Provensen, who was presidential announcer for NBC out of Washington until he became assistant manager of its Washington stations, WRC and WMAL. Sure 'nuff, he had one a 300-lb. shark, measuring about 7 ft.! It was the last of four caught by our party, which also included Harold Talburt, Scripps-Howard's 1933 Pulitzer Prizewinning cartoonist; Harry C. Butcher, Columbia Broadcasting System's Washington representative; Dr. E. B. Brooks, Washington pediatrician and Herbert L. Pettey, sec- retary, Federal Radio Commission. After the shark was properly played and fatigued, he was brought alongside, lashing, was gaffed and hoisted in--but not before his blood had splashed my TIME. We dubbed him Hitler, took him to a nearby lighthouse, hoisted him and photographed him, not bothering to photograph the three mere 100 pounders that Messrs. Butcher, Brooks and Pettey had also landed. (Talburt and I lost our chance to get any because the others had lost all our tackle to about a dozen whoppers they didn't land; but we got ours on a similar expedition the week before.) Now if you need further proof of this tale of piscatorial prowess, here's Provensen pictured with his shark; also a picture of that hero resting from his arduous labors reading my blood-stained copy of TIME. MARTIN CODEL
Washington, D. C.
Black Pope
Sirs:
Under Education in Aug. 28 issue of TIME, you speak about every Jesuit College periodically getting a new president personally chosen in Rome by the "Black Pope."
Born and raised a Roman Catholic, my ignorance may seem refreshing, when (if I may) I ask you to please explain who this Black Pope is?
Looking forward to the answer and thanking you in advance.
MARY E. CORY
Mattoon, Ill.
The Superior General of the Society of Jesus (at present Polish Wlodimir Ledochowski) is often called the "Black Pope" -- because he wears a black habit and possesses powers which, in their limited way, resemble the Holy Father's. The General, like the head of any religious order, is elected by a Jesuit general congregation which rarely convenes for any other purpose. He has large spiritual and admin- istrative authority, even to setting aside (but not altering) the Constitutions written by St. Ignatius Loyola and associates and adopted in 1558. The General lives in Rome, is advised by assistants from various parts of the World (at present only five). Should the General through age or infirmity become incapable of governing the Jesuits, the general congregation may meet and appoint a vicar to act for him. At his death the General may appoint his own vicar, to serve until the congregation elects a full successor.--ED.
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