Test

Sirs:

I was much intrigued by your current events test [TIME, March 11]. I have been giving such tests for 15 years. Why can't TIME do all over the U. S. what I did for the Brooklyn Eagle in Brooklyn--run current events bees for high school and college students, then bringing the winners of local bees together for State and national championships?

Most people who have tried to help me prepare current events questions make them too hard or too easy. Testers Eurich and Wilson have erred on the easy side, but they make me wonder whether the current affairs tests which I give to my Current History class of New York City high school teachers each year are too hard.

H. V. KALTENBORN

Brooklyn, N. Y.

Sirs:

... As an average Marine with little or no formal education I am surprised at the low rating you give college students when you state that 60 is above college average.

I was one hour and fifteen minutes answering the questions.

PAUL A. SANKS

Washington, D. C.

Sirs:

. . . We all dislike your magazine intensely, and speak of it only contemptuously.

Your test is weak because in many cases it does not furnish sufficiently plausible alternatives.

LYNWOOD BRYANT

West Roxbury, Mass.

Sirs:

May I express my thanks for the mental gymnastics provided by your current events test? It has served to "jack me up" on my perusal of TIME. Of late I had neglected the cover-to-cover method usually followed, and the test caught me on things I should have known. Incidentally, my latest issue has my fingerprints on every page. . . .

F. MAX COOPER

Washington, Ill.

Sirs:

. . . Being a bartender, I talk with people of varying degrees of sophistication. I question their knowledge of current happenings in science, government, arts etc., but their amusing manner of speech (Oh, Yeah!--Sez You!--What of it!) has foiled my efforts to determine their degree of intelligence. However, with this questionnaire I shall be able to satisfy my curiosity, at the same time soothing them with the thought that college students average below 60--thereby retaining their business.

I trust TIME will make a detailed analysis of its questioneering and publish the results. . . .

CARL PAUL FALB

Dayton, Ohio

TIME will analyze, announce results by which Bartender Falb may gauge the knowledge (not the intelligence) of his patrons.--ED.

Premier's Policies

Sirs:

My attention has been drawn to an article which appeared in your publication with reference to the opening of the Ontario Legislature (TIME, March 4). It has not been my practice to complain in any way whatsoever regarding unfavorable comments of newspapers or periodicals, but your article is manifestly so unfair that I would like to supply you with the correct information.

I never at any time had any quarrel with the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, but merely stated during the campaign that in view of the present economic situation, accompanied as it is by misery, suffering and privation on the part of our people, I would not vote any monies for the upkeep of the Lieutenant Governor's palatial home known as Chorley Park. The function of the Lieutenant Governor is to visit his office in the Parliament Buildings and sign orders-in-council and other documents which require his signature. For this he is paid $10,000 by the Dominion Government from whom he receives the appointment.

Your article tells of an alleged statement that I would ride to the opening of the Legislature on a bicycle. The only reference to this that ever appeared, to my knowledge, was in an unfriendly press which distorted a statement I made with reference to the cost of maintaining private cars for Cabinet Ministers and other high officials. Ninety of these cars have been sold by this administration. I compared the pomp and splendor of today with the time when Sir James Whitney, a former Conservative Premier, did ride to and from his office on a bicycle. I might inform you further that, contrary to the statement appearing in your publication, I did not wear a top hat, nor did I ride to the opening of the Legislature in a ''flashy new Hudson sedan," nor did Mrs. Hepburn follow in a "flashy blue Buick."

There was no promise made in the Speech from the Throne with reference to the very perplexing separate school question, and I deprecate the kind of insinuation contained in the article. Furthermore, I want to assure you that I have no designs on the leadership of the Federal Party as intimated in your article.

As some little indication of the popularity of this Government, I might inform you that since, the general election eight months ago, we have had four by-elections. In three of the constituencies, the candidates endorsed by this adminis-tration received overwhelming majorities, and in the other case an acclamation was secured. In the by-election held yesterday the administration was again sustained by what is considered to be the most popular accord ever given any candidate in the district which voted.

It is apparent that the writer of the article is quite out of touch with Ontario politics, and I am sure that, as the editor of a great and important publication, you will consider the representations I have made to you.

M. F. HEPBURN

The Prime Minister & President of the Council

Toronto, Ont.

Let there be no quibble. The Premier's arrival in spats, striped trousers, morning coat and formal cravat was high hat. TIME has reported the enthusiasm of Ontario voters, especially in the back concessions, for Premier Hepburn (TIME, July 2), reported also that in snubbing King George by refusing the dinner invitation of vice-regal Lieutenant Governor Bruce he made clear that he meant no personal snub to Dr. Bruce. As to the Premier's Hudson and Mrs. Hepburn's Buick, TIME will henceforth eschew motorwise adjectives which could embarrass a politician.--ED.

In Justice

Sirs:

Dr. Gilbert Cottam, editor of our Society Bulletin, has asked me to congratulate you on your moderate treatment of the widely publicized case of diaphragmatic hernia in your issue of March 11. Dr. Cottam informs me that in the past he has taken exception to some of your articles on medicine and feels that in justice to you he should hasten to offer his commendation in the present instance.

JAMES H. BAKER

Executive Secretary Hennepin County Medical Society

Minneapolis, Minn.

West Point Elephants

Sirs:

... I am obliged to write to correct the statement made in your issue of March11, p. 16, under Army & Navy--"Dancer's Death."

You state that "most young ladies agree that West Pointers are among the world's best dancers." I attended the Military Academy and while there I went to every dance that I was allowed to and to some that I was not. Often I discussed the matter of how most of the West Point cadets were such poor dancers with many a young lady. All--not most--of them agreed that most of the West Point cadets were among the world's worst dancers. . . .

The late "Madame" (as all the cadets referred to him) and not "Professor" Vizay was indeed a good teacher; yet most of his prospects were far too awkward to ever learn to dance or to get out of the "elephant squad." One of the most prominent members of the "elephant squad" was the famous football star "Red" Cagle.

GUILLERMO GOMEZ SIERRA

Bogota, Colombia

Sirs:

. . . Imagine trying to master the intricacies of the modern dance by spending unending hours of stepping around with a brother elephant as a partner counting "one, two, three, GLIDE, four, five, six, TURN!" A person who can't dance is certainly a fine partner for one trying to learn.

The story is told of the "graduated elephant" struggling around the floor at a hop with his partner, trying to make light conversation and at the same time counting "one, two, three, GLIDE" in an audible whisper.

The cut accompanying the article gives a good idea of the Vizay--or West Point--waltz: a pompous strut.

I do not mean to malign the old professor, but only hope the Academy can at last realize that dancing is a bit different now than it was in Star Pupil Pershing's day.

"ELEPHANT" CUBBISON JR. U. S. M. A. 1933

Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.

P. S. My wife, who was something of a "cadet girl," thoroughly concurs in the above.

Hogan History

Sirs:

You are to be congratulated on your splendid report covering Frank J. Hogan's defense of Andrew Mellon [TIME, March 11]. It is one of the most interesting, most informative and best-written news articles this TIME devotee has had the pleasure of reading.

Such biographical sketches substantiate your claim of being the ablest historians of our day.

W. H. MARTINDILL

Indianapolis, Ind.

Sirs:

Your miniaturography of Hogan is a wow.

ERNEST HALF

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Sirs:

Either you are toadying to toadiers to the wealthy, or you were singularly short of headline material, to place Frank J. Hogan on the cover. . . .

ROBERT MERRITT

Wolfeboro, N. H.

Sirs:

... As a "sundowner" who read with interest the article concerning that eminent former "sundowner," Frank J. Hogan, I would like to add an interesting item. Almost all of those who unsuccessfully take the semi-annual bar examinations are condoled with the information that "Frank Hogan (considered the leading member of the local bar) flunked the bar exams three or four times." I asked John Paul ("Daddy") Earnest, Chairman of the Board of Examiners, to verify that statement, but he was unable to do so. However, I think it can be considered the truth, since the fact seems to be well-known. "

ABRAHAM CHASANOW

Attorney At Law

Washington, D. C.

Let no flunkers be deluded by the sales talk of business-getting law schools. Lawyer Hogan graduated from Georgetown Law School with a record high average, sailed through his bar examinations on his first and only effort.--ED.

Misplaced Enthusiasm

Sirs:

Municipal government is notoriously bad but I doubt very much that even our Philadelphia authorities ever permitted Everett Shinn and ''a one-eyed Civil War veteran" to spend a night ''sitting on the 3-ft. hat brim of the 37-ft. statue of William Penn" atop our monstrous City Hall, as stated in your issue of March 11, p. 42. ...

But, be that as it may, I am certain that the dear old man did not slip off "into the Founder's outstretched arms." No, no, a thousand times no! This piece of misplaced sculptural enthusiasm has one arm somewhat "outstretched," the other hangs at its side with a clenched hand holding a scroll. . . . Should a man by chance hit upon the one available arm its angle would chute him off into space. . . . TIME may be puissant but can it make a bronze statue move its arms to save a veteran? . . .

WM. MEHARG LILLY

Philadelphia, Pa.

Artist Shinn now explains his story as follows: He and his one-eyed friend, following a brief visit on the statue's hat brim, moved inside the head & shoulders for greater comfort. Seeing the old man busily occupied astride William Penn's armpit, Artist Shinn asked what he was doing. "Writing a letter to posterity," the friend replied, and promptly fell down into the Penn elbow. With some difficulty Artist Shinn extricated him.--ED.

"More Shinn"

Sirs:

Say TIME, if you birds had published Everett Shinn and all of his works six months ago-- and had pepped up each week your Art column with his type (if such exists in quantity) I would have rated [10 points higher] on your Current Affairs test of the same March 11 issue because I would have read each Art column from C to C (civer to civer); without benefit of Shinn, however, I never read Art, because it doesn't help me much in my job of cotton-raising. . . .

Give us more Shinn--he's wonderful.

Incidentally, how can we get this fellow Shinn for our Memphis Cotton Carnival. We never pay our talent, but somehow we get it anyway.

BOB SNOWDEN

Hughes, Ark.

First Negro

Sirs:

Wrong again!! In refutation to Editor's note after Reader Clem's letter (TIME, March 18), Haile Selassie I's picture appeared on TIME'S cover, Nov. 3, 1930 issue.

Now be traditionally Nordic and say Selassie's not a Negro.

Louis H. SCHUSTER

Department of Economics Livingstone College

Salisbury, N. C.

Although many U. S. blackamoors like to think that Haile Selassie I (Power of Trinity), Elect of God, Light of the World and Conquering Lion of Judah is a member of their race, there is no conclusive ethnological evidence to support that view. The Emperor of Abyssinia, olive-skinned and high-beaked, is best described as an Abyssinian, product of a racial mixture which may or may not include Negro blood.--ED.

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