Readers Swiped
Sirs:
"Publisher McDonald (Chattanooga Free Press) hopes to steal readers on weekdays from the News (circ. 36,000), on Sundays from the Times (circ. 36,300)." (TIME, Sept. 7.)
TIME itself, rather than Mr. McDonald, seems to be guilty of circulation theft, having swiped, in the paragraph quoted above, 3,859 Sunday readers. The average net paid circulation of the Chattanooga Sunday Times for March 1936 (month before Sunday Free Press started publication) was 38,785; for August 1936, it was 40,159. . . .
ADOLPH SHELBY OCHS General Manager The Chattanooga Times Chattanooga, Tenn.
Timbers Shivered Sirs:
Well, shiver my timbers! The Lucky Strike ad appearing on the back of last week's TIME (Sept. 7), I mean.
Shown is a most comely lady looking out of a port hole. Now the lady is on the inside looking out. But her admiring sheik is on the outside looking in. All of which is, of course, not uncommon.
But the fellow couldn't really stand on thin air or the side of a liner no matter how boundless his affections! Yet he's doing it. . . .
But don't cancel my subscription! And by the bye, youse editors have never divulged what you do when some irate subscriber makes an ass of himself by canceling his subscription? . . .
GROVER C. HALL JR. Montgomery Advertiser Montgomery, Ala.
When a TIME subscriber cancels his subscription, he is entitled to a refund calculated by deducting from the price of his subscription the number of copies he has received at 15-c- a copy. --ED.
Republican Journal Sirs:
YOUR SENSE OF FAIRNESS SHOULD CAUSE YOU TO WISH TO CORRECT A REFERENCE TO THE KNOXVILLE JOURNAL IN THE SEPT. 7 ISSUE OF TIME YOU SAY JOURNAL THREE MONTHS AGO GOT OUT OF RECEIVERSHIP WITH THE HELP OF REPUBLICAN MONEY THE FACT IS THE PAPER GOT OUT OF RECEIVERSHIP OVER FOUR YEARS AGO RECENT PURCHASERS ARE LOCAL DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. THE PAPER HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY REPUBLICAN IN NATIONAL AFFAIRS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE REPUBLICAN. NO OUTSIDE REPUBLICAN MONEY USED IN PURCHASE. . . .
R. H. CLAGETT General Manager Knoxville Journal Knoxville, Tenn.
North Carolina's Ney
Sirs: I received a letter dated Aug. 24 from Mr.
A. L. Childress, Chief Auditor, State of Tennessee, addressed to you at New York and in this copy of letter to you he sent extracts from Souvenirs sur la Revolution, I'Empire et la Restauration by General Rochechouert, Paris: 1892.
Mr. Childress stated that this General made it quite clear that Marshal Ney was actually executed under his own orders and in his presence. Also he stated that he would like to read more on the subject in future issues of TIME.
Since it was publicly announced 60 days ago both here and in Europe that I am preparing to exhume the body of Peter Stuart Ney, buried at Third Creek Presbyterian Church, here in North Carolina, in order to solve this 90-year-old mystery, my associates and I have received letters from Europe, Canada, Puerto Rico, and all parts of the U. S., and among those writing was a son of a former President of the United States, a U. S. Senator, several college presidents and prominent authors as well as historians. Just thought you would be interested in knowing the type of people who are deeply interested in this subject.
I have also read under date of Aug. 31 an article from France giving a lengthy thesis by Dr. Andre Jager-Schmidt, French historian, who claims to have examined the archives and contemporaneous writings, and also stating this is the first time an authoritative voice from France has undertaken to puncture the Carolina belief that our Peter Stuart Ney, schoolteacher, was Marshal Ney. This article states that the French Embassy in Washington ignored a request for a statement as to the official view of the North Carolina story. I wish to state that on July 31 I wrote this Embassy informing them of my planned exhumation of the body and I stated that I desired either the Embassy, or one of the French historians, submit me a document giving something important about Marshal Ney, to be incorporated in my records.
I received a most delightful letter and the writer was truly a diplomat. The article stated that France would not be disposed to change her history books.
I wish to state most emphatically that I have in my private files, information which would startle the world--and I say to all French historians PREPARE TO REWRITE YOUR HISTORIES.
CHARLES W. ALLISON Charlotte, N. C.
Sirs:
For the first time since the legend prevailed, a French historian has made reply to the long-existing claim in Eastern North Carolina that Marshal Michel Ney lies buried there, that he escaped execution in Paris on Dec. 7, 1817, was smuggled to Charleston, S. C. and died many years later after serving the families of Southern planters as a teacher.
Dr. Andre Jager-Schmidt, historian of Paris, learning of the North Carolina story for the first time on hearing that the schoolmaster's grave was to be reopened, delved into the records which, by a queer thrust of fate, happen to be housed in the very suite of Luxembourg Palace where Ney was held a prisoner during his court martial. He finds abundant evidence to show that Ney was really shot. . . .
The Marshal died a brave man in a little garden on the Avenue de l'Observatoire. He stood without a blindfold and told the soldiers to aim at his heart. Three of the firing squad were good shots and put three bullets through his chest, three more pierced his skull and one hit his arm. His body, following the usual custom was allowed to remain as it lay for 15 minutes. Many of his friends saw it and the representative of the military governor of Paris made the physical examination and reported back that the tribunal's order had been carried out.
The body was taken to a nearby Maternity Hospital where Sisters of Mercy said their rosaries around it in a constant vigil until the next day when the corpse was interred at Pere Lachaise where tourists view it almost everyday. . . .
GERARD TETLEY Danville, Va.
Sirs:
I had intended writing TIME Letters after reading article in July 20 issue on the Marshal Ney mystery. I am now glad to corroborate information given in Charles W. Allison's letter. Aug. 24 issue, on this same subject.
Under Two Captains, mentioned by Mr. Allison, is the biography of my great grandfather, John Jacob Lehmanowsky, general under Marshal Ney, member of Napoleon's intimate circle, close friend of the Marquis de La Fayette of Revolutionary War fame. Loving France, the country of his mother (his father a member of a Polish family able to trace its lineage back through many generations), John J. Lehmanowsky, after an extensive education in Poland journeyed to France and immediately became embroiled in the turbulent affairs of the country. He decided to support Napoleon and rapidly rose in his esteem, becoming one of his most trusted generals. Thrown into prison and sentenced to execution, following Napoleon's downfall, he made a miraculous escape to this country where he spent the remainder of his life as an author, lecturer, teacher and minister of the Lutheran Church.
My grandmother, Mrs. Nicholas Reising, John J. Lehmanowsky's daughter, asserted that Marshal Ney did visit her father, as set forth in Under Two Captains, and from her own lips the story was as follows:
One summer evening, when she was in her early teens, a stranger appeared at the gate of the family home in Knightstown, Ind. and asked if it were the home of John Lehmanowsky. On being informed that it was, he came through the gate, and was met by her father, who had hurried from his chair on the porch at the sound of the stranger's voice. The two embraced and cried, talking in French and giving every evidence of being friends long parted who had had no hope of meeting again. They talked most of the night, and not until the gentleman had gone the next day did her father tell certain members of the family that their guest was none other than Marshal Ney. but that the secret must not be revealed to anyone.
As stated previously, grandmother had reached an intelligent age, saw the gentleman herself, and had the word of her father that their guest was in fact Marshal Ney, and it seems to us there can be no doubt about Ney's successful escape to this country, the account of which as related to her father is contained in Under Two Captains.
CHRISTINE A. REISING Louisville, Ky.
"Bix"
Sirs:
Some years ago the publication of the "iBlackbirds Album" was considered TIMEworthy. Two weeks ago was published the "Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Album," worthier in historical importance, in artistic merit and, in view of the renascence of jazz, in fad value. . . .
H. B. WEBB
New York City
Chief interest in this revival of twelve old Victor recordings on which the late great Leon Bismarck ("Bix") Beiderbecke plays trumpet with such bands as Whiteman's and Goldkette's is that Victor has. wherever possible, made the records from masters not originally used. Like most great jazz musicians, "Bix'' seldom played the same chorus the same way twice.--ED.
Gab-Fests Sirs:
Can you tell me, in a few words, the object and accomplishments of the recent convivial, skirt-dancing junket of the Governors of the drought-stricken States called by President Roosevelt, and in which he took the leading role?
Each of these States has its crops and weather statisticians who report almost daily to Washington the crop and weather conditions in those States. The President could have got in ten minutes, without cost, from his Secretary of Agriculture more information about crops and weather conditions than he got in his ten-days foolish frolic through the West at a cost to the taxpayers of thousands of dollars. Expense seems to count for little with this Administration.
I have looked in vain to discover what additional information has been evolved from these presidential and gubernatorial gabfests. Can you aid me?
To me they seem the heights of absurdity and nonsense.
C. B. ROLLINS Columbia, Mo.
Sirs:
. . . Inasmuch as Mr. Roosevelt was out here two years ago to end all droughts, how did we happen to draw another one this year? One explanation is that in 1934 he was giving the Lord a chance to handle the situation without government interference. The Lord didn't make good, and so Mr. Roosevelt took the job over which is why "everything is going to be all right."
But as between this superman, and the Kansan who, according to New Dealish Washington, doesn't know the difference between international affairs and the plow business. Minnesota, one of the pivotal States, will choose the man who "stared at the carpet, pondered a full five minutes." . . .
GEORGE N. BRIGGS St. Paul, Minn.
Fastest Gin
Sirs:
Last Christmas a Captain of the U. S. A. Engineers Corps, who came down here to build the Nicaraguan Canal, but got married instead, sent me a year's subscription to TIME, as a Christmas present. I thought it about the best news periodical I had ever seen, but after reading some of the crank letters you print I think I should engage some of the writers to show you how to run your magazine. The only complaint I have is misleading advertising.
A short time ago TIME [June 29] had a full-page ad of sloe gin. At 84 years of age I thought something slow would about fit me, so I bought a bottle. Naturally I took a drink. It tasted so good, I took another. It was so fine, I called in a friend and we had a couple more. Pretty soon it began to show its speed.
I climbed a telegraph pole, ran a foot race with the police, jumped off the dock, and woke up aboard a river boat 100 miles from home.
Slow gin! Good Lord! It's the fastest damn stuff I ever met; and I have met some rapid liquor in my 51 years in the tropics.
After many years of Spanish, my English may be a bit dubious and probably is, as the only other English-speaking person here is a Jamaica Negro with an Oxford accent, which mixes me worse than the gin.
J. C. KENNEDY San Carlos, Nicaragua
More Mistakes Sirs:
Is it possible that your cinema critic could have been mistaken in stating that Victor More made his screen debut in Swing Time (TIME, Sept. 7)?
We believe that Victor More has appeared in at least two other film productions as early as 1930. They were: Dangerous Nan McGrew and Heads Up. . . .
TOBIAS MOODY LOWELL MOORE A. G. GIACOBAZZI Havre, Mont.
TIME indeed erred. Cinemactor More also appeared in Romance in the Rain, Gift of Gab.--ED.
Resentment v. Reflection
Sirs:
This country and Georgia in particular are to be pitied when Talmadge has enough news value to rate a cover on TIME. I as a Georgian resent his being so dignified. He definitely does not represent the better element of a grand State. His very expression shows why he is through.
CALDER B. VAUGHN La Grange, Ga.
Sirs:
No Talmadge eulogizer nor necessarily a Russellover, my kudos nevertheless to alert newsgathering by an able newshawk for your "Georgia" political article (TIME, p. 10-11, Sept. 7).
Your photos reflect adequately TIME'S habitual tongue-in-cheek sophistication. Georgians may resent the implications in photos and news story but Georgians have no one to blame but--Georgians.
AUSTIN F. DEAN Editor-Owner The Gainesville Eagle Gainesville, Ga.
For last week's news of Georgia's Democratic primary, see p. 19.--ED.
TIME At Irun
Sirs:
TIME has been read in strange places under strange conditions but never until this month by a radio reporter waiting on a battlefield to broadcast carnage. Good fortune led me to pocket my unread copy of TIME as I started for the French frontier farm from which I had planned to describe the battle of Irun to Columbia's listeners --with sound effects by the combatants. The effects began soon after my microphone was installed between a haystack and a cornfield and with them came incessant shot & shell. The rapidly shifting fighting front had placed my haystack in direct line of rebel fire. Bullets sang overhead, pished into the haystack, and swished through the corn. It was impossible to move. Then I thought of TIME. For six hours, with an occasional break to survey fighting, fix my glasses on a bombing plane, or consult the French radio operator established behind the nearby farmhouse, I absorbed the Aug. 24 issue, including all ads (actual cover-to-cover reading time about three hours). Just as I was reading Medicine an airplane bomb landed in the corn field. Twice bullets cut our lines. Twice we missed getting through to New York. But in the end, after nine hours wait, the first actual battle broadcast in radio history took place.
Here's thanks to TIME for quieting my nerves and keeping me patient.
H. V. KALTENBORN Hendaye, France
Able, globe-trotting Radio Newscommentator Kaltenborn, once editor of the Brooklyn Eagle, has made ten successful broadcasts from the scene of the Spanish Revolution. --ED.
Coffee, Cakes & Actors
Sirs:
In your issue of Sept. 7 under the heading Medicine, you devote a great deal of space to Dr. Feinbloom and his contact lenses, and wonderful too! But why the remark: "They are inconspicuous for actors and other vain persons? . . ."
Granted, our job is an endeavor to try and 'look pretty" every so often--but it's a job--our coffee and cakes and hardly comes under the heading of vanity.
I've been associated with actors (God bless 'em!) all my life but the vainest man I ever knew was an editor.
CHESTER MORRIS Beverly Hills, Calif.
Clean Court
Too much territory do Southern Methodist snoopers take in, when under Transport (TiME, Aug. 24), they indict an entire industry [ i. e. tourist cabins] because of their observations in a Texas disorder!)" house, cloaked with a "Transients Accommodated" sign.
"One hundred nine couples in ten weeks," less than two couples per night, and this was "nearly 75% of their patrons." Big business indeed!
Western U. S. entertains hundreds of thousands of motor visitors, (Oregon alone registers 1,000 cars per day at times), and the accepted overnight accommodation is the clean, modern Motor Court, where the car and belongings are handily convenient. Many millions are invested in this perfectly legitimate business.
Of 600 consecutive registrations at Colonial Village Motor Court, 576 were out-of-State cars, 24 Oregon, and even in Oregon some married people travel. Let S. M. U. confine their conclusions as well as their snooping to the little Texas town.
H. R. KlBLER
The Colonial Village Motor Court Portland, Ore.
Reasonable Barnes
Sirs:
Barnes Foundation (TIME, Sept. 14) holds a charter exactly like that of University of Pennsylvania; we have more than 100 students attending classes conducted every day in our Gallery by a staff of six teachers all of them painters. In January 1934 Supreme Court of Pennsylvania rendered decision specifically stating that Barnes Foundation is not a public gallery but an educational institution and sustaining the legality and reasonableness of our rule restricting admission to students enrolled with us for systematic study.
ALBERT C. BARNES Philadelphia, Pa.
Altered & Ended
Sirs:
May I ask of you the favor of correction of an inaccurate statement carried in TIME (Sept. 14). You say "two things about Path finder that Republican Publisher Brown did not plan to alter were its $1 subscription rate and its standpat Republicanism." I am not a "Republican publisher" and if you consider Pathfinder to have been standpat Republican, certainly that is one policy I have altered and ended for good. . . .
SEVELLON BROWN President Pathfinder Publishing Co. Providence, R. I.
Head Hunter Sirs:
Myself a connoisseur of slick heads, I can commend the good taste of Len Duggan, to whom "Baby Beeper" (TIME, Sept. 7) is rightly a honey. But it is surprising that head hunters have so far overlooked TIME'S 1936 best, "Dam Ditched, Ditch Damned."
GEORGE H. BRITTON Alamccla, Calif.
This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.