Valuable Time
Sirs:
The Dr. Friedrich Schoenemann that you list as Professor of America in the course offered by the University of Berlin for "the training of governors for conquered provinces" is evidently the Dr. Schoenemann who was exchange professor at the University of Nebraska four or five years ago. At that time he made no particular attempt to hide his Nazi aspirations or activities. At least he spoke rather openly of both to me, in return for some fairly patient listening to the Herr Doktor's story of his kidney trouble. At that time I was writing a novel that purported to be a microcosmic study of the world going fascist and I was glad to pay the price of a moderate amount of such listening for information on the technique of cultural penetration and on the proper use of the so-called setter people of a community in preparation tor the coming of the Nazis.
It seems the doctor and his Nazi colleagues had looked us Midwesterners over very carefully, observed the incipient fascism of the region and generously decided to give us some of the doctor's valuable time. Of course we were to pay for this time by taking our proper place in the Nazi future scheme of things--our proper place as Nazi-directed workers, so that our genius for making things might be utilized to the fullest for the benefit of our overlords. American women, and particularly Midwestern women not of full German parentage the doctor looked upon with horror. We did not know our place, wasted thought and money on ourselves, were demanding, and even unsympathetic. In addition, very many of us arrogantly aspired to careers outside of the kitchen and the bedroom. The third Nazi-permitted place of activity, the church, Dr. Schonemann never mentioned in my hearing. . . .
MARI SANDOZ*
Denver, Colo.
Wrong Fork
Sirs:
The new Communist symbol of the party in New York City (TIME, Aug. 25) shows what is locally called a dung fork or manure fork rather than a "pitchfork" as TIME delicately calls it. Herewith a Sears, Roebuck clipping for authority.
Question is, did the well-known farmers of Manhattan deliberately intend same or was it one of those Freudian speech blunders whereby the truth involuntarily bursts forth? . . .
HARRY C. THOMPSON
Ludlow, Vt.
> The face of the doubtless urban designer of the new Communist symbol should be as red as the revolution's flag. His five-tined fork is inescapably a manure fork; a hay fork has only three tines.--ED.
Morale
Sirs:
Naturally I have followed with keen interest the hue and cry in the press regarding the morale of our Army. . . . My personal opinion is that the bulk of the theories advanced for the Army's lack of morale are based on the "gripes" of a minority of those now in the service who, on the whole, are rather indifferent soldiers in any case. The best illustration of the reasons for the lack of morale of the Army which I have yet seen is the enclosed cartoon (see cut) from . . . the Columbia, S.C. newspaper the State. . . .
**
Fort Jackson, S.C.
Sirs:
... The statements by certain Army men that the majority of men want to remain in the Army "for the duration" exhibit either an utter disregard for truth, or abysmal ignorance. Ninety percent of the men, at least, desire to go home now.
However, we believe that this nation is committed to erasing Hitlerism. . . . Therefore, in preference to rotting "for the duration" in an Army camp, we are anxious that this nation immediately go to war, short of nothing. . . .
Camp Shelby, Miss.
Sirs: ... I am enclosing an exact copy of a letter from a friend. ... I feel sure with this awful commotion on extending the draft time it will be a great comfort to mothers.
MARY BURNEY PORTER
Los Angeles, Calif.
My dear Mary:
Will is at camp, San Luis Obispo. His regiment had an open house Sunday and Mr. L. and I went down on the train Saturday evening and came home Monday morning. We found Will in splendid shape and very happy. He said that he hoped he never would have to apply what he is learning. Then, he spoke very seriously about there being no objective in what they are learning--just to kill and to destroy.
But the training itself is wonderful. I have never seen Will so hard and so well and so vigorous. He likes the long maneuvers, the all night trips, the digging in and all day marches. He has lost all signs of indigestion, all his tendency to hay fever, and his sinus trouble. He likes his officers--says they are swell guys --likes the boys in his tent, and knows every one by the first name.
Mary, dear, I have come to the hard conclusion that we are all wrong about our education. The youngsters thrive on discipline, and we have taken it all out of their lives. I have never had so much deference and respect and real affection from any of my children as I have right now from Will. He is polite, he is solicitous for everyone. He is most desirous of doing the correct and courteous thing. My children have always been so casual, even bordering on rudeness, that I can scarcely believe my senses. . . .
This is not just Will. All the boys were the same. Parents came from all over northern California and many of them were farmers, not particularly stylish. Those boys could not do enough for them. . . . With love,
J.
Stimson in War
Sirs:
Congratulations upon giving the country the portrayal of our outstanding Secretary of War.
I had the opportunity of observing the military worth of Lieut. Colonel Henry L. Stimson, as a battalion commander with the 305th Field Artillery on front-line service in France, during the World War.
His example of leadership and knowledge of every detail of his regiment, and of the artillery problems of battle was an inspiration to his officers and men.
He is undoubtedly the ablest and best fitted man to head up our defense problems that could be found. . . .
GEORGE B. DUNCAN
Major General, U.S. Army, Ret.
Lexington, Ky.
Sirs:
Just read the mags on the war. Your Aug. 25 number is bottoms, the nadir itself. And the plug for Stimson is the absolute bottom rot.
W. L. WHITTLESEY
Princeton, N.J.
Down to the Bottom
Sirs:
Subject: Review of Men Working by John Faulkner in the issue of Aug. 11.
To this scribe, the review of this book is the most viciously contemptible emulsion of words and phrases ever printed in a reputable publication. I have not seen the book, nor do I want to, but I can appreciate that the book is as much so contemptible as is the review. Mr. TIME, don't you ever think that I don't know what I am writing about; I have been there, right down to the bottom. For three winter months, zero temperature, I labored in a wood-chopping camp in Manitoba--80-c- a cord--40 of us getting our rest and sleep and recreation in a bunkhouse measuring 10 by 40 feet. We got lousy. Did we lay down to it? Not on your life; we commandeered all the five-gallon coal oil cans from the camp dump and boiled ourselves so clean as we were able. Later, my pride and vanity dormant, I rambled across the State of Kansas on the hog, via Santa Fe Railroad, when and where I learned to batter a back door for a poke-out. From that I graduated to a job, pulling broomcorn for 50-c- a day and board, grateful to get even that (last decade of the 19th Century). These experiences are told in the first person; please you understand I was one among many. . . .
JAY DEE
San Francisco, Calif.
> All praise to Reader Jay Dee (John Doe?) for not laying down to it. Unfortunately some others without his courage have.--ED.
Propageese
Sirs:
The editor who perpetrated that "Trojan Whores" caption on that delightful little flight of fancy that emerged from Moscow (TIME, Aug. 25) is my candidate for the low pun championship of the world.
Incidentally, did it occur to you that only a proper goose could fall for such improper-ganda ?
PHELPS H. ADAMS
The Sun
Washington, D.C.
*Author of Old Jules, Atlantic Monthly $5,000 Non-Fiction prize book for 1935.
**Name omitted by request.
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