What You Get at Bloomie's

To the Editors:

I know of people who've found more than their clothes at Bloomingdale's [Dec. 1]. They've found their mates.

No sales tax either.

Newton North New York City

Bloomingdale's salespeople know their store is the trendiest in town; their attitude: utter contempt.

Mr. & Mrs. Guyon Hartwell Knight III New York City

You are absolutely correct. Bloomingdale's is more than a store. It is a way of life.

Naved N. Khan San Francisco

We have a friend who has requested that when he dies, his body be cremated and his remains sprinkled throughout Bloomingdale's. That way, he maintains, his wife will "visit" him at least once a week.

(Mrs.) Barbara Kolton West Orange, N.J.

I have absolutely no regrets about moving from New York City to Southern California, with one exception: I want my Bloomingdale's!

Ardis S. DeCamp Pacific Palisades, Calif.

I can't understand why anyone would be willing to pay $4 for a pet rock, especially since it doesn't even come with a pedigree.

I have a mongrel rock that may not have been purchased in a big fancy store like Bloomingdale's but does all the tricks mentioned in your article. He was also easily housebroken.

It saddens me to think there are Americans who would buy a pet rock at a prestigious store just for oneupmanship. A true pet lover would take in any rock and give it a good home.

Mark S. Rosenthal Pikesville, Md.

Bloomingdale's seems to be the latest shrine of Erich Fromm's alienated man: entertain me, manufacture my taste, O Lord; just don't let me be bored.

Lee F. Metzler Lake Zurich, Ill.

Bloomingdale's? Expensive!!!

Dennis Correll Mainesburg, Pa.

Stalking Dr. King

I was sick after reading of the treatment Martin Luther King, his wife and others received at the hands of J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI [Dec. 1].

How little individual rights meant to those honorable and dedicated public servants in the FBI. The barnyard cat takes similar care with the rights of the rodent it pursues through the fields.

Al Simonett Minneapolis

If the FBI and Mr. Adams are truly looking for guidelines, I suggest that they look in the Bill of Rights.

Andrew Barnes Bradford, Pa.

When J. Edgar Hoover stared at public-enemy posters, each mug shot was really a mirror.

David L. Tobenkin Vallejo, Calif.

I find the revelations of the CIA and FBI activities shocking. Here I was, like millions of others, considering the U.S. a paradigm of righteousness. How mistaken one can be!

Vicente Uribe Cali, Colombia

Graham's Critique

After 30 years of sermonizing, Billy Graham [Dec. 1] uttered the soundest critique of his career: "I would have studied more and spoken a great deal less." Wouldn't it be a blessing if Kuhlman, Roberts and Humbard could learn from the mistakes of others?

Clayton B. McElwaine Brecksville, Ohio

Superchurch

The Rev. Jack Hyles and members of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Ind. [Dec. 1], seem more interested in getting their names into the Guinness Book of World Records than the Lamb's book of life.

Daniel Brewer Cincinnati

I do not recall the phrase "Sell the word of God" in the Bible, supposedly the guide for Christians. I thought it was something similar to "Spread the word of God."

Clyde Thomas Geneva, Ohio

I wonder if the people who think it is just great to bus kids to church aren't the same ones who have hollered the loudest when kids are bused to better schools.

Ann Carpenter Laredo, Texas

Di Suvero Scorned

I am moved by Mark di Suvero's "sculptures" [Dec. 1] to recall the quip, "No one ever went broke underestimating the good taste of the American public." Is floundering New York City financing the purchase of "Rodin-like images of survival and defiance"?

In Oakland, public outcry quickly removed Di Suvero's Mother Peace from a city park. Perhaps it was able to find a home in Flushing Meadow, or maybe it got recycled, but at least it is not disrupting the natural serenity of our open spaces.

Charles M. Chisholm Oakland, Calif.

The sculptured art pieces by Mark di Suvero are a monument to the end of a civilization.

When the arts can be produced and appreciated by the mass populace, art ceases to be art because talent is no longer an objective. Let us give thanks. At last, Western civilization has seen the Emperor's new clothes.

Barbara Peterson Long Beach, Calif.

Reading about the "artist of exuberant vitality and unblunted idealism," Mark di Suvero, I received the impression that his "sculpture" manifested a frustration in his childhood--his Erector set lacked too many parts to build a conventional structure.

Felix Zerr-Kunz Valrico, Fla.

Banning Abortion

I'm sure the Catholic bishops [Dec. 1] know the Prohibition amendment failed because it was unenforceable, and that to make an antiabortion law partly successful it would be necessary to revive the Holy Inquisition with the rack, wheel, auto-da-fe and burnings at the stake--all for the glory of God and the loving, gentle Jesus Christ.

Jim Spires Bangor, Me.

Afraid to Look

As a student of history, I watch with great interest the emerging of new African states. I see Uganda's Amin, Angola's bloody civil war, and now Malawi's brutal persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses [Dec. 1]. I am afraid to look for what will emerge next!

Arthur V. Johnson II ashua, N.H.

Creature of the Year

Man of the Year? Woman of the Year? Bah, humbug! It's Creature of the Year--the Great White Shark!

Vicky Dingman Iowa City, Iowa

I nominate for Man of the Year Mr. James Schlesinger for standing up to Russia.

George F. Balas Richlands, Va.

Why not Eldridge Cleaver? At least he had the guts to say "I was wrong --and America has lots going for it."

Mary Ellen Saunders Pacific Palisades, Calif.

For re-establishing democracy in the land where democracy was born, Greece's Prime Minister Constantine Caramanlis.

Evan A. Pezas Los Angeles

Man of the Century: William O. Douglas.

Kevin Flanagan Norwalk, Conn.

Egypt's President Anwar Sadat for daring to sign the Sinai agreement.

Richard J. Fabri Istanbul

King Juan Carlos I of Spain--the hope of a great people and country.

Bette Dane Vandervoort Javea, Spain

Jimmy Connors and the sport of tennis. It's been quite a year for both. It has not been a year for politics or politicians.

Janice M. Cullen New Orleans

Prepare yourself to conclude that this year there was no Man of the Year.

Judd Smith Dallas

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