Monks of Athos
Sirs: May I have your permission to utter a protest against the article on Mount Athos which was published in your issue of April 28? . . .
The statement about the morality of the monks is a gross and wicked exaggeration of facts which are regretted by the monks, themselves, more than by anyone else. It is, of course, quite true that wherever you get a number of men--many of them young--segregated from the rest of the world, the evils spoken of by your correspondent invariably arise. The same thing might be said of many schools and colleges in all countries. . . .
I and others who have enjoyed the hospitality of the monks can feel nothing but disgust for a writer who anonymously criticizes a body of men whose guest he has been, and I am amazed that you should have published so irresponsible and sensational a report.
KIRSOPP LAKE
Haverford, Pa.
> TIME'S account of the decline in morality among the monks of Mount Athos was neither irresponsible nor sensational exaggeration, but based on very careful research. TIME consulted reliable authorities for its information, but since Dr. Lake is a famed theologian who has visited the monks, it is evident that authorities now disagree. --ED.
Negative Nose
Sirs:
May I object to one adjective in the repertoire of your Music Department? In your July 7 issue I am described as "beaky." This error seems to be part of a tradition developed by several caricaturists. Peggy Bacon, in her book of drawings, Off with Their Heads, called my nose "positive" but her picture does not emphasize its aquiline character. In fact, I have been told that my nose is too small for my face, and I am thinking seriously of having it lifted at the bridge.
I am a great admirer and constant reader of the TIME vocabulary. You may call me paunchy, chesty, necky, cheeky, eary, browy, even mouthy, but not "beaky."
SIGMUND SPAETH
Westport, Conn.
Gentle Demurrer
Sirs:
MANY THANKS FOR THE FLATTERING REFERENCE TO MY GAUDILY CROWNED HEAD IN TIME FOR JULY 7 BUT MAY I FILE A GENTLE DEMURRER TO YOUR REPEATED USE OF THE ADJECTIVE "DWARFISH" IN DESCRIBING MY PERSON. ALTHOUGH I ACTUALLY STAND FIVE FEET FOUR INCHES IN SOCKS, I HAVE NEVER OBJECTED TO BEING RIBBED ABOUT MY SIZE. YOUR PET WORD, HOWEVER, STRIKES ME AS INAPPROPRIATE AS IT CARRIES A CONNOTATION OF THE MONSTROUS AND STUNTED. LET ME SUGGEST THAT SUCH PHRASES AS "SMALLISH," "MINUTE," "MINIATURE" AND EVEN "POCKET-SIZE" BILLY ROSE WOULD BE CONSIDERABLY MORE APPETIZING. OF COURSE, IF YOUR MIND IS MADE UP, I ASSURE YOU THAT I WOULD RATHER BE LABELED "DWARFISH" THAN NOT BE MENTIONED IN YOUR SPLENDID MAGAZINE AT ALL. KINDEST REGARDS.
BILLY ROSE
New York City
Swope Misplaced
Sirs:
TIME, July 7, says, in the Theater Department: "Among the backers who shared the rumored $85,000" was I.
The story referred to Monte Proser's Madison Square Garden venture.
I was not a backer of the enterprise. I lost no money in it, directly or indirectly. I do not even know Mr. Proser. . . .
HERBERT BAYARD SWOPE
New York City
> TIME was misinformed, erroneously placed Mr. Swope, also John Hertz, among Proser's backers.--ED.
Facts v. Propaganda
> Because the publisher of another magazine criticized TIME'S Air Express edition for giving the same news to Latin America that TIME distributes in the U.S. (TIME, July 7), TIME wrote to a representative group of executives and others who have business, social, or educational interests in Latin America. They were asked whether, in their opinion, TIME should expurgate its Air Express edition. Answers flowed in. The majority said that TIME'S course was right; a few hedged; a few said that TIME was wrong.
Following are some of the replies.--ED.
Sirs:
I heartily approve of your policy of sending TIME to South America just as it is without any attempt to expurgate it or to sweeten it up to South American tastes. I do not believe that lasting understanding and friendship can be built up on any basis but realism. . . . .
EDWIN R. EMBREE
President
Julius Rosenwald Fund
Chicago, Ill.
Sirs:
. . . When you try to make an impression on somebody you should put your best face forward. The other fellow knows you are not perfect and he knows you have faults, but there is no reason to reveal them without need. He will find them out for himself quick enough. . . .
HOWARD W. STERN
Stern & Schneider Co.
New York City
Sirs:
It is my opinion that TIME should not be expurgated for circulation in Latin America. . . .
BENITO ROMERO ROMAY
Editor
La Hacienda
New York City
Sirs:
. . . I believe that you have to be somewhat discreet as to the method of expression in putting over a magazine of this kind, where your readers primarily approach a given subject with a somewhat different viewpoint than we do here in the United States. However, to answer your specific question as to forfeiting your reputation for stating the facts or turning TIME'S Air Express Edition into a propaganda sheet, in my judgment there can be but one answer. You have established a reputation for unbiased news and as such you are making a valuable contribution to Pan-American relations. . . .
CLARK H. MINOR
President
International General Electric Co., Inc.
New York City
Sirs:
. . . I should say that if you are to revise the edition of TIME sent to subscribers in Latin America so that it contains only news of a propaganda nature, it would probably not be worthwhile to continue your air service there.
I presume that from time to time some of the matter contained in your magazine will not have an altogether favorable effect in parts of Latin America, but, on the other hand, the importance of giving the real news fully and promptly to subscribers in those countries can hardly be questioned. . . .
MAX W. BABB President
Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. Milwaukee, Wis.
Sirs:
. . . I can hardly imagine a better way to undermine confidence abroad than to have our Latin American friends discover that we are sending them a special version of what is going on in this country. . . .
RICHARD R. WOOD
Friends' Peace Committee
Philadelphia, Pa.
Sirs:
I hasten to answer your interesting letter . . . and to say most emphatically that TIME should not go into the business of feeding a lot of pap to Latin Americans. They know plenty about our faults and it is absurd to try to cover these faults for the sake of a few timid people at home. . . .
STURGIS E. LEAVITT
Department of Romance Languages
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, N.C.
This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.