Herewith are excerpts from letters come to the desks of the editors during the past week. They are selected primarily for the information they contain either supplementary to, or corrective of, news previously published in TIME.
Did Not Rush
TIME Chicago, Ill.
The News-Magazine Sept. 8, 1925
Sirs:
" 'Tis pleasant sure to see one's name in print," and very nice of you indeed to mention in TIME, Sept. 7, Page 5, our recent attempt "towards Swampscott," but in legal phrase an exception is noted as to the word "rushed." The Lord, also Secretary Sanders, knows we did not rush; on the contrary we patiently awaited Senator Bingham's release of the President which did not occur until about 5 p. m. As this was too late for the hoped-for visit, we were persuaded to hold our "peace" until the President returns to Washington. . .
In proof of thorough reading of your excellent weekly let me call your attention to four typographical errors in the issue referred to.
Page 20, Column 3, Stavengerbjord.
Page 28, Column 2, rivets.
Page 32, Column 3, bready.
Lastly and to my chagrin, you misspelled my name; therefore, herewith in retaliation my check for $4.
Lucius J. M. MALMIN
TIME'S account:
Towards Swampscott rushed Lucius J. M. Malnin [sic], Federal Judge of the Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas, purchased by the U. S. from Denmark in 1917). Judge Lucius had a tale of "maladministration of the Virgin Isles" by "seven U. S. governors, all navy officers, in seven years," to unfold to President Coolidge. He was told by Secretary Sanders, at Lynn, to hold his peace until the President should return to Washington. Then and there an interview will be accorded him. --Ed.
Malmin Scored
TIME Washington, D. C.
The News-Magazine Sept. 5, 1925
Sirs:
As one of your subscribers and in the interest of truth will you allow me to present to your readers a few comments upon the paragraph in Column 1, Page 5, of your issue of Sept. 7?
I had the honor of being the third American Governor of our Virgin Islands and speak from first-hand knowledge and experience. There are no federal judges in the Virgin Islands and never have been. The judges are insular district judges and are appointed by the Governor. There have been only five American Governors thus far, namely: Oliver, Oman, Kittelle, Hough and Williams, all senior officers of the Navy of from 35 to 40 years' service. There is no maladministration in the islands nor has there been any during the American occupation. Our insular government is highly efficient, economical and beneficient, and is greatly liked by the inhabitants with the exception of a small coterie of troublesome Negro, politicians, whose agitation is for the purpose of ultimately gaining public office for themselves. . .
The American government of the Virgin Islands has built roads, installed sewers, established the American public school system from kindergarten to high school, improved sanitary conditions, reduced mortality until the islands have become safe and delightful for residence, built water reservoirs, established a department of public welfare, established public libraries, and done many other lesser things to contribute to the health, welfare and happiness of the people.
Mr. Malmin mentioned in your paper was dismissed from office for cause by Governor Oman.
SUMNER E. W. KITTELLE,
Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy
"Small Classic"
TIME Erie, Pa.
The News-Magazine Sept. 10, 1925
Sirs:
The 13 lines under the caption "Watch" on Page 31 of your issue of Sept. 7, is a little classic of composition that deserves a place with the N. Y. Herald's famous editorial, "Is There a Santa Claus ?"
Fidelity is yet an ideal in human as in brute.
E. D. AUSTIN
The Sun's (not the New York Herald's) famed editorial Is There a Santa Claus? was published on Sept. 21, 1897, and was inspired by the following letter:
115 W. 95th St., New York City.
Sept. 19, 1897.
The Sun
New York
Dear Editor:
I am eight years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says "If you see it in The Sun it's so." Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
(signed) VIRGINIA O'HANLON
The editorial (too long for reproduction here) may be found in Casual Essays of The Sun, published 1905 by Robert Grier Cooke, New York, and on file in all good public libraries.
TIME'S "13 lines under the caption 'Watch' " were:
In Wortley, England, a well-brushed, playful black Pomeranian dog followed, six years ago, the coffin of his master to its pit in the local cemetery. Clods fell on the coffin. Tie wagged his tail. His master was down there, hiding. Last week the dog, shaggy now and truculent, lame with age, his coat gnarled and his old bones stiff, stretched out to die. For six years, fed by marveling neighbors, he had kept watch over the grave.--Ed.
Worth While
TIME New York, N. Y.
The News-Magazine Sept. 9. 1925
Sirs:
In your issue of Sept. 7, Page 31, the article "Watch" tells of a love greater than many men.
Outside of the Bible I don't believe I have read of love, devotion and loyalty so unselfishly demonstrated as by this little black Pomeranian dog who waited at his master's grave six long years. How impatient we humans sometimes are; from the dumb animals we frequently learn our greatest lessons. Your major articles and this kind make TIME worth while. May TIME live long and prosper.
LEE J. PLEASANT
Wilkes-Barre
TIME Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
The News-Magazine Sept. 9, 1925
Sirs:
I note in your issue of Sept. 7, Page 7, that you have the name of my City spelled both Wilkes-Barre, which is correct, and also Wilkesbarre, which is incorrect, as the name of this City should always be spelled with a capital "B" and a hyphen. To substantiate the above I herewith quote from the History of Wilkes-Barre, written by the late Oscar Jewell Harvey:
"Major Durkee was the coiner of the name 'WilkesBarre' as well as founder of the town. He was a great admirer of Colonel John Wilkes and Colonel Isaac Barre--in fact, had known the latter when he was a soldier in this country during the French and English War. . ."
FRED H. GATES
City Clerk
At Camp Grant
TIME Chicago, Ill.
The News-Magazine Sept. 11, 1925
Sirs:
I was rather interested in the account on Page 7 in the Sept. 7 issue of TIME of the explosion at Camp Grant. I was at Camp Grant at the time and consequently am in a position to know the facts. So far as I know they have not been published correctly anywhere, and so the mistakes in your article were not any ex ception. The gun that exploded was a Trench Mortar and not a Howitzer. Consequently, the picturesque description of the gunner pulling the lanyard is all wrong, as Trench Mortars have no lanyard. They are fired by dropping the projectile down the muzzle. The propellent charge is set off by the impact of the projectile with the firing pin in the base of the gun.
There were no "high explosive shells" used for the target practice, as this would be an entirely unnecessary risk. Instead, the shells were not charged with any ex plosive but were filled with sand. The accident was due to the gun captain (who was killed) removing the sand from the shell and filling the chamber with the explosive powder (cordite) which was on hand to be used as a propellent charge only. I understand that he put in the projectile about ten times the maximum propellent charge. Apparently due to the fact that the cap was not screwed on tightly, this heavy charge went off in the gun and caused eight deaths and many serious injuries. The accident was in no sense a mystery and was entirely due to the colored officer tampering with the shell.
H. D. SMITH
Throw
TIME Anamosa, Iowa
The News-Magazine Aug. 31, 1925
Sirs:
Quoting from TIME of Aug. 24, "At Travers Island, N. Y., the husband of Peggy Hopkins Joyce, Count Gosta Morner, stepped upon the field of the New York Athletic Club, hurled a discus 111 ft. 7 1/2 in., took second place."
Permit me to ask why was the above article published in your condensed newsmagazine ?
Surely the hurling of a discus 111 ft. 7 1/2 in. was no magnificent display of brawn. . .
B. J. MAXWELL
It is not generally known that Count Gosta Morner is a discus thrower. Hence the item. Admittedly the throw was not great. --Ed.
From Whence?
TIME Auburn, Mass.
The News-Magazine Sept. 12, 1925
Sirs:
From whence does TIME derive adequate reason for "that . . . not infrequently objectionable funnyman journalist, Irvin S. Cobb." (Sept. 14, Page 21.)
It is generally recognized by competent critics that Cobb is at the top of the ladder in America in the writing of short stories. Several informal polls at literary dinners have also given this verdict.
It seems to me that TIME'S "critic shows either personal prejudice or a lamentable ignorance of literary ability.
LAWRENCE I. NEWTON