"Soldiers' President"
Sirs:
Among some 4,000,000 ex-Service men, I have just received my quota of Bonus Bonds. I was rather surprised to notice Andrew Jackson's picture used on these bonds. I presume the Treasury Department has some system of determining just whose picture is placed on different series of bonds, but didn't they overlook a splendid opportunity of showing Wartime President Wilson's likeness on these Adjusted Service Bonds? It seems to me that sentiment alone would have dictated the use of his picture --and also, wasn't he a Democrat?
The reason for using Jackson instead of Wilson should be newsworthy.
DESMOND J. FARRELL General Agent
The Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Co. of California San Antonio, Tex.
As a rule, the likeness of Thomas Jefferson is engraved on U. S. bonds of $50 denomination. Andrew Jackson's image went on the Adjusted Service Bonds, said Secretary Morgenthau, because he was "a soldiers' President." For more news about last week's Bonus distribution, see National Affairs.--ED.
Cleveland Sidelights
Sirs:
Like all cover-to-cover readers of TIME, I am eagerly looking forward to the forthcoming issue of America's Newsmagazine for your thorough review of the Republican National Convention. No doubt your able correspondents covered well all sessions, but it is quite probable that they missed several interesting sidelights.
Cleveland cabdrivers expected a rich harvest in tips. They didn't mind the short hauls and being kept constantly busy; they knew that the GOP was the rich men's party and that all Republicans were living on hopes, after "three long years" of the New Deal. One jehu tells of a $2.95 trip and the outstretched hand for the nickel in change! Another tells of hauling six and receiving a thin dime for a tip!
The RKO Keith's 105th Theatre, a neighborhood house, innocently caused many a laugh. A brilliant sign on the marquee read: "The Walking Dead--Welcome G. O. P."
Ex-President Herbert Hoover buying pitcher after pitcher of foaming ale for all who crowded into his hotel room, after his speech.
The much publicized and gushed-over, by sob sisters, Peggy Ann Landon, in a Cleveland restaurant famed for its good, high-powered beer. Wonder what bone-dry Kansans think of this?
. . . The unsuccessful attempt of the Kansas delegation to act skittenish and "hale fellow" etc.
And the announcement by the Cleveland Convention Bureau that next year our fair city will be host to the Ohio Association of Cemetery Superintendents!
M. M. LACK
Cleveland, Ohio
And the litter of empty Coca Cola bottles strewn around Landon headquarters. . . . Widow [Benjamin] Harrison entering a broadcasting booth, chatting carelessly, being told she was on the air and exclaiming, "Oh, that's very mean of you! ..." Knox supporters looking gloomily about their camp in Hotel Cleveland's ballroom after Landon's nomination and saying "Well, this is the 8-ball room, all right. . . ." John Hamilton sitting on a hotel breakfast table, white napery included, to interview the press. . . . The orchestra in Hotel Hollenden's cocktail room playing Happy Days Are Here Again at the instigation of a newshawk and none of the roomful of Republicans recognizing the tune. . . . Etc., etc.--ED.
Burghley's Run
Sirs:
Were it not for my extreme faith in the Cunard White Star Line, I would have been somewhat bewildered by the statement (TIME, June 8) of A. P. Herbert, Punch's M. P., that there is a plate on the promenade deck of the Queen Mary recording that Lord Burghley ran a circuit of the deck--570 yd.--in 58 seconds, "untrained and unchanged."
The world's record for 440 yd. is 46 plus seconds, and for 100 yd., 9.4 seconds. Let's assume that he ran the first 440 yd. in 46 seconds flat, and the next 100 yd. in an even nine seconds. He would then have covered 540 yd. in 53 seconds, leaving him three seconds to cover the last 30 yd.
But that's only part of the story. Lord Burghley ran in evening clothes. TIME did a sloppy bit of reporting here--neglected to mention whether 1) Tuxedo or formal, 2) stiff or soft bosom shirt, 3) high shoes or dancing pumps.
Why not have the 1940 Olympics aboard the Queen Mary? The track must be lightning fast, thus enabling the contestants to dress like gentle-men--morning races in morning jackets, afternoon in frock coats and evening events in Tux or tails.
JULIAN RICE
Bronxville, N. Y.
Sirs:
. . . Neither Lord Burghley nor any other human being has ever run 570 yards in anywhere near 58 seconds. . . .
PETER AVENALI
Redwood City, Calif.
Sirs:
. . . Either there is a dark horse heading for the Berlin 400-metre gold medal, or evening dress has extraordinary effect on a runner's capabilities, or someone is fudging.
PHILIP M. KLAUBER Sports Editor
The Stanford Daily Stanford University, Calif.
Sirs:
. . . Did he have a top hat on? . . .
SIDNEY S. RUBIN
Brooklyn, N. Y.
TIME erred in stating that the Queen Mary's promenade deck is 570 yd. around. Cunard White Star figures that approximately four laps around it make a mile. Length of Burghley's 58-sec. run was therefore approximately a quarter-mile, for which the world's indoor record is 49.6 sec. Not only was Lord Burghley handicapped by the sharp turns, but also by full evening dress: tails, stiff shirt, pumps. --ED.
Shaken Metaphors
Sirs:
TIME, June 15, ". . . tapping the valuable support of 500,000 workers." I passed that by with a soft moan, and then in column 3, same page, I read: ". . . Lewis shook up a few metaphors and replied." Back I went to column 1, this time with a real moan. May I hear from your support-tapping expert?
GARDNER REA
Brookhaven, N. Y.
To TIME'S own metaphor-shaker, a lifted eyebrow.--ED.
Moral Massachusetts
Sirs:
I was much interested in your item "$5,000 Fall" in TIME, June 8, in which you reported that the House had appropriated $5,000 to indemnity a person who was injured when a bridge collapsed.
I recently had a somewhat similar case. A pheasant crashed through the windshield of an automobile and put out the eye of my client, Burton Barnes, disabling him for life and depriving him of the power to earn his usual living.
There is, of course, no legal liability in this case. The pheasant was the property of the State and the State cannot be sued without its consent.
However, I presented the matter to the Ways & Means Committee of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, setting forth that if there was no legal liability, there was at least a moral obligation. The Committee reported out $500 for Barnes.
While $500 is a very small part of $5,000, Massachusetts is a very small though important part of the U. S. and in these strenuous times it is refreshing to know of at least one State that is aware of its moral obligations.
NICKELS B. HUSTONT Attorney and Counselor-at-Law
Pittsfield, Mass.
Oldest Auerbach
Sirs:
YOUR STATEMENT, TIME JUNE 8, THATZION'S CO-OPERATIVE MERCANTILE INSTITUTION, SALT LAKE CITY, IS U. S.'s OLDEST DEPARTMENT STORE IS INCORRECT. ACCORDING TO AUTHENTIC RECORDS Z.C.M.I. ORGANIZED OCTOBER 1868. AUE REACH CO., THEN KNOWN AS F. AUERBACH & BRO., OPENED IN SALT LAKE CITY IN SPRING 1864 ANTEDATING Z.C.M.I. NEARLY FOUR YEARS AND SELLING MISCELLANEOUS MERCHANDISE OF SAME GENERAL CHARACTER AS Z.C.M.I. LATER SOLD. AUERBACH CO. HAS ADDITIONAL DISTINCTION OF HAVING BEEN UNDER OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF SAME FAMILY FOR 72 YEARS.
W. T. MARTIN CONTROLLER
Auerbach Co. Salt Lake City, Utah
Original Pianist
Sirs:
There are people who feel that the Original Dixieland Jazz Band was the outstanding organization in what is so far the most vital expression of our American culture yet to appear. So that any attempt to revive this early band merits the attention you gave it under Music. Your view was well-taken, the write-up admirable.
Would it be of interest to you to know that the pianist, in the photo you printed with the article, is generally believed to be not Henry Ragas as stated, but rather Frank Signorelli who followed Robinson in the band, has been identified with famous orchestras since, and is now doing radio work in New York.
CAMPBELL HOLMES
Los Angeles, Calif.
The pianist in TIME'S photograph of the Dixieland Band, taken about 1916, is indeed Frank Signorelli. Henry Ragas, the Original Dixieland's original pianist in 1913, is dead.--ED.
Fired Funster
Sirs:
Narrow-mindedness still exists in this great land of freedom of speech, freedom of thought and freedom of employment.
Perhaps you will be interested in the attached item from the Herald-Post today. . . .
CHAS. BEN DAVIS
El Paso, Tex.
In the issue of June 22, TIME published, along with the complaints of six sober-sided Texans against TIME'S account of their State and its centennial celebrations, an obviously ironic letter signed A. Y. Gibb of El Paso, a city TIME reported as a haven for tourists, Mexicans, consumptives. "City not only overcrowded with Mexicans and consumptives," wisecracked A. Y. Gibb, "but three large hospitals overcrowded with sufferers of apoplexy, appendicitis and alcoholism." Facetiously, Mr. Gibb begged that contributions be sent the Red Cross "care of the writer."
Last week the El Paso Herald-Post reported that Letter-Writer Gibb, a clerk for Carter Tobacco Co., had "lost his job because of a letter he wrote to TIME in an impulsive spirit of . . . comedy. J. C. Love, President of the Carter Tobacco Co., said that Mr. Gibb was dismissed because of the letter."
TIME regrets the part it unknowingly played in Funster Gibb's firing.--ED.
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