U. S. Attitude
Sirs:
TIME, March 28: "But before in the U. S., world developments over the last year have produced a profound and insufficiently publicized change in attitude toward war in general. Last week the change of attitude was perhaps better indicated by several reactions to the Hull speech than by the speech itself. Wrote Pundit Walter Lippmann: . . ."
I read Pundit Lippmann's column in full. He too made the statement, which he signally failed to support with any evidence, that this country's people have changed in their attitude toward war during recent months. Now you say the same thing; or at least I so interpret your rather awkward sentence; though you do not say whose attitude has been changed, or how many attitudes.
I should like very much to have some of this "evidence" you mention. Lacking it, I seriously doubt your and Lippmann's statements. . . .
ARTHUR COLEMAN Associate Editor Holland's, the Magazine of the South Dallas, Texas.
TIME had no intention of implying that the people in the U. S. are less pacific now than they were when they turned against the League of Nations. But that they are less inclined toward isolation and more inclined to collective action, TIME, considering recent public polls and public utterances of prominent Congressmen, trade unionists, editors, liberals and Democratic wheel-horses, does not doubt.--ED.
Hoping & Praying
Sirs:
We like your TIME magazine very much but. . . .
When we have to memorize it we would just as soon memorize the daily newspaper, and that's what we are doing in the Public Speaking Class, but it is NOT OUR IDEA.
This class is hoping and praying that less goes on, especially in Foreign News also in Business and Finance.
OAKRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL Public Speaking Class Oakridge, Ore.
Manufacturer
Sirs:
TIME's account [April 4] of the execution of a small reddish-brown pig at San Quentin. Calif, was incorrect. The pig actually dropped unconscious, never to rise again, in twenty seconds and in all probability it was dead within a minute.
There has been much erroneous information published about Lethal Gas Chambers and this method of execution, but I did expect TIME to keep their records straight. My company has designed and manufactured Lethal Gas Chambers for all of the six states mentioned except Nevada and Arizona and including Oregon which was omitted. . . .
J. R. TRAVIS General Manager Eaton Metal Products Co. Denver, Colo.
The report made by W. H. Rockingham of the California State Division of Architecture:
At 10:39:20 a. m. cyanide eggs were dropped into a pan of sulfuric acid; at 10:39:30 the fumes reached the pig. It staggered to its feet nine times. At 10:40:05 it fell to the bottom of the cage. At 10:41:40 all reflex actions stopped, two minutes 20 seconds after the start of the execution.--ED.
Backward Mexico
Sirs:
Reference to TIME March 21:
"Mexico backward and primitive. . . ." 'Sblood! The University of Mexico was founded many years before Henry Hudson ever saw Manhattan Island. There is hardly a Mexican town that does not possess some church or other building that illustrates the stately architecture of the Spanish period and back of that are the wonderful relics of Aztec and Mayan architecture which was in full flower centuries before the Spanish.
Your adjectives backward and primitive might justly be applied to the Mayo and Tarahumari Indians who live in the mountains of Sonora and Chihuahua but would you be satisfied to have American culture judged by the hillbillies of Kentucky and Tennessee or the crackers of Georgia and Florida? And I believe that even today you can find within fifty miles of Manhattan Island . . . plenty of backward and primitive people. . . .
F. W. SMITH Guasave Sinaloa, Mex.
Ironic Reader
Sirs:
I have just gotten back to America from Austria in which I lived for the past eleven or twelve years. I was there when Austria was absorbed into the Dritte Reich, and when I got here, and read the American newspapers, I was shocked at the undertone of antagonism that seemed to pervade all of them. I want you to know that there was uncheckable enthusiasm along every street (hat Nazi troops marched through. Of course, it is also true that before the troops ever came across the border, thousands of German spirit-stirrer-uppers, so to speak, had permeated all the strata of Vienna, and, joined by the frenzied local Nazis began whipping the enthusiasm of the people. You can readily gather how enthusiastic the better elements of the city were, when I tell you that not less than 800 individuals committed suicide within a few days, and I don't believe that even half of them were Jews. Others were so overcome with enthusiasm that thousands of them had to go away for complete rests. . . .
E. G. V. Temple, Tex.
Wells of Indiana
Sirs:
As a reader of TIME and as a friend of President Herman Wells of Indiana University, I wish to protest against the article about him in the issue of April 4.
It is no less than astounding that TIME should enter an unknown field--for it is apparent that the writer of this article has neither the background nor the acquired information to understand the situation--and deliberately alienate scores of readers.
Readers of a weekly like TIME expect facts. They prefer to have these presented with tact and dignity. They do not want cheap gossip and unsubstantiated information.
ALTA BRUNT SEMBOWER Bloomington, Ind.
Sirs:
Though some Indiana University alumni may protest your style in presenting the new president, none can deny that your story covers many an interesting point. . . .
CLARENCE ELLIOTT Indianapolis, Ind.
Sirs:
. . . His present achievements are due to his deep understanding of human nature and his sincere graciousness. You must admit that a man 35 years of age who understands every type of student and wins their confidence is truly an accomplished person. ... As for his "waddling around the campus" this is in error ; President Wells is very deliberate and spirited in his walk despite his 228 pounds which he carries very well. . . .
TIME's REGULAR READERS Kappa Alpha Theta Bloomington, Ind.
Thanks
Sirs:
A business trip has kept me pretty constantly on the go during the past two months and interfered with my cover-to-cover reading. Nevertheless let me add my congratulations to the many I am sure you must have received on the new section Government Week under business & finance. At last I have something to turn to that will keep me posted about what's being done to us in Washington. Thanks, TIME. . . .
R. JOSEPH CARROLL Boston, Mass.
Above Average
Sirs:
In your issue of April 4, your music editor has acquitted himself in a way to make Cincinnati music lovers think very little of his comments in general. Our audiences in Music Hall are not stuffy. . . . Why deliberately set about making, bad friends of a community far above the average in its sense of musical appreciation ?
CORA L. BEERS Cincinnati, Ohio
TIME meant no slight to Cincinnati's well-known capacity for good music, is delighted to hear that Cincinnati's Music Hall audiences are not typical. --ED.
Sympathy
Sirs:
Bravo for TIME's impartial presentation of air travel sentiments. Fanny Ward [whose daughter, Lady Plunket, was killed in an airplane crash (TIME, April 4)] is entitled to all the world's sympathy . . . but she should not take it upon herself to prejudice an increasingly air-minded generation.
There is but one passenger fatality to every ten million passenger air miles.
RICHARD J. BENNETT United Air Lines Cheyenne, Wyo.
Regrettable Circumstance
Sirs:
Reading TIME's ad April 4, I note that 66 out of 67 American consuls are subscribers, the sole exception being the consul of San Marino. I am a bit vague as to the location of San Marino; I have even less idea as to the identity of the consul. ... It does seem, however, that his TIMEless existence is indeed regrettable. . . . Accordingly I am enclosing my check for five dollars for which please send him TIME each week for one year.
HARRY O'BRIEN Editor Walsh County Press Park River, N. Dak.
A TIME subscription has been entered for TIMEless Consul Joseph E. Haven, San Marino, San Marino. For the information of generous Reader O'Brien, Joseph Haven is consul to the world's smallest republic (32 sq. mi.), near Rimini in Northern Italy, overlooking the Adriatic. Its chief revenue is postage stamps.--ED.
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