U. S. Apologies

Sirs:

Among the letters in the Feb. 23 issue of your magazine is an interesting inquiry: "Did this country ever apologize to any nation before in the course of its history?" There have been numerous occasions when our government has been magnanimous enough to express regret over international unpleasantness. Reference to any secondary school textbook would provide many such instances but I would like to mention that Daniel Webster apologized to Spain for the defacing of a portrait of Queen Isabella in New Orleans and that Seward, upon the advice of Lincoln and Sumner, made a similar gracious gesture to England in the "Trent Affair." Possibly these two secretaries of state could claim a 5-c- rating in our history.

ANNE CUTTER COBURN Philadelphia, Pa.

"A Fool and His Money . . .."

Sirs: Mr. Adolph Ochs, owner of what Comrade Mencken would call the "eminent" New York Times, having arrived in Hawaii on a holiday expressed himself to one of the local newspapers, the Honolulu Advertiser, as follows:

"The cash bonus will not pass Congress. I do not think it would be a good thing for such a wholesale distribution of money as was first proposed to take place. It would be a feast for a short while and then famine again for a majority of the recipients. 'A fool and his money are soon parted.' "

The italics are mine, and the quotation is word for word from the paper referred to. This would seem to be about the highest tribute thus far paid to the veterans of the World War. . . . I wonder if it will pass unchallenged.

MARC T. GREENE

Honolulu, P. I.

Woodward v. Jews

Sirs:

. . . .Permit me to point out that your account of the bequest of the late H. G. Woodward for damyank-tutored schools left a very false impression.

When I first read of this bequest it pleased me to think that here was really an example of a wealthy and influential Southerner who was willing to forget the unfortunate Civil War and make the people of the South realize that the damyank folks of the North were really as kind, as generous, as truly human as the "old South" folks themselves were. In my mind I was already attaching the label of true liberalism and tolerance to the memory of this would-be benefactor. . . .

Why did you not eliminate the last shreds of would-be liberalism from this magnificent bequest, and at the same time "scoop" all the other publications who were too weak-kneed to print it, by stating that the will specifically forbade admission to these schools of any member of the Hebraic race? . . .

ALLEN M. KITE

Chicago, Ill.

It is true that the Woodward will excluded Jews, but the testator explained he meant no deprecation of the race, merely believed in "incompatibility."--ED.

Chaplin Mustache

Sirs:

Well! Things have come to a pretty pass. TIME (Feb. 9) tells us Charlie Chaplin has used the same mustache for the last 15 years, and the New Yorker (Feb. 21) says he makes a new one out of hair crepe every time he acts!

Now the secret of my chaotic state of mind during the last few weeks is out. No longer will I sit for hours wondering about "I can't think straight." Charlie Chaplin did it, or maybe it was the City Lights--anyway, there it is.

TOMMY STEWART

New York City

The New Yorker's wiggery is right. To TIME researchers a solemn warning against fairy-tales.--ED.

Pink John Klock

Sirs:

". . . contributors willing, TIME will report other strange modes of announcing offspring" (TIME, Feb. 9). This contributor is willing.

Christopher Morley, famed author and bibliophile, in a letter to my sister, did it thus: ". . . we have added a new (and very valuable) First Edition to our family, a young octavo named Blythe; in pristine state, as issued."

Mr. Morley's announcement was informal. He did not collate his First Edition, nor did he mention the binding. He might have added "Bound in Full Pink Morocco, New York," and the date, to make complete the addition to his catalog.

HARRY GALLAND

R. H. Macy & Co., New York City

Sirs:

In re Novel Birth Announcements, I submit this as a coup:

The morning after John Weston Klock, of Montclair, N. J., was born, friends of his parents were startled to find in their mail a close-up Press-Graflex photograph of him, taken in his nurse's arms twenty minutes after he was born, and inscribed as follows: Introducing-- Master John Weston Klock age--20 minutes weight--7 Ibs. 6 oz. color--pink disposition--terrible November 12th, 1930.

Pink John Klock's father is F. G. Klock, Oilman Harry F. Sinclair's able sales promotion man, and an original TIME subscriber.

ELLEN A. HARDING

Chicago, Ill.

Some other strange birth announcements reported:

WESTIN THEATRE

400 East 58th Street New York City

ELLIOT and HARRIET

Take Pleasure in Presenting

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