Potent Pigeon

Sirs:

I have heard, I think of Col. Charles Augustus Lindbergh and what he did. And I dimly recall Skipper Alain Gerbault of France. Didn't he play tennis once? Didn't he sail a rowboat around the world or something? But the man I cannot place, though I suppose I should, is Skipper Harry Pigeon of Los Angeles. What did he do? Why should he be given an Olympic diploma along with Lindbergh and Gerbault (TIME, Aug. 6)? I have no doubt whatever that he deserved it, but being something of a hero-worshipper I would like a description of just what "Potent Pigeon" accomplished that I have overlooked in the glorious annals of American sportsmanship.

HORACE KILMER Brooklyn, N. Y.

Potent Pigeon sailed a small boat around the world.--ED.

Heeney's Mother

Sirs:

Noticed your write-up, in TIME dated July 23 about "Tom Heeney." I wish you bunch of "pen pushers" would learn to respect "Old Age." You mention his mother who is 80 years old doing a day's milking well, I just want you to know that it takes a good woman to do a day's milking, and even if she is 80 years old, I bet, she could show some of you birds how to keep alive, why don't you Pen Pushers be "sports" and give the people from the other side a chance to know that the Americans are "Real." Pick on "Tom" he can stand a little picking, there is lots of him, but respect his Mother, as you would want yours respected. This scribble is from a good bit-O-Scotch in California.

So laugh that off.

"ANONYMOUS" Santa Barbara, Calif.

"Racket"

Sirs:

If I do not overshoot a reasonable expectancy of service, would you kindly inform me of the precise meaning of the word "rackets" as used by your Cinema Editor in the issue for July 23, p. 31 in his review of The Actress?

TIME'S editors have furnished me with many a new word for my personal Word Book--with which I take great pains--but "rackets" yields up no satisfactory notation or connotation in its present context.

EUGENE P. BERTIN Williamsport, Pa.

A racket is a trade or vocation which is loud, bold and often illegal. For example, there is the bootlegging racket, the murder-for-money racket, the dry cleaning racket (in which Gangster "Scarface Al" Capone of Chicago was hired to protect a group of dry cleaners). A racketeer is one who practices a racket.--ED.

Life Savers

Sirs:

I observed with mingled feelings of satisfaction and dismay your reference to our semi-annual statement of profits on page 24 of your issue of July 30.

The satisfaction arises from the fact that you consider our progress of sufficient editorial interest to insert briefly our financial report. I was dismayed however because of your reference to us as "(friends of smoking, drinking minors)."

So far, we have not found it necessary in the development of our business to advertise LIFE SAVERS, directly or indirectly, as a friend of "drinking minors."

It was doubtless your intention to insert a comma or semicolon between the word "drinking" and the word "minors." We would like to have your assurance that this was your intention. . . .

LIFE SAVERS, Inc. M. B. BATES Port Chester, N. Y.

To Life Saver Bates, a comma, as requested.--ED.

"Lower Class"

Sirs:

I wish to send a few words of appreciation. . . . The letter is not for publication--to publish it would do you more harm than good. I am of the lower class, and the support you should gain through my influence, among my crowd, would be a sorry bargain.

I like TIME because nothing in it is written in commonplace fashion--sometimes you are almost brilliant. I believe that all, or nearly all, that is said is true, and by speaking the truth you very fortunately place yourself on the liberal side. I believe I like your publication quite as much as I do my old friend the Nation. Thank you a thousand times for your article on Bill Haywood, in May 28 issue.

May you long continue.

EINER T. LANGSETH Elizabeth, N. J.

Eligibility to read TIME is determined by cash, not "class." TIME welcomes as subscriber anyone who will pay $5 to be well and efficiently informed. Subscriber Langseth, thus advised, consented to the publication of his letter.--ED.

Teddy Flayed

Sirs:

You may be interested to know that I have voted for the presidential candidate whom I thought would win for over 30 years--and the only one who ever let me down was Teddy Roosevelt, the time he ran as a "Bull Moose."

This year I am voting for Al Smith and I will bet you a 10 years' subscription to TIME that I won't be let down. What say?

CUSTER A. ROE Easton, Md.

To Subscriber Roe, congratulations on his luck, and the information that a 10-year subscription to TIME may be had upon payment of $30, a reduction of $20 from the annual rate.--ED.

Tom

Sirs:

Let TOM LENNON of July 30 change his name to Izzy or Hortense if he can't stand the gaff. I've spent a lot of time and money making my front handle stick and welcome any notice.

Tom is essentially masculine, tomboys get Dickie, Jackie, Bobby, Billy, Eddie, but our tag won't stay tied to anything in skirts.

Tom has a certain connotation through its best exponents, Tom's Mix, Heeney, Marshall, Lipton and a bunch of other good skates belong; when the noble order gets a dud, he goes as Thomas, or Woodrow if a stuffed shirt, as Tommie if just too sweet. Lennon may hear drums say wum-wum but they always call me by name. Long may they beat and in the same time.

TOM BINMORE New York City

If Women Behaved

Sirs:

The "Woman who is sorry about it" does not know what she is talking about. I have had many experiences of various kinds and I am sure it is quite true what my grandmother used to say: "If women behaved men would have to."

E. M. BROWN (Mrs. J. Adams Brown) Boston, Mass.

Virginia's Wingfield

Sirs:

TIME, most accurate of journals, is in error (issue of July 16, p. 34, col. 3) as to the first governor of colonial Virginia. Edward Maria Wingfield was the first governor of the colony.

MARSHALL WINGFIELD (of Virginia) Moscow, Idaho.

Stark, Stiff

Sirs:

In an advertisement inside the back cover of the issue for July 16, TIME highly, justly praises itself. However, the example given of TIME'S style of reporting does the newsmagazine no great credit. Thus, as reporting the Boston Massacre of 1770:

"... Other muskets spat and flashed. The mob recoiled in panic, leaving a sprawl of bodies (five starkly stiff) in the street."

"Stark" means stiff. And bodies newly slain are in general very limp. In this case, of course, redundance made them doubly stiff.

J. J. LIPSEY Colorado Springs, Colo.